The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-19
E0ening Story
Common People.
BY r. RAY BAKER

high-up social set and she brought
ideas with her. John Mason had
democratic notions, but he was too
busy raking in the shekels to inter
fere in social affairs, and he let her
have her way. Gloria would grow
up imbued with this class conscious
ness and probably be a snob, because
she would be taught that Difference
was her due from the common herd.
OF course she was too young now to
evidence any such tendencies for she
was not quite twelve months old, but
her mother would see to it that she
Became cognizant of her high position
in life.
Henry Mason was inclined, like his
father, to be-well,, not exactly pie
bian, but you might say free of social
letters. His father always had been
rich, but Henry had not considered
that as changing his blood from red
to blue. In fact. he much preferred
the red sort. But Henry believed in
keeping peace, SO he yielded to his
Btepmother's suasins, or appeared to
when about her.
One day while Gloria lay sleeping
Mrs, Mason sat at a side window and
watched two persons walking in the
lot next door. She could see them
thru the hedge and she was shifting
disdainfully. The two persons were
a motherly looking woman and a
pretty girl, rather plainly attired.
There are our new neighbors," OBJ
served Mrs Mason with a toss of her
head. 'They appear to be Inspecting
our hedge. 1 trust it meets their ap-
prevail. If it does not. of course, we
shall be obliged to cut 1t down.
That's what your father gets for
buying next to a small lot with a run
down house on it. Common people
are bound to take advantage of such
situation. Your father should have
purchased that place too, Henry, in
order to protect US"
Henry, also looking out the window,
grinned somewhat ruefully.
II guess the new neghbors won't
bother u.s." he vouchsafed. Mrs.
Kinden and her daughter are not dan
gerous."
80 you know their names" ex-
claimed Mrs. Mason, with a touch of
irony. probably you have been over
to call on Them
mo, I have not" replied Henry,
more ruefully. 1T should be glad to
do so. tho, if thought Theda would
welcome me-"
Mrs. Mason's eyes flashed.
"Fhedal Let me see, that's the girl
you were so fond of before I stepped
In and prevented your losing your
senses, wasn't it? Seems to me she
was your nurse when you had that
operation. So she has followed you
Out .4eE6<lu OTQ6F 10 nldke d IIldlCAi
foR> herself has she? That's the way
with nurses. They weave themselves
about the hearts of thier patients, and
the first thing you know the patient
is gone. Even social distinctions are
sometimes disregarded. 1t seems to
me a nurse should know her place, the
same as any other servant"
This time it was Henry's eyes that
flashed.
Mother" he said, with forced calm
ness, you have the wrong idea. In
the first place, nurses are not serv-
ants. In the second place, it was not
you that caused US to break up. 1t
was Theda herself, She said she never
would marry me unless my family APP
proved. When 1 spoke 20 you about
1t of course wou disapproved, and that
settled it. I'd have married her any
how, but she would not consent, ex-
cept under the conditions she men
toned. If she knew was living here
I'm sure she would not have bought
that place. She has no social amhi-
tions, I assure you. Such things are
as much a matter of indifference to
her as they are lowell, to me. I'd
marry that girl now if 1 could get
you to sanction it and welcome her
into our family"
"a fine chance of that!" shifted
Mrs. Mason. mo common folks ever
will come into this family if I can pre-
vent it," and she swished off to her
room, while Henry continued to gaze
rather pensively at the pair on the
hedge.
A few nights later the Mason house
hold was aroused by Gloria, who was
Suffering commissions. The telephone
was out of order and the family car
was laid up for repairs while Mr.. Ma
son had sold his business roadster and
had not yet invested in a new one.
Mrs. Mason was helpless. She knew
about as much concerning the care of
astronomy. And commissions are dan-
gerous.
Gloria lay on her bed, her limbs
Jerking, half unconscious, while the
members of the Mason household
rushed frantically about accomplishing
''Do something. Do something!"
shrieked the mother, nearly in hys-
terics. "Call in the neighbors
do something Call in that Kinden
girl. Henry. Perhaps she'll do some
thing for you"
as suggested. In a moment Theda ap-
peared, having hastily dressed.
Give her some medicine" walled
Mrs Mason. There's a whole cabinet
full of it. but I don't whow what to
usei"
NO 4lfdlCAlCi Hd1u 1ACud. "a MUS
tard bath is the thing"
Accordingly a hot mustard bath was
prepared and the now unconscious in
FAINT was thrust into it by Theda.
Gloria was dipped repeatedly into the
solution until she opened her <eyes.
pale and weak, but with the convul-
sions gone. Theda administered other
treatment and the infant was put to
bed to sink into a peaceful sleep.
Grateful Mrs. Mason threw aside her
social reserve. Still on the verge of
hysteria, she clasped Theda in her
arms and sobbed on the girls shoulder.
You saved her life" she cried
repeatedly. But for you Gloria would
now be dead!'
The other members of the family
were so grateful If not as demon
strative. Mr.. Mason wanted to pay
Theda for her services, but the latter
spurned all offers.
TITS nothing wouldn't do for any
body" she said. I'm glad my knowl-
edge has proved useful"
From then on Mrs Mason was a