The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-24
Eoenfng Story
Loves Signal.
BY CLARIssA MACKIE.

Job Filmer, when he returned home
after a few days absence.
"House?' Polly's cheeks were pink,
and there was quayer in her voice.
THAT little white bungalow on top
Of Sycamore HillAto be exact, the
new house on the lot that Bob Has
kins owns"
"Oh, Why, that's Bob's new house"
HUMP Mr.. Filmer leaned back in
his chair and slanted a look at his
pretty daughter. who's living in the
house? ?"
He is-he said he was tired of
boarding at the hotel"
@Going to be married, I suppose?"
Polly grew rosy as she turned re-
proachfuI eyes on her parent. You
know Bob wnated to marry me, but
you and mother thought 1 was too
young-and he was almost a stranger
in the town-and everything!"
Don't be disrespectful to your pa,
Polly Filmeri" warned her mother,
appearing in the doorway to announce
the evening mail. Some day you'll
thank your stars and us. too, that you
didn't marry man with all his for
tune to make"
IT didn't mean to be disrespectful,
and am sorry" and she kissed them
lovingly, but while I know he's just
starting in the hardware business here
you know he is making money, and
want to help him succeed-and be-
sides, money isn't everything!"
at helps great DEAL" said Mrs.
Filn1er, uneasily.
There's grandmother waving to
you" said Polly suddenly.
Her parents went to the end of the,
porch, where a close view of Grand
mother Filmer's gray old house could
be seen. The house was just across
deep gully at the bottom Of which
flowed a silvery stream Mr.. Filmer
had built a. small covered footbridge
across the O lily so that they could go
back and forth in all weather.
Grandmother was waving a red
cloth that meant that she wanted one
of them to come over. ''Pll go over"
said Mrs. Filmer, 81 want to take some
warm gingerbread. Coming, Polly?'
AS Polly went down the front steps
she stopped and gazed very intently
at the white house on the hill She
saw a tall gray figure waving a hat in
the air. Polly's handkerchief went up
and down frantically.
"Polly!" admonished her mother,
and Polly put away her handkerchief
with a soft smile on her lips. Mother
and daughter walked slowly down the
grassy slope to the little covered
bridge.
Mother, I expect grandmother has
>
Il suppose you have waved to each
other for years-before I came, and
I can remember it while I was grow
ing up
Eyes, dear. And mother says the
greatest happiness she has known
since her children have grown up and
left he home nest was the thought
that she could life her eyes and look
over here and see us in the garden
or about the porches-a wave of the
red cloth and we were over there"
They paused halfway across the bridge
and leaned out of the broad window;
the top branches of tall trees brushed
the bridge-the roots were deep in the
gully below. They could hear the
tinkIing of the brook below and in
hailed the pungent odor of mint and
sweet flag, where some careless foot
had bruised the stalks. Il used to play
down there when L was a little girl,
said Mrs. Palmer. 81 loved sweet
flagroot-"
IT want to hear about fathers build
ing this bridge" said Polly softly.
''Why, he built a house on the hill,
and there, was the gully between us,
long drive around by the high road
and quite a walk up and down hill
thru the gully. So, after your grand
father consented to our marriage. Job
built his house-and then when we
were married he built the bridge as a
surprise-it was almost a wedding
present"
"How lovely" sighed Polly. "And,
mother, when Bob and I are married
some day, I suppose you and father
will sit on the porch and signal to US,
as grandmother does to you"
Polly Elmer, what talk" chided
Mrs. Filmer weakly, as they emerged
from the other end of the bridge.
You know we don't approve of Bob
| Haskins."
IT must marry some one. some day
Il know you do like George Deer
han-he has everything you want me
to have-you've known his folks all
your life-they have plenty of money,
and Capt. Deerham has given George
! $4,000 to buy a hotel down in Cuba
of course, it's lovely to travel
| George Deerham is d ninny." de-
clared Mrs Filmer, as she led the way
into grandmother's house, where the
old lady greeted them with suppress
ed excitement.
Sarah Lines has been here taking
orders for some city store, and she
! told me bit of news about my own
/ family I didn't know"
What is that, mother?" asked Mr..
/ Filmer. who had strolled after his
wife and daughter. What have we
done now?'
Sarah says-Mrs. Deerham says II
! GEORGE ana ROlly get married this
fall they will sail for Cuba before
Christmas. I didn't know he was
counting our Polly"
He isn't. granny dear!" cried
| Polly. putting her arm around the
bent shoulders.
''Never!" shouted Job. hoarsely.
"Cuba? Well, I never-and- Bob
Haskin building a white bungalow
especially for Polly" cried Mrs. Fill
mer.
Bobby Haskin-the young man
| who rents my store down to the viii
lager" chirruped grandmother. ''Why,
he's the incest boy. Many's the dish
of baked apples and ginger cookies
| he's eaten with me here when he
comes to pay the rent. Came up the
| other night and said he wanted to buy
the store some day, and would I give
him first chance. I certainly will. I
admire pluck. I'm keeping that store
| for him."
He wants to marry Polly" offered
| Mrs. Filmer
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