The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-01
Eoening Story
Freckles and OveralIs.
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

| hers. just back from France, was u
very welcome visitor indeed, but, new
ertheless, presented somewhat of
problem. Now that the first warm
flush of enthusiasm and novelty at
being home was over, time was hang
| ing heavily on his hands and the job
in the offing was not yet ready for
him.
well, 1 have seen about every
| BODY said Jim. "Who is left?"
How about-calling on Marion Da-
yis?' suggested his mother.
| What. that little kid with red hair
ana freckles, that was always holier-
| ing about-thought she had voice?
| Oh, no, mother; never"
Every WELL" said his mother, pa
tiently. Anyway, you may have no
tieed that they have moved away from
next door. They live over the other
side of the town now-moyed just
after you left" She remembered now
that when Jim was home Marion had
been one of the small fry" always
tagging around the older crowd, but
quite beneath notice. so to speak.
Guess I'll hike along downtown.
farewell pat on the shoulder as he
passed her to the door.
His mother looked after him loving
ly. Sometimes she hardly knew this
tall, Drowned son of hers. A couple
of years wearing of the trim, We'll
him taste for dress which had hith-
erto lain quite dormant, and he now
made an attractive figure 20 her eyes
in his well-fittipg civilian suit. SILK
socks, brightly polished boots and hat
set at just the correct angle.
Downtown, Jim had stroke OF
luck. Coming out of the postoffice.
he was hailed by the occupant of a
posing automobile. who turned out to
be none other than Stanley Brayton,
an old comrade-in-arm who lived IN
Elmdale. the thriving young town
some miles from Jirn's village.
Hello, you Jim!' called Stanley,
broad grin on his good-looking face.
Just the man 1 want. My sister is
engineering some sort of dance at the
Elmdale town hall tomorrow night.
Come along and help out. There's
good fellowi'
1t did not take Jim two minutes to
accept the invitation. 1t would be
pleasant break in the monotony, and
who knew but what Stanley's sister
might be quite as friendly and nice as
her brother.
And. as a matter of fact, Stanleys
sister Peggy did turn out to be pretty
and delightful enough to charm any
mans heart. But it was not to be the
heart OF Jim. Somebody beat her-to
that-and the somebody was no less
a person than a very slim, very self
possessed young siren who sat at the
piano during intermissions and by re-
quest sang song after song, ranging
from the army favorites to gay little
love lyrics with haunting refrains.
"Who is she ?" said Jim, corner.ng
Stanley at length. .--.
oh" replied that youth. absent
mindedly, some friend of Peg'@I
didn't catch her name. Some girl,
tho"
"some girl is right" breathed Jim
fervently. Some voice and some hair
waves of tawny gold breaking on
the white beach of her forehead
Good Lord!' said Stanley, turning
suddenly. Can this be my old COM
panion of the K. P? 1 never thought
when I heard your flow of language
as you peeled three hundred spuds
that you had such vein of sentiment
in you!"
Under the flimsiest of excuses,
thereafter. Jim took the trolley to
Elmdale, and aimlessly paraded the
street. hoping to meet her coming
from the library, walking in the shop
ping district or watching the water,
fowl in the small civic park. Just
what his procedure was to be he
should he meet her, probably he him
self was not sure, but if it involved
following her to her house and at least
ascertaining\ her address, he must be
excused on the grounds of being so
utterly head over heels in love as to
be not quite sensiblei
And at that he met her in front of
his own door-and with his own
motheri
You remember Marion Davis?
said that lady, hoping Jim would see
how inevitable the meeting was and not
reproach her for forcing that red
headed kid with freckles'' upon him.
'Oh-eT-Oh. mi rod lin
II remember her. Oh, yes. I remem-
Der heri''
What is the matter with the
boy?" thought his mother in disgust
But aloud she said, Marion and>f
have been on the same committee for
the Welfare League, and as we had
some lists to go over, she kindly Of
fered to come up and help me. I
thought you were not going>to be here
to supper"
ooh, but I ami" said Jim. "And 4
am glad to have the opportunity to
tell Miss Davis how much I enioyed
her singing recently
Considering that Marion had avoid
ed an introduction to Jim, it seemed
strange that Immediately supper was
over and the lists made out, she did
not go home. Yet 10 o'clock found
her popping corn in the fireplace and
listening to Jim's war stories Jim's
mother, looking on, could not help
thinking what a pity it was that Jim
was so prejudiced-and yet he did not
act as If he were really bored to DEATH
Nor did he need his mothers hint that
it would be very nice of him to walk
home with Marion. 1t was SO late,
and she lived so far away.
Jim blessed the distance. Three
years had made great changes in "the
kid with freckles." AS they walked,
not too fast. along the winding moon
lit country road Marion said suddenly.
Il really ought to confess, Jim, that
Stan said you wanted to meet me and
l ducked it,
why did you?" asked Jim re-
proachfully.
We'll" Marion hesitated, 'to tell
the truth, it's been some time since 1
saw YOU And when he said who you
were, all 1 could think of was "a
kind of long-legged country boy in an
al 1t. 4. IL