The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-26
EUening Story
Joan's Jewel Casket.
BY ROSE MEREDITH.

/
she thought bitterly; back to the coun-
try to make a new beginning with no
| capital, semi-invalid mother, trunks
fun of beautiful clothes many accom-
plishments, but no useful knowledge of
how to earn living for two women
| reared in luxury.
| Poor Dad" sighed Joan at last, as
she thought of her father, dead two
years, whose tangled business affairs
| had just been unraveled to the. last
knot and found to consist of nothing.
There had been many debts-the
widow and daughter had sacrificed
| personal belongings, jewels, books,
anything to meet these obligations,
and now they were to start free from
eYerything-even money, she laughed
a little at that.
The sound broke the stiffness of the
neglected garden and a catbird stole
out of a SNOWFALL bush and mewed at
her. Other bird calls answered and
from the topmost bough of a pear
tree wood thrush sang his hymn.
| 1T is lovely after ALL" said the girl
resolutely. I'm wicked thing to
complain when I have mother, good
health, this fine old place of Uncle
Andrews rent free and the world be-
fore me. I've never had time before
this to really hear the bird songs and
revel in the flowers-they have always
been just part of the beautiful back
ground of life against which I have
moved, shadow girl. Now, to look
at the house and get at the cleaning"
She looked down at her slim, sun
tanned fingers. bare of rings. for she
had given up everything save a little
childish turquoise ring-a birthday
gift when she was seven. And Robert
Lloyd's ring-that had graced the
third finger of her left hand-there
was only a circle of white skin where
| it had been. She had offered it to
Robert and. tragically enough, he had
| taken it after vain protests.
Il want to be free" she insisted.
an?"
"I shall be too busy for love" she
| had evaded, and so he had accepted
the release. She could not forget the
beaten look in his gray eyes as he
went away. but he was not rich and
could not hamper his career with her
burdens, she told herself proudly.
| When the white circle, becomes
tanned, like the rest, then I will have
forgotten" said Joan, as she entered
the gate.
Three weeks later Mrs. Gilbert and
Joan were comfortably esconced in
the old house which MI. Andrew Ran
dali had rented out furnished for a
number of years. Long ago it had
| been occupied by F,andalls and much
of the solid old furniture remained to
| be polished by Joan's vigorous young
arms, which had so deftly welded
tennis racquet and golf clubs. Her
| dencing feet went tirelessly to and fro,
and when the house was restored to
| It's genial old-fashioned grace, Joan
turned her attention to the flower gar
den and later to the kitchen garden
| behind the house. This latter work
was supervised 10y jeremiah Wade,
their nearest neishbor. and no mean
henchman for two lonely women,
| maltese cat and an Airedale puppy.
you're amin to have a-plenty in
your garden, Miss Joan,' said Jere-
| miah one evening as he sat on the
! dividing fence and watched the girl
planting some late peas.
1 want to have more than enough
IL want to sell some vegetables" said
Joan anxiously; Mr.. Phelps, at the
| Red House, will take all have and
pay me the best market prices. 1 am
| selling him all my eggs, too"
| That's right-Phelps pays the high
| est prices-his boarders demand i'll
wish you luck, Miss Joan, you are the
pluckiest gal I ever saw"
| THANK you for that-it helps lot"
said Joan gratefully; land you have
been so kind to mother, taking her
for a ridS every day in your new car"
THAT amt nothing-that new cars
for my friends and neighbors as well
as for myself-you know I'm an old
bach, Miss JOAN
Whose fault is that?"
my fault and little bit. maybe
the fault of your great-aunt, Joan
| Randall"
yes, nam. and Joan being gone
these thirty years, I aim not to change
my estate, but we did quarrel because
Joan had the most money! was
! proud-and, well I've paid for it. Don t
you make that mistake. I've seen
some of those young fellers coming to
see you in those dashy automobiles,
and those fashionable girls with their
lpatronizing ways because you're
i successful woman farmer; don't let
any Of EN- cut you off from the man
you love, if there is such a man. Is
there?" He looked at her shrewdly.
Joan looked at the circle on her
left hand. 1t had tanned somewhat
but the surrounding tan had deepened
so that the circle was still visible.
l. II haven't time for that said Joan
Isoberly and jeremiah said something
under his breath and went home at
| once.
Mrs. Gilbert's health steadily i'm
proved in the fresh country air, and
sometimes she even helped Joan in
the garden. These were precious &C.
casions to be celebrated with a little
supper at which jeremiah frequently
appeared. immaculate in his best blue
serge clothes. He and Mrs. Gilbert
talked of old times.
II don't mind anything else. but I
did want Joan to keep her jewels"
she murmured one night.
Jewels? Dora Gilbert. what better
jewels do you wish for her than the
| golden tan of health, the sapphire OF
her sparkling eyes, ruby lips. pearly
| teeth - and diamonds - Dora, the
child's heart is pure diamond"
Jerry, am glad you think so; and
we are so happy! 1 wish my poor
husband had given up the business
years ago and retired to the eoun-
/ try
What are you talking about.
mother?" asked Joan as she came
around the corner with a gay party
Of -aannle 1s.lan INN, Ill tel1z