The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-11
EVENING STORY
The Wishing Lamp.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

two or three meetings they spent every
spare moment either together or try
ing to devise some means of getting
together. Altho Aunt Betty kept a
strict watch on Madge' and Uncle Ben
threatened to disinherit Will, they met
often. She was such a sweet dispo-
sitioned little girl and he was such
tall handsome young fellow 1t was
no wonder they fell in love. /
.'Madge, I'm tired of it all, let's
dope Will suggested one fine after
noon after they had both had a par
ticularly trying time to keep an ap-
pointment at the old mill.
But Aunt Bettyi" Madge exclaim-
ed, somewhat in horror.
Bother take Aunt Betty, and Uncle
Ben, too, for that matter" Will cried
angrily. ''They have no right to spoil
our lives, and that is what they are
going to do"
Pm eighteen" Madge demurred.
I'm twenty-one,' he said resonant
ly. Lets get married in Bruxton."
Bruxton was a few miles distant.
perhaps We wouldn't be happy"
Madge hesitated. >"You know your
uncle and my aunt were once in love,
and look what enemies they are now,
and all over a simple little thing, too"
I'VE are not so silly as to quarrel |
over such a thing as ring" came |
from Will in disdain.
But your uncle stole aunt's ring,
Co, rather, took back the ring he had
b
Madge pouted. |
He did nothing of the kind. Your
aunt said he did, but that was just |
her excuse" Will said Indignantly. |
They had had a misunderstanding. !
and that was her way of getting rid |
of him.
1T was not!" Madge flashed, her
eyes blazing, and if he told you that |
it is a lie. Your uncle threatened to |
take the ring the night they had the |
ON a the 6aV If 6iSa nj
peared. My aunt never spoke to him |
again.
And I guess he doesn't want her to,
the old cat!''
will Desmond, how dare you!" |
Never had he seen Madge so angry. |
She had turned her back on him and |
was walking away hurriedly, but he |
went after her, his anger gone and |
nothing left but a desire to make |
amends. |
II thought wouldn't be so silly |
as to quarrel over q little thing like |
a ring he said, after all his pleadings |
had been in vain. Then they both |
laughed.
AS they walked home the elopement |
was mentioned again. By the time |
they reached the parting place they |
had made all the plans. That very |
afternoon they would drive to Brux- |
ton and be married, they decided. At |
2 o'clock Will would meet her at the |
usual place with a horse and buggy.
Half past 1 found Madge all ready. |
suitcase packed and all. AS luck |
would have it, Aunt Betty had taken |
SIX from the perfume of a certain |
kind of flower that always made her !
sick that Madge had sn-uggled into |
the house Intentionally, and had gone |
hand on the door Madge stopped.
She had forgotten her wishing |
lamp''-the most cherished of her pos |
sessions. 1t had been her treasure
from childhood, she could not leave |
it. Her grandmother had bequeathed |
it to her. but it was not for that alone |
that she priced it.
The story of Aladdin and his won
derful lamp had always been her fav- |
orite fairy tale, and often she had |
old-fashioned table lamp, replaced |
years before by electric light. only |
needed to be rubbed to grant her wish. |
The habit of making wishes on it had |
forsaken the Aladdin role, the lamp |
still had magic power to bring her |
happiness, she half believed. Oh, no, |
she couldn't leave it. Up the stairs !
she went, to return a minute after |
ward with the old lamp safe in her
arms. |
Two hours later Mr.. and Mrs. Will |
liam Desmond walked out of the rec |
tory in Bruxton.
st wish we could go back home" |
$1,000
can't"
The mention of the word wish had |
reminded Madge of the lamp, which |
she had placed under the seat of the |
buggy. She put her hand under to |
see if it was still there, then pulled it |
it hack with cry of fright.
will Desmond, you have put your |
foot on my grandmother's lamp.
There's big hole in it,
There was the evidence-the, lamp |
had hole in the hand-naintpd niI /
tank big enough to put a fist thru. |
What's this?" Wills hand went into |
the hole and brought out ring.
The lost engagement ring they |
ALL
For half an hour Miss Betty Win |
shade and Mr.. Benjamin Desmond had |
been arguing. 1t was the first time |
they had spoken for thirty years and
they were letting forth all the mean
things they had saved up to say to one
another in that time. 1t ended with |
them both a little shaky in their be-
liefs of the Righteousness of their
causes.
Perhaps you didn't steal the ring,
but that doesn't find my niece
Madge," Aunt Betty painted.
And perhaps you didn't lose the
ring on purpose, but that doesn't say
your niece can run off with my
nephew Uncle Ben said, altho not so
antag onistically as before.
'She is as good a girl as ever lived"
Aunt Betty sobbed.
And he is a good boy" Her tears
had had the effect of auieting Uncle
Ben to the reasoning point
1t was the opportune moment for
the arrival of the clippers, and sure
enough they came on hand Before
condemnation could be showered on
their heads the lost ring was displayed
and recognized. Aunt Betty remensr
bered that the ring had been loose
and that she had cleaned her mothers
lamp the day 1t had disappeared. After
all those years it was hard to believe
the truth, but the old folks were equal
to the occasion.
IF it wasn't that your wishing