The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-24
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
ILLNESS CALLS VERA HOME.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER So.

ILLNESS CALLS VERA HOME.
CHAPTER So.
Over and over to myself I said:
st will not go away. and leave Keith
to spend his vacation with Margaret
and Alice De Lisler' Even Should
business keep him in town thru the
week, he would be sure to be with
them for the week-ends. The very
thought was unbearable.
While I was not at all tactful, had
learned to be more careful about ex-
pressing myself. Sc I said nothing of
the revolt in my heart, but waited
Then 1 would tell him that nothing on
earth would make me leave him.
I would tell him that night before
we went down to dinner.
At o'clock messenger boy tapped
on my door. The maid had sent him
to stop beating as I saw the yellow
envelope so seldom seen by me.
Come at once, father very ill.,
Sallie.''
Mrs. De Isle, my anger at Mar
garet, even my feeling for Keith, were
all in allegiance as / read. 81
Margaret" I called. \
eyes, what is it ?"
| MY father is very sick. Please tele-
phone Keith to come right ups z must
Ego home tonig ht."s 49, 4 Il.
without question Margaret did Is I
asked. At the time + did not notice
| the unusual alacrity with which she
acceded to my request. Afterward l
recalled her attitude.
Can I help you pack" she startled
"Yes-no-I shall take only few
| things
trunk. When there is illness one never
knows how long they will be needed.
1t was a sensible suggestion, and l
followed it. I was nearly ready to go
when Keith came hurrying in. He
had stopped at the station and secured
my tickets and sleeping accommoda-
tons. I would go on the train leaving
at midnight.
insisted the maid put up dainty little
box for me.
you may feel hungry before you
sleep, and not be able to get anything
on the train-anything you could ea'
anyway" he said when / expostulated,
| saving I couldn't swallow.
| He was so kind, so sympathetic an
| the evening that 1t made 1T hard 10
leave him. Margaret too seemed to GO
/ ont of her way to do little things Tor
me, while the two children were keen
ly interested and sympathetic.
'1s your father old like grandpa
was?" Gloria asked.
mot quite as old dear, but never has
been as strong as your grandfather
was" did not add that he had been
| obliged to work harder, that we mao
been poor, very poor compared TO the
Sandersons.
"If he dies you will be all right
cause your clothes are black" she
added innocently.
Tears sushed to my eyes. Child the
she was, she had brought the posi-.
bility of loss home to me. l mad tree
to put the thought Of serious result
of fathers illness from me. But now
I sobbed unrestrainedly for a few mo-
, ment, and Gloria, frightened at the
effect OF her innocent remark, weep
, with me.
soothed me Then we went up to oul
: apartment and stayed alone until time
for me to leave. Margaret was still
up and was very kind, sending mes
| sages to SaHie and expressing the
hope that would find father better
It was hard to leave Keith, and
, chung to him until he very nearly wa:
| carried off with me. He had insisted
take the lunch box, and had bough
, me some fruit besides. I would reacf
home about 10 o'clock the following
, morning.
was too anxious. too restless II
sleep. And in the very early morning
. my young, healthy, appetite asserted
: itself and I ravenously ate every bi
of the luncheon. felt little shan'
that SO prosaic a thing as hungel
should occur to me when father wa
so i'll.
Sallie was at the station.
HE is alive" she said in answer Il
I my questioning look. "but no better
. Then as we rode home in the jitne.
she told me of his illness. He had hat
: a slight stroke at his desk. He hat
t not rallied from it as he should, ant
! the doctors feared another, and tina
E it would be fatal.
They say he had no resistance
t Sallie added. Poor dad No wonde
!. the way he has worked for all of US
No vacations, no good times Mothe
$ is terribly broken up. Be as cheerful
s as you can, Vera. 1t will do us al
t good if you are bright And I d.
e hope you have something to wear be
f sides black. It was foolish for you Z
put on heavy mourning for Mr.. San
: derson."
: Margaret insisted. And yes. I hav
Il one white dress in my trunk"
well wear it all the time. 1t
= depressing to see you in black
(Tomorrow-Sallie advises me to
: return.1