The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-17
EVENING STORY
Helen's Daughter.
BY IZOLA FORESTER


The judge sat with one leg stretched
out before him on green plush settee.
1t was wrapped and swaddled like
pampered baby, but the expression on
the owners face showed no affection
for it. He gIared at it resentfully,
while Letitia sat on the edge of a
chair and waited anxiously, wondering
if the big oil painting over the mantei
was portrait of her mother. Neither
of them noticed the buzzlng of the
street door bell.
Its preposterous sending you on to
me without first obtaining my con-
sent" fumed the judge. How many
are there besides your"
Only Bob, and he's older. He's
working. If there had been only lit
| tie ones I'd have stayed and looked
after them with mother gone" Her
tone seemed to say that the judge
should have understood this in the
first place, and he caught its hint.
You can't possibly stay here. No
place to put you. NoboSJ lives here
| with me but Flint and Aoki-Flint
looks after me and Aoki after the
house. We don't want any female on
the precincts
He eyed her quizzicaIly to see if she
| got any of his sardonic humor. but
| Letitia was frankly tired after her
long journey, and only looked at the
eyes glanced around the large. high
ceiled,- old study in the back of the
| house. Here the judge lived most of
| his life she knew. 1t was untidy and
dusty, papers and books piled indis-
criTninately everywhere, books in their
tall black walnut cases damned in
without regard to order.
81 could help you a lot, grandfather.
| 1 always worked with father in his
study. and I know how to dust and
| file and arrange papers, and l can do
! tyEewriting, too"
| Think it needs it here. don't you ?'
demanded the judge. 81 like things
| this way Never let any one touch
any of my papers in my life"
The street door opened and closed,
] and somebody came along the pol
| ished hallway with a quick soft step.
Letitia did not know she was taking
| her first look at her champion when
John Farley stepped in and smiled
| at her, slender, almost childish
! figure in black at the mercy of the
| judges wit and favor.
.'Helens daughter" was the way in
which the judge introduced her.
living with me in order to put my
place in order. Do you agree with
her, John?"
81 certainly do" said Farley heart
| lily, as he seated himself at the
| broad, flat-topped desk and opened
mis- case of legal papers, "I wish 1
had somebody this minute to take die
tation and help me, sir
'.Humph" growled the Judge; take
off your hat and coat, Letitia. If this
| doesn't work out right I'll hold YOU
responsible. John"
| Farley laughed roundly and met
Letitia's tired, appealing eyes, the
| loveliest eyes he had ever seen.
Il stand responsible" he agreed.
From that day on Letitia's work
was cut out for her, as they said back
home. She was given a little room
upstairs, and every day found her
laboring under the judges watchful
eye, Strengthening out the library
every day at 4:30 came Farley, with
| his case of papers, to go over the
business of the day with the judge
and look at Letitia.
| She had become plumper and roster
since that first day. Aoki. the Ian
very shadow. and delighted in making
| dainties to tempt her appetite. An
other duty which she had taken upon
| herself was airing Beckett, the big
| English bulldog, and Reinzi. the ItaI-
| ian greyhound. This gave her an ex-
euse to get out ON the drive for long
walks, and Farley found that. by fin
| ishing his work about $50, he could
| join her for a short tramp.
And during these times their friend
| ship ripened, until one day Letitia ven
| tured to tell him her new trouble. She
even showed him the ring on her left
| finger, a very plain little ring. with
| forget in turquoise surround
ed by pearls.
1t was a very old affair. she assured
him, quite two years. Bert was %
now, and when he left for college she
! had promised to marry him. 1t was
| only to encourage him, she added
plaintively. She had never thought
he would care for her SO long, espec-
| tally when he didn't even see her. of
course she was IS now, and old
| enough to know her own mind, and
"And you don't want to marry Bert,
| is that it," asked Farley, briefly, try
! ing to hide from himself how her
words hurt him. is he coming on
here?"
Il don't know. He says he won't
let me stay here half killing myself
working for somebody who doesn't
care for me. Don't you think grand
| father cares for me one single bit, Mr..
Farley?"
II don't see how" Farley checked
himself, and stared over at the Jersey
shore with its twinkling rows of light.
you're the only relative the judge
| has. OF course. you know all he has
will be yours in the event of his death,
labout 100000, besides the residence
Itself He has changed his will in
your favor recently, SO I am sure he
has a deep affection for you"
"Oh,j dear, why did he do that?
sighed Letitia, hopelessly. Now he'll
expect me to stay here with him for
ever, won't he? 1 didn't want any oe
/ his old money. Mother always told me
| that if she were to die. must be sure
| and come to him and try and make
| him happier
! And you're not happy" asked Far
| ley.
Happier than I was at first. but
| it's pretty lonesome. If it wasn't for
the dogs and you, Mr.. Farley, don't
know what I'd do"
Farley laughed and striked Rienzfs
sillSen, soft nose.
! ct am flattered." he said teasing1y.
| Some day. Rienzi. hope to get ahead
| of you, old boy. and even of Beckett
| and Bert. Some day when the judge
| is specially irrita BILE. and she feels like
| flying away. think we will take her