The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-01
Et,ening Story
Happy New Year!
BY GEORGE CLAY.

New Years Eve, in many towns of
our country, is an occasion wherein
the young folks put on masks of vari-
Gus outrageous sorts and go about
from house to house, raising Cain, till
the roar of whistles and the clang of
bells ushers in the newborn year.
When the old year has thus been Of
ficially laid to rest they gather at some
preordained spot and partake of re-
freshment. Masks are laid aside and
identities established. and presently
every one says, Happy New Year!"
The boys and girls of Rutledge had
preserved this custom since their ear
lest days; SO when the 31st of De-
cember was drawing to q close the
parents of Milly Davenport were not
astounded when their daughter came
into the living room attired in a rak-
ish domino and masked pinkly, her
blonde hair carefully concealed under
hood. They merely said. Have a
good time, dear" and returned to
their contemplation of the monthly
magazines. And Milly slipped out
down the street to where she saw a
group OF her friends already assem-
bled.
AS she neared the group she slipped
into the shadow and came up from
another direction to deceive them as
to her identity; her ruse succeeded,
for in the chorus of welcome there
was no note Of recognition. She Joined
the crowd and they proceeded light
heartedly down the street.
AT a nearby corner they were joined
by an apparition in a black monks
robe, cowled and masked, with an
enormous red nose protruding at least
three inches beyond the shadow of the
deep hood. The newcomer, who
spoke in sepulchral voice. answered
every inquiry with Pax vobiscum,"
which was satisfactory in that it told
nothing as to his identity and general
ly had the effect of sending the in
qu1rer into shrieks of laughter. the
stately Latin sounded SO incongruous
with the red nose Milly herself,
egged on by her comrades. asked the
monks name. but instead of the usual
phrase in the language of Julius
Caesar. she was replied by the monk S
grabbing her by the arm and whirling
her down the street in the mazes of a
dance-step- She was surprised. but
not particularly alarmed, for she knew
him to be one of her own crowd The
monks gyrations carried him for a
moment out of reach of the others and
before Milly could protest he had whis-
pered hoarsely, Lets beat itI' and
dragged her along with him down a
side street. This was unmonastic,
thought Mtlly, but human; and he was
like some one she knew-who was it /?
In the shade of a giant maple
Rutledge still has maple trees grow
ing along its streets-the pair paused.
The monk seemed undecided what to
do with his captive, and Milly was
curious but undemonstrative. She
feared the whole bizarre performance
might be a trick to make her disclose
who she was, and determined to be on
her guard. 1t was very dark under
the maple and the noise OF the cele-
orating crowds was dimmed by dis
lance. The monk seemed about to
speak. Strange rumbling issued from
under his black cowl. Then they took
eagerly.
Mind il I smoker"
The anticlimax made her giggle and
she hastily clapped a hand over her
mouth. But the monk paid no atten-
ton. He put cigaret in a long hold
er SO that it would not endanger his
noble nose, lit it and puffed with
relish. There was an awkward pause.
Then Milly said ''Well?" in tone that
announced clearly that unless the
monk gave reason for his strange &C
ton she would rejoin her friends on
the main street. The monk again
struggled for utterance. He groaned
and growled and finally grabbed his
nose and with jerk removed it from
his countenance. GLAD to get rid of
it," he growled. TITS been in way all
evening"" The voice was still dis
guised. MilIy had no idea who it was.
But the nose incident amused her.
at must be very convenient to have
a nose that you can get rid of when
ever you want to, isn't it," she in
quired in her best elocution class
voice.
The cowl turned sharply toward her,
and she had the uncomfortable i'm
preston that two invisible eyes were
regarding her sharply. Then the
voice spoke.
"Milly."
She jumped.
''How-how did you guess?" she
said.
II knew all the time. saw you
come out of your house. Milly. /
took you away from the crowd be-
cause I wanted to tell you something"
Tell away" Milly was curious.
II wanted to tell you that-that
this is the last day of the old year"