The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-27
Eoening Story
DOreen.
BY ROSE MEREDTTH

d 1NOGG
Miss Mamie Smith left the post
office and stepped down the village
street with eager feet. Her faded eyes
were fixed on Emeline Taylor's little
brown house, and with the enthusiasm
OF the born gossip she was picturing
the cozy warmth of Mrs. Taylor's sit
ting room, and hoping that the old
lady was all alone.
I've got to know about this postal
lcard-she's SO closemouthed, it's a
wonder she would let me stop for her
mail. But suppose Mittie Weed can't
be trusted, she's such feather-headed
piece to take care of a sick woman If
1t is only rneumatiz!" Her thin, pink
nose quivered like an agitated rabbits
as she went into the yard and around
the path to the side door entrance,
where glass doors led into neatly
furnished sitting room whore a white
haired woman sat in a deep cushioned
lchair.
''Wel1, Emeline, here I be, faithful
as ever" greeted Miss Mamie as she
/ opened the door and walked in. Her
sharp eyes darted to the kitchen be-
yond, where Mittie Weed was clatter-
ing around in a needless way, leaving
untidiness behind her and creating
agony in the soul of Emeline Taylor,
the neatest housekeeper in the whole
county.
! ITS real good Of you. Mamie" said
the sick woman gratefully. Some day
I'm going to make it all right with you
for all your kindness
Il don't want anything" assured
Miss Mamie, turning very red. I'm
always glad to do something for
| sick neighbor, and you know L live
next door. The Weekly Times let
ter from Robin and a postcard-there
kof afo hun
| Mrs Taylor smiled in a tight-lipped
way as she took the letters in her
swollen hands. Thank you, Mamie"
she said quietly.
Miss Mamie's face fell. "Ain't you
! going to read Robins letter? I'll be
looking at the paper a minute and
maybe there's some news you'd want
| to tell me-"
He is so busy-traveling most of
the time-he doesn't have time to
write much" defended Robin Taylor S
| mother.
81 expect his wife travels with him.
ventured Mamie.
Possibly" said Mrs. Taylor crispiy.
Mamie rose to go. at thought maybe
they'd be coming down here
Some day." and Mrs. Taylor turned
her head toward the kitchen. You
can make me some toast, Mittie," she
called.
| "Wen, goodby," said Mamie, as she
went out thru the glass doors into the
pleasant old garden, neglected now
| that Robin was away and his mother
was tied to her chair. The whole viii
lage knew more about her affairs than
Emeline Taylor suspected.
| They knew, somehow, that Robin
had telephoned home from Chicago
that he was going to marry ''Doreen, :"
and they knew that Mrs. Taylor had
telegraphed him not to do it-and
| OH n he iT-l-
altho three months had passed his
mother refused to forgive him or to
see the young couple. He didn't even
know that his mother was crippled
with rheumatism, for she wrote to
him faithfully every week, acknowl-
larly sent her, tho she never cashed
the checks and never mentioned the
name of Robins unknown wife in her
letters.
Lately she had formed the habit of
putting his letters away unopened.
The fact that he could write meant
that he was well. Now she kissed his
letter passionately and put 1t away
with the others, but the postcard she
looked at with interest. 1t showed the
New York Botanical Gardens, and off
on the sky line was an arrow in ink.
1--WE are keeping house here-you
must come down and stay with us.
Love to you, Doreen."
The arrow pointed to a tall apart
ment house.
"sending her love to me-" sobbed
Emeline Taylor angrily as she tore the
postal in two and tossed it into the
coal hod by the drum stove.
/ "Mittie, is tea ready?"
Il Mittie Weed came scuffiing her feet
while her dark eyes, scanning the
room, discovering the agitated face of
her mistress, the unread letter clutched
in her hand and the torn postcard in
the coal nod. In trice Mittie had
moved a small mahogany stand beside
the big chair, placed the little tray,
with its steaming pot of tea, its plate
of hot toast and dish of ounce jelly,
deity spread a damask napkin over
Mrs. Taylor's folded hands, uncovered
the sugar bowl and cream jug, and,
picking up the coal hod, vanished into
the kitchen.
| Here, alone, she drew out the torn
postal and studied it with plying eyes.
That girl ought to be here looking out
for his ma! II 1 had mother-in-
lore" Mite wagged her untidy
head and pulled some letter paper
from a corner cupboard.
Ten days later Mittie startled Mrs.
Taylor by giving notice and leaving at
once. You can easily get some one
else, Miss Taylor" said the girl, stub
bornly, when her employer protested
that she could not stay alone II know
you"
who is she?" snapped the old lady
Mfttie didn't hear. ''I'll send her
around tonight, Miss Taylor" and the
door closed behind her.
'Ingra titude," muttered EN- eline
Taylor as she sat there alone, help
lessly bound to her chair.
At o'clock a knock at the door.
Come in." she quavered.
| A girl came in. She was not very
tall nor SO very pretty, but she had a
eyes and rudy brown hair; her pretty
hands were capable looking and her
dress was neat and dainty.
'Mittie Weed said you wanted some
one to help you" she began. I can