The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-20
Euening Story
Mother and the solomon Islands
BY NJ. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

III may Sdi0 1nOtHcE DuESoSSI 5AiOStAA-
ing her starched apron with wrinkled
hands.
Christine. home for the Christmas
holidays, regarded her mother with
CONSERVATION. IT won't believe it.
mother" she declared. "of course
all my life L have heard father say
that when We children were grown
up he was going to sea again, but I
never thought it would actually hap
pen"
Yea" continued her mother, hes
going to take his money out of the
bank this week and buy the Mary
Nicholson's boat yard"
But the Solomon islands,"
groaned Christine. why does he in
sist on going there"
We'll, mostly" answered her
mothers, because it's about the only
place he's never BEEN
Moved by sudden impulse, the
girl rose from her chair. went over
to her mother, and placed two strong
young arms on the others thin
pother'' she demanded fierceIy do
you really want to go. or are you do
ing it just to please dad?"
For an instant her mother looked
at her with eyes that were defiantly
steadfast: then, beneath the girls
wavered and fell.
Christine" she said, Fl dread the
thought of it. I know I'll be seasick.
and I'm scared to death of the saw
ages, and I don't want to leave my
home and my white Wyandottes, and
the quilt I'm making for the county
fair and
IT understand said Christine,
soothingly. won't you let me explain
to father?"
Don't you say word to him. not
a wordi' insisted her mother. 'tWhy,
1 should be ashamed to have him
know I was afraid. Ever since he
had to give up going when you chill
dren were born, he planned to take
this trip, and it would simply break
his heart to give 1t up. Promisei'
Christine did so reluctantly. Not I'M
til bedtime, in the quiet of the low
eaved room which had been hers since
childhood did she turn from contena-
plation of her mother problem to con-
sideration of her own. She had
to say Eyes" or mo" to the middle
aged principal of the school where
she taught-and she didn't think she
wanted to say yes"
But. on the other hand, neither did
she want to watch the years creep by,
them no home of which she could be
mistress. no little children to wash and
dress and. very, very occasionally,
scold. After ALL wasn't a pleasant,
CT ltured, elderly husband better than
one room in a boarding house. meals
out?
During the next few days Christine
managed several chats with her IA
Their. And If at times 1t did, seem that
he accomplished the desirabilfties of
the voyage and minimized It's draw
backs, Christine at first accepted 1t all
a ma he hue err of q a ~
who sees about to be accomplished a
project anticipated for many long
years.
True, she noticed a very decided
shadow cross his RI ,sed face when her
mother asked what he proposed to do
with the experimental stand of alfalfa
in the field next to the wood lot. Also
when she remarked casually that for
the first time in twenty years the
county fair prize for the best thoro-
bred heifer would go to somebody else
than Capt Eric Burgess.
Have you bought the Mary Lee yet
dad ?" she asked one morning.
Mo- haven't said her father.
But I don't think there's any great
hurry"
"Mr. Nicholson owns it," asked
Christine.
Yes" replied the captain.
Christine remembered Mr.. Nicholson
very well-a kindly, old man. And
she remembered his son. too-a tall.
slim young fellow with attractive
eyes who had graduated one class
ahead of her from the high school.
That afternoon Christine wandered
down by the river to look at the Mary
Lee. There she was, her gray hulk
moored out beyond the rise and fall
of the tide, her gaunt mastS Silhouet-
ted against the somber winter sky.
Christine shuddered, picturing her
rheumatic father and her fran old
mother careening over the billowine
Pacific bound for tropic isles and
coral-reefed lagoons Such wander
ings were for the young and strong.
And yet she could not imagine her
father voluntarily turning back, once
| he had put his hand to the pillow
Only fate could alter his plans-and
she decided to play fate.
Picking her way over larry haWsers
and empty casks. she found her way
to the dingy office with its door let,
| tered Nicholson & Son. Not without
I hesitation she entered.
] At her entrance arose q tall young
man with deep, attractive gray eyes.
Christine. taken aoack. could oni!
/ murmur:, '1-expected to see your
| father"
7''I have had the business for sew
| eral years now" explained the Other
| pleasantly. then stretched forth nj:
hand why. it's Christine Burgess!
he exclaimed.
After a moment of recalling mutua
acouaintances, at nave come on
peculiar Grand" confessed Christine
| ''No doubt you know about the triI
| my father is planning
He nodded his head graveiy, no
thinking 1t necessary to add that ev
cry person within a radius of thirt!
miles knew of Captain Eric's contem
plated voyage.
at know my father has not bough
the Mary Lee yet And--oh, ism
there anybody else you know ina
wants to buy it?' she asked desper
ately.
| s'Why, yes" said the man thought
fully. There is a party who mign
consider it He has talked about buy
ing it; but like your father, imegin ms
thinks the market is not very actiY
/ and that there is no great hurry.
"Oh, if only you could sell 1t Z
him first!" cried Christine. Il hardi
dare suggest it. hut for mothers SAX
| o,,d foy, HE too I would be gloi