The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-11
Erening Story
Old Flames.
BY KATE EDMONDS.


weekly Gazette" and when she re-
sumed her knitting her fingers trem-
bled. Harriet. her sharp-eyed sister,
gaunt and sunburned from working
in the fields with the men. regarded
her from under dropping lids
ANY particular news, Aggie ?" she
asked. bending over to mend a basket
handle. 81 amt had time to read
the paper this week.
Agatha shook her hehad. Moth
| ing very much, she returned slowly,
then she added swiftly as il afraid
her natural reticence would with
hold 1t, Nathan Storms home again.
Harriet picked up her mended bas-
ket and a painful blush stained her
comedy face. 81 know, 1.-THE men
told me. I'm going now. We want
to get the hay in before it rains"
What can I do?" called Agatha
from the doorstep.
Have supper ready when the storm
breaks" was Harriet's reply.
That's so easy sighed Agatha.
Harriet always gives me the easy
load I wonder if she sent Nathan
away because her duty was to stay
She busted herself about the eve
ming meal while distant thunder
growled along the horizon. She made
a huge strawberry shortcake, pre-
pared iced tea, cut slices OF delicious
pink ham, baked biscuits and brought
out a. great plate of ginger cookies
When the table was ready with It's
snowy cloth and lavender sprigged
china she sat down and resumed her
knitting, and with the knitting came
| thoughts of Nathan Storm
He and Harriet had loved, and be-
cause young Agatha had flirted with
| Nathan. Harriet had felt it her duty
| to give up Nathan to her little sister
| But Nathan refused to be given up,
nor did he want any one but Harriet
| herself, then beautiful, brown, Hebe-
| lil9e young woman. Harriet was firm
| in @her duty to Agatha, stern in up
| holding her trust to her dead parents,
| and so Nathan went away.
| Twenty years had passed away.
Agatha was a delicate woman, work
/ ing about the house in happy content
| ment; Harriet took the mans part
and managed the farm. They were
now well to do and had never missed
| the happiness that marriage brings
| in its wake.>
IT must make them happy this
time" Agatha unused, and worried
| frown came over her placid face.
'Harriet's got to marry him now! l
| will miss her, tho-it will be lone
some enough in the old place-maybe
they would like to live here and L
| could go to the old ladies' home
Amanda Petty is there-and she
would be real good company for me-"
The storm broke just as the last
| load of hay rolled into the great barn
| like triurnpha1 chariot. and Agatha
| flew to put the last touches to the
| evening meal. Soon the haymakers
| would come in, hot and tired. to dash
| themselves with cool water in the
shed room, dry themselves on the
fresh towels and then eat like hungry
wolves. This supper would celebrate
| the last of the hay making.
| Harriet's eyebrows went up at sight
of the daintily spread table, but as the
workers were all neighbors and
friends she was glad that Agatha had
| made a little feast of it. All the time
! she was eating one thought was dron-
| ing thru Harriet's busy brain. Next
hay making time I'll be in the old
ladies' home and Nathan will be man
/ aging the farm while Agatha waits
| for him-I'n miss not having her wait
ing for. me-she won't miss me be-
cause she'll have Nathan"
The two sisters did not eat much
| they talked about the hay and about
the storm, which was very severe
Harriet got up and lighted the swing
| ing lamp over the table and pulled
| down the window shades. Il expect
Nathan will put in electric lights" she
thought as she sat down again. One
OF the men was speaking and a IA
| fn1liar name caught her attention.
/ Nathan Storms home again." he
| informed them.
Yes?" said Agatha politely, and
Harriet nodded in her brusk way.
rs he going to stay home now ?"
asked Harriet. -
II guess so-he's going to work at
| the shipyard. Says hell settle down
as soon; as he can find house to live
lin. Nathan asked after you folks"
he nodded at Agatha.
| I'VE went to school with him. said
Harriet stiffly.
"Singin' SCHOOL," chuckled Adam
| Smith.
Little red schoolhouse," choked
Agatha, feeling sorry for her sister.
HE didn't seem to make any great
! success out of life" went on Adam,
helping himself to another cookie.