The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-08
EoeningS Story
Medals and Things.
BY MARTHA Mcc. WILLIAM

BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.
There was frost in the air; also in
Mrs. Hubert's manner, as she went
between gorgeous ragged ranks of late
growth to meet the Trevors. Aunt
Bah had halted them before to see the
choice late roses and chrysanthemums
she was busy hooding and shrouding
against the Strengthening cold. Il
could cut them, to be sure" Aunt
Bah explained. But it is a shame
not to let them die happy in the sun
on their own stalks
How L wish humanity ran in fam
ilies." Archy Trevor laughed, taking
Mrs. Huberts hand IF it did-bur
there! I won't speculate on the i'm
possible. Instead. here are thanks for
what I may or may not be about to
receive
"Vivian, dear-please snub him
hard" Anna Trevor entreated with
q plaintive accent. He has been in
sufferab1e now for three days over
he won't tell what. Say right off you
won't listen. no matter what it may be.
Then he will run away to sulk-and
we can have beautiful gossip
About me, of course-I am fixed
as the laws of Modes and Persians,"
Good boy!" Aunt Bah murmured,
patting his arm.
He kissed her hand, saying with
twinkling eyes: do your worst, ladeis!
I'm ready for anything-even to have
you set the cats on me-
You'd like that, no doubt-now
that you have grown a cat fancier,"
Mrs. Hubert said silkenly.
Archy smiled, not quite easily, an
swering: There are cats-and cats.
am not fond of-everything- that has
claws"
"Stop fussing and be human" Aunt
Bah commanded. when you are as
old as 1 am, you'll feel how wicked it
is to waste life getting grouchy about
nothing. Go on and tell us your great
secret Archy-whether it's about
money, marbles or matrimony."s
ut might concern all three-only it
doesn't Archy answered, Struggling
IT'S only-all these came in bunch"
pulling from a deep pocket huddle
Of ribbons, crosses and medals. ''Near-
AFFIDAVIT along with them, saying
they're all due me. I can't quite be-
"Archyi You darling!" Anna cried,
hugging him close. Aunt Bah did the
same as soon as he was free. Mrs.
Hubert looked on him with humid
eyes, her whole being thrilled. Archy
had been so silent as to what had be-
fallen in those months overseas-he
had come back without scratch. and
had seemed to avoid comradely gath
erings. tho he had chung to his buddy
-Joe-George Green by manchester
a
many laughs together about some
thing they would not name. When
Joe-George went on to California. his
last shouted goodbye had been:
"Lordy. old son-theyl1 git you yet.
Don't 1 wish 1 could stay and see the
fun" Even after that Archy had held
his tongue. And Vivian Hubert, whom
he had loved and lost as Vivian Dane,
had been hurt and chil1ed-there must
be something terrible behind this ret
icence-nothing could make her be-
lieve Archy had played the coward
but there were SO many, many other
ways wherein he might have tripped
and fallen she had been far from
happy.
Then he had begun dangling after
The Francis woman-who affected
the intense in everything. Just now
she owned a humanitarian craze
went about doing good, according to
her own notion, to animals that she
might better have left alone. Cats
were her latest specialty-hence
Vivians thrust at Archy-he. had
actually carried home for the Francis
person litter of blind kittens rescued
from drowning. which she insisted
were entitled to an easier death.
Vivian had laughed easily over the
story-thereby confounding the gos-
sip who had told it. But she had cried
Silly, half the night after-she had so
hoped Archy would understand her
marriage had been hardly of her own
making, but a yielding to what her
elders in their wisdom had decreed
BY a cynical jest of fate, death had
freed her six months after the we'd
ding day. Now the freedom was Dead
sea fruit, turning to ashes on her lips.
But she had rallied as women will.
yelled her hurt by playing with other
he = h.
would never marry anybody She was
surviving to hold fast to that mental
attltude-even with Archy proven a
rare hero they were friends only. He
stood tossing the decorations lightly
from hand to hand, his sister and
Aunt Bab trying hard to snatch them
away Cupping his, hands, he held
them out to Vivian, saying with his
most whimsical smile: Hold fast
what L give you. Remember. Wv
now many times we played that
game %
several million, I think" Vivian
i MAJ TO answer, her fingers clutch
ing hard what he had dropped within
them: I'm wild to look at them
may ?" she went on
Archy shook his head NO. I'll
Drive my bargain sight unseen These
tokens come to me from three fine
IeLlows-Johnny Crapaud, John Bull,
l.
Sam. You know, it is a. privilege TO
pin any of 'em on an honest-to- good
ness hero-how much will you offer
for it? And which will you choose ~
Uncle Sam's-if it's no more than
a shoestring," Vivian cried, flushing
happily.
Highest priced in the lot" Archy
commented. But now L think of it,
you're fond of high prices"
He caught himself up sharp. Vivian
had grown. white as death-she
thought he was throwing her marriage
in her teeth-coulo she ever forgive
him His heart grew leaden as she
turned from him. saying clearly: Yes.
but I have grown wiser with age So
L drop out. Anyway, I could never
outbid Mrs. Francis-I'm not in her
class
-Right-o," Archy flung back, as he |
took the glittering huddle and passed |
it to Aunt Bah. Nan can take a
= I