The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-21
EDening Story
The Conflict.
BILLY WANDEL.

D
Angola tiptoed softly upstairs to
reach her room without meeting any
of the family. She wanted to go to
bed without talking she wanted time
to think, but a soft thump, thump,
warned her that her mother was wait
ing for her as usual. AS she switched
on the light in her. room Mrs. La
monde appeared.
1T is awfully late. Angie" she ad-
monished gently. get right to bed,
dear, don't fuss around"
IAN right" yawned Angola, good
night"
have nice timer" she asked, half
anxiously. half disapprovingly
Nice time? % slipping out of her
dress and raising her eyebrows. ''It
was very wonderful"
II don't like it," murmured her
mother almost wistfully.
You mean that you do not under
stand it at ALL corrected her daugh
ter. rather rude1y.
land your father doesn't like 1t
either" warned her mother more en-
ergetically.
Angola yawned again as a gentle
hint for her mother to leave but Mrs.
Lamonde sat down on the edge of the
bed TITS made an awful difference
in you, Angola, and it troubles me-
You don't seem to be one of us. any
more. Sort of up in the air. thinking
about something else, on a higher lev
ell. I don't like my little girl that
way" There was a pleading nee. in
her voice.
Angola smiled in very superior,
plying manner. There's a special
meeting Monday afternoon for ma
irons of the Noos -opic Society of
Hypostases. Why don't you go? We
had a most interesting talk tonight by
Mrs. Barry about Interwisdom of
Prethought' 1t was so stimulating,
Mr.. Lawrence said"
Mrs. Lamonde gave her daughter a
blank stare. THAT Lawrence boy! He
used to be such q sensible lad don't
understand 1t at all"
well, why don't you go Monday
afternoon and become enlightened ??
ITS my sewing afternoon for the
hospital But I wouldn't go anyway.
You know,t Angie, that Lawrence
Angola pointed to the little china
clock. Pm all ready for bed.
Couldn't we discuss him some other
time ?'
Mrs. Lamonde flushed and hastily
rose from the bed. Good night,
daughter; I laid out your things for
church tomorrow; everything's ready
j "Oh, I'm not going Cher hand on
the electric light SWITCH.
I'm afraid I must insist. Your
father doesn't like it, this not going to
church with the family. You haven't
been for quite a number of Sundays"
II do not feel the need of it, mother.
You'll have to go without me-"
Speak to your father tomorrow
morning. Angola answered her
mother. you had better be dressed
and ready to 60"
Angola smiled in a cold. tolerant
way. Good night" and turned off
the light. She closed the door after
there with wide-open eyes, troubled.
Her mind felt like a great ball of wool
unraVeled. knotted, in one terrible
tangle. She did not know any more
what she believed and what SheN did
not. or what she understood. She
was not sure about anything, except
that she loved Will Lawrence. SShe
was very positive about that. Every
thing else was a puzzle. very disturb
ing and wearying.
All evening she had listened to
vague, mystifying explanations that
seemed to run around in a circle. tie
you completely up in endless wiudings
of indefinite. incomprehensible rea-
Sonings At least, that is the way It
seemed to Angola. To be absolutely
frank with herself. she had to confess
that she did not understand a word of
it and that it made her feel very
uncomfortable, disquieted and ignor-
ant. She felt like some one gAsping
for fresh, pure air.
To give up the Nooscopic society oil
Hypostases meant to lose viii Law
renee. And Angola would have Joined
the Society of Fools if it need be, just
to be near Will. Bat now as she lay,
troubled and> worried. in her bed she
| realized that sooner or later he was;
going to find her out. Some day she
would slip and make some foolish re-
| mark and then he would know that
she was a little fraud.
Angola wept, for truly everything
looked hopeless. She could not UNDER
stand the teachings and principles of
this wonderful society, and the ve1 :
little that she could grasp made her
miserable, upset all her own beliefs.
| swept out the nice little everyday feel
ings and comforting thoughts, and on
the, other hand. to give up Will would
| break her heart.
1t was almost daybreak when, COM
| pletely exhausted, her problem I'M
solved. Angola fell asleep. 1t seemed
that she had just dozed off when
SOMEBODY shook her gently ITS after
3, Angie; hurry and get dressed
Because the clothes were laid out
conveniently Angola put them on. but
she had deeidgd very positively that
| she would not go to church.
A bright-eyed, Sunday-clad family
greeted her at the breakfast table.
| they all seemed so rested. SO thorolv
| at peace; Angola envied them. One hx,
one they finished eating and excused
| themselves to get ready for church.
angola toyed with her toast, quite un-
concerned ABOUT the hated and coated
family.
Come, Angie" bid her father pleas
antly. you'll be late"
'Oh. don't wait for me: I'm not 90
ing, she announced calmly.
AIR. Lamonde gave his daughter a
swift keen look of disapproyaI. AN
goia, something in his voice made his
daughter get up, -''ff YOU are wei
enough to be eating break fast I think
you are able to come to church with