The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-10
E0ening Story
Carved Oak and Spanish Leather
BY HARRIET BRUNKHURsr

sconced upon the cushioned chaiSe
] Tongue in the great luxurious chamber
assigned to her as a guest in the home
of her fiance's grandparents, the AL
dens.
ut is a wonderful home" unused
Dorothy, land they are perfect dears.
Yet there is something strange-just
little bit uncomfortable I wonder
why?"
Dorothy was the prettiest and
daintiest little blonde creature imagin-
able, with a sunny smile and temper
so sweet that brains We're a wholly
superfluous addition Pretty good
| top-piece" her brother conceded
observation-disclosures is not in the pic
ture, but you get used to ii" said her
father.
wits, Dorothy set them to discover
just why amid all the luxury and
kindness of her prospective relatives
home there was So singular an air OF
constraint.
Gould it be that they are displeased
because we came before the decorat-
ing was finished in the dining room ?"
she puzzled. mo, it couldn't be that,
| for they specifically asked US to come
before they went south. The what?"
Suddenly she sat erect among the
cushions.
why" she exclaimed, these old
dears have not spoken to each other
Dorothy nodded her head solemnly.
mo wonder there is a peculiar at
mosphere! The old lovers quarreled
| just before we came and are dying for
US to be gone so that they may make
up. I'll find out if Ted has noticed.
and we must get away at once"
Her fiance. however. gave her
queer little smile when she sounded
him upon the subject.
Mother WINS he said lightly. "She
said you would find it out within
forty eight hours. Dad and 1 bet that
granddad and Mamma would fool you"
How? Why?" Dorothy came as
near to a puzzled frown as was posi-
BILE with her round, smooth brow
TT is the family skeleton" said Ted
with an odd gravity. Mother said
you should be told. but I've heard you
say you abhor quarrels, and I was
afraid you might not want a husband
with such a record in his family"
81 have an infallible remedy for
bad temper-never knew it to fall"
smiled Dorothy.
mot T." laughed Dorothy. "Es-
pecially with all this dark family his
tory as yet a mystery. Tell me all
about this family skeleton of yours"
We'll, first, mother said I might
tell you that she will vouch for my
temper and dad says he can vouch
for mothers"
old goose," scoffed Dorothy,
tenderly-
That's approximately what mother
said you'd say" Ted returned with
sigh of relief "Well granddad and
Mamma quarreled thirty years ago and
have not spoken to each other since.
1t was something about the redecora-
ton of the dining room. That is why
! it is unfinished"
How dreadfully uncomfortable for
the poor dears.'' murmured Dorothy.
"Oh, don't know!" said Ted. They
/ rrYr cd frty- he
eighteen years of their married life,
while now they have lived in peace for
thirty years"
You cynical boy." chided Dorothy.
mo, really insisted Ted. Dad and
have felt like that about it for a.
long time. But it worries mother, for
she thinks it a disgrace. The truth is
that she is banking upon you to fix
things up"
How could II" Dorothy looked her
bewilderment.
ooh, little merry sunshine and all
that! But take my advice, Toots and
keep out of it. See nothing. I~don't
want to let you in for my squalls. If
they made up they'd start quarreling
directly"
81 wonder?" unused Dorothy.
Before the end of the week Dorothy
lregretfully admitted her agreement
with Ted. The quarrel was dead and
peace reigned. Grandfather was
courtliness itself, grandmother always
the daintily exquisite old lady.
They really do talk to each other,
altho it is thru the butler or the cat,
and there isn't a trace of bitterness
about their relationship" Dorothy said
to her fiance. Il did not believe that
could become reconoiled to situa-
ton that seems so dreadful, but am
Then write mother just how you
feel about it." urged Ted.
The following day turmoil seized the
household. Grandfather Alden was
suddenly stricken with Illness and
surgeons and nurses took possession.
Grandmother, tense with anxiety,
talked of grandfather as might any
wife. Dorothy, gripped with the pos
sibiifty of tragic outcome. found it
difficult to believe that grandmother
had not forgotten the quarrel But
the readiness OF each of the old people
to talk in friendliest fashion of the
other was from the beginning one of
the most puzzling phases of the situa-
ton
Grandfather came thru with flying
colors. 1t was then that grandmother
revealed how severe was the strain.
Never once in their thirty years
estrangement had either of them ad-
nitted the situation. Grandmother
broke her reserve.
Never once when broke my arm
did Henry ask me how was" she said
crfsply- He will expect me to yield
now that he is i'll. I shall do nothing
of the kind
The nurse appeared in the doorway
to announce that her patient was out
of the ether and she would take any
message they wished to send. assuring
them they might see Mr.. Alden in the
morning.
Mrs. Alden's compliments said
Dorothy, sweetly. land she hopes he
will have a restful night
The nurse looked somewhat beWil-
dered. but a second glance must have
assured her of the genuine anxiety
behind the formal message. Her in
depreciation remained forever a mys-
terry
In the morning she announced that
AIdnr, - h l. r.rife