The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-01
EVENING STORY
The Story Lady.
BY CLAUDE HOLDEN.

I x
and Loretta had to break in on her
story to give some one a connection.
| but she started in again almost imme-
diately.
| 1t was an odd thing to be telling
stories to a little boy she had never
! seen and whose real name she did not
even know. but Loretta did not let
! that interfere with her telling powers.
she was switchboard operator in the
! Roberts's Big Stores. About five Sat
urday nights before she had heard
little voice over the wire say:
please tell me a story, Miss Tele-
phone Girl. There is nobody to tell
Sonny Boy stories on Saturday nights
when daddy isn't here"
| 1t was the appeal in the little voice
! that got around Loretta's heart
| strings, so she started in telling him
! the stories she had told her own broth
err when he was that small-the broth
er that was now overseas fighting for
| his country. Interruptions were many,
but Sonny Boy did not seem to mind
! them
| please tell me more" he would say
when she finished one story, so soon
Loretta had 20 resort to her magma
| ton to find stories to tell him. 1t was
| by accident that he got her connection
! the first night, but she arranged with
| the central operators to put him on
her line when he asked for the Story
Lady That was the name she told
! him to call her.
Once when her voice had grown
| tired Loretta asked Sonny Boy Some-
thing about himself.
| 81 live with my daddy" he said. II
| haven't any mamma now. Daddy tells
me stories every night but Saturdays,
and then he's away, but l like your
| stories, too.
His names just Daddy he an
swered to her request for his fathers
| name. We're lonely, daddy and me.
I wish you were at our place, Story
Lady. Daddy wishes so, too"
| But your daddy doesn't know any
thing abou me-" Loretta had said in
panic.
''Oh, yes, he does; I've told him
| about your stories. He knows the
story of the Princess and the Roses,
the bestest story. He tells it to me
| sometimes, too. He's going to find
Where do you live, Story Lady, and
why can't you talk to me other nights
| but Saturday."
Il am only here Saturday nights"
| she had answered.
That's the nights daddys away;
| he'll never find you" There had been
a little pitiful note in the child's tone
| when he said this that touched Lo-
retta. 1t dwelt with her and she
| thought of it often. She wondered If
Sonny Boys father would ever find
| her. OF course, she could find out
who he was thru the central operator.
but she preferred to have him remain
| a mystery. Somehow she felt like the
| princess who would not seek a prince,
but knew love would bring the right
one to her some day who would carry
her off to the Land of Roses. She
had waited so long for just such a
| prince herself, it seemed he would
never come.
During the week Loretta planned
new stories for Sonny Boys Saturday
| or hn fnn m
! neglect her work, but Forbes the head
floorwalker, took special note of the
| faraway look in her face, and remem-
bered that he had a daughter at home
who could do switchboard work, with
| the result that one pay day a note was
enclosed in Loretta's envelope inform
ing her that her services were dis
pensed with. She realized that Forbes
was to blame for it. but was too proud
to ask for an explanation.
! To lose her position just at that
season, when everything was dull, was
particularly trying, but Loretta had a
few dollars laid aside and tried to
look upon the cheerful side of it. 1t
| meant that her stories to Sonny Boy
would have to cease, and the dream
of his big. broad-shouldered father
and the home that needed a loving
hand would have to fade forever. The
thought of that was hardest of all to
bear.
Positions were few and far between.
she found, but at last one came her
way, and a recommendation was asked
for She detested the idea of asking
the superintendent at Roberts's for
one, but remembered Mr.. Roberts Just
in time. She had never spoken to him
personally, but he had always been
very nice over the wire. His voice had
told her that he was a kind man and
would treat her fairly. He had enough
experience with her in a business way
to be able to recommend her for this
other position, too. 1t was Saturday
night-he would be in his office
Loretta lodged past Forbes as she
went thru the store and up the stairs
that~led to the offices. Mr.. Roberts
was in his private office. The waiting
room was brilliantly lighted. Coming
out of a dark corridor into it blinded
Loretta for the time being. A stifled
sob brought back her sight. There
: was little boy of about five years
huddled in the corner-a lonely look
ing little fellow just like Sonny Boy.
MANS came before he finished the
story of the Princess and the Roses u
: a little voice sobbed. 1t was Sonny
Boy. Loretta recognized his voice
She forgot everything else but the
yearning that had been in her heart
for months, she took the little fell
low in her arms. Where did he leave
OFF, she asked as she brushed aside
: the tears.
Sonny Boy knew her at once. "Just
where the prince was climbing the
s tower" he answered, after he ha6
kissed her in delight. Loretta picked
up the thread of the story and went
on.
e Her voice raised just trifle as She
f neared the end. "And the prince said
Now I have found you p " She PAUSED
a moment for breath.
! "And will take you to the Land o.
y Roses" finished a strange voice. I'm
:, | seen, the private office door hat
opened and Mr.. Roberts had entered
Loretta realized it for the first time
He was Sonny Boys daddy.
y This is my Story Lady," Sonny Bo!
| cried in glee. Isn't she pretty
i daddy"
= No wonder Loretta stammered owe
i the reason for her visit.