The Topeka state journal., 1921-12-23
Eoening Story
Litckv Jim.
~ R. RAY BAKER.

vance z
Deep in thought Hugh Reynolds
mounted the second flight IN the raj
bert apartments 1t was ShrlstInas
morning, end no eheery smile ADORNED
his ctsar-cut features AlWays az
Christmas time Hugh 1et Ioheiy' ana
his thoughts We're depressing. he was was
tired or thls pacnelor existence, out
there was no remedy, now that behore
was beyond reach
At the landing ne pushea aheau l anu
opened a door Ihen ne came 70 mini
self, tor ms eyes Iound an evergreen
tree 1lumired with electric pulos ana
place in his bachelor rooms and had
town two hours ago. he was sure Now
he remembered dlstlnctIy that ne mao
locked the door. but it had Just opened
10 ms toueh without use OF tne Key,
II somebody was playing, Joke; II
was vas a poor 2oke- "A ana no" aoout Ina tnae
anu eOIt t1iiu ,.lIi+
stockings from Whlch1 pepperIhlht
SUCKS prolruuea.- dush Sldhceo auouS
tne room ana strange Ple5uFes Iookeu lS!sll
~, oii. S 5 s'r - - 1i,
Ti3ie ~ LiZ 10 tto he
o6 ms s+iii i1l fiia1t ~,
r. bEad ~ Io,,td Is ,s,itt ~ II, with
o,,+ haj,1g So M ba r1onad in al,
A li++Ia iii drassa5 =, hI,,a d.ncad
on of spotba, Ioon1 and stood starine
a bi+,, b,-e.ft s,9iid f,,es +i3sd +I,e
bra+tI- fac.1 s15 She baId ont I,a,. ar1,1s
p "Papa s15a ~ She said. in tones like the
beai df siiverS ~ he'll II tosSs 10 v6n l did aid
come peni "a after SaT aIl santa anita is yery y' good %
don't YOU think ?"
Sti1l bo1Gine ont ba,. arms +ba Iitt1e
girl advanced toward Hugh No hu-
man being could have refused to take
her mn and Hupb was decided1v hI,-
man ma she he niaced an arm abon+ his
neck. and he was kissed right on the
mouth, There is no DENYING that
Hugh was confused.
But I'm not
The child interrupted with a shrin
cry:
Mammal Mamma, Come quick.
Papa's herei"
Desperately Hugh looked toward
the door. but he realized flight was
impossible now. If he rushed out
with this child in his arms he prob
ably would land in a cell charged with
Then there was another
reason.
The other reason stood in the door
of an adjoining room=-a very wonder
full young woman.
''Oh. ah-er-M Merry Christmas he
observed, rather namely.
.'The same to YOU" she smiled.
Helen seems to have adopted you.
altho I'm sure I don't know
She stopped speaking and stared.
and Hugh returned the look.
4 why - why = you-yoWre Hugh
Reynoid,''
''And you are Lenore Hewitt. or
rather that was your nasfne once
Helen scrambled out>of his arms.
Aren't you my papa?" she de-
nanded. disaDnointed eyes turned I'm
to him.
Hugh had forgotten the cflild's ex-
istence. He went to the woman and
grasped her hand This was the gill
made of him a confirmed bachelor.
They had been sWeethearts bacl in
Montieth when he was sent to the Pa
cific coast on business and became so
up in making money that he
forgot to write even to her. A year
later he returned 70 her but sba al
moved away and married another
man. America entered the war abo1,t
then. and Hugh enlisted in rather a
receptive mood for a German bullet.
The bullets missed him. however. ana
now he was back in New York. Only
yesterday he rented the apartment
one flight up,
You had better stay to dinner
Lenore said. I'VE have turkey and
everything that goes with it. There's
more than ~lough for three
Hugh accepted with alacrity.
You may help in the kitchen" she
told him. and we can chat"
Your husband" he inquired hesi-
tatingly,. is"
He's-over there" she said simply,
nodAing toward the east.
Il thought So Hugh observed gen
tly- Now what do you want me TO
do ="
She pinned an apron about him
and set him to work. He peeled po-
tatoes, mashed them, helped set the
ia Bile, carved turkey, ale more than
his share, and was convinced that
Christmas was merry, after all.
1t seemed natural being with Le-
more, and he knew that he still loved
heF Perhaps after awhile he might
mo, mat was impossible The vow
ne had made to his dying pal in
rance must be kept
II was foolish vow, to look back
at Y. put IN the dark trench that night
nothing was foolish, 1t was an un-
reasonable request, but even the most
requests of dying COM
rad9s must be fulfilled.