The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-17
EDening Story
Memories interviewer.

BY RUBY DOUGLAS.
In spite of the fact that Hugh
Wharton was what the boys called
regular fellow. he had developed an
art in which he had become absorbed
namely, the art OF designing and ex-
ecuting the most beautiful Of old
fashioned hooked rugs.
An architect by profession, he had
felt a creative urge that took him out
of the practical field of his work and
had led him first into designs of fan
tastic colors for mural decorations in
which he had designed. Then, re-
membering that art of his grand
mother, he had decided to make a
frame and a design on canvas And try
his luck with a rug.
too tired to read, fellows" he exc
planned when the boys with whom he
lived chided him for his feminine
task.
II guess I'll take to tattin'."
"And I to knittin'," added another.
But Hugh was not to be put from
his purpose. He soon had the big
frame constructed and had rolled the
canvas at the end and drawn the de-
sign thereon He had made an old
fashioned bouquet in the center and
intended to work it out in all the
hollyhock, corn-flower, 1ove-fn-a- mist
ana cdieuuuid CoioIS Oh Ine oIuAdi
flowers.
Don't forget the forgetmenots,"
sang out the boys as they watched
him hook in and out of the pattern.
you'll be jolly glad to have it in
the room when it is done" he said
good-naturedly. He could see a real
admiration for his work behind the
teasing attitude of his friends.
where do you get all the rags?
asked Bob Taylor.
"Oh, here and there-from the
girls" admitted Hugh.
Whose red sport coat is that in the
center rose?' asked Tom.
Remember Helen Moore?"
The three men recalled at once
the gay red golf coat OF the girl who
had married one of their friends and
gone away.
when you are old and cranky and
sit in feverie with your pipe, you can
think of all the girls who contributed
a BIT of their finery to your rug, Ell,
Hugh?"
Hugh nodded. He was hooking bits
design Ola cluster of cornfiowers His
face had taken on q reminiscent ex-
preston.
II wouldn't cry over it, Hugh, old
boy" began Bob.
Hugh forced a smile.
Whats the idea? Whose soft blue
is that you are n1oping over? '
The artist did not speak for a mo-
ment. He had stopped to clip off the
tops Of the stitches and had made the
selves were lying on the gray back
groand.
Florence Millions mother gave me
this material. 1t was in a suit of Flor
ence'S-years ago when 1 first met
her." he said at last.
'Oh, and that reminds me, I saw
her yesterday.
Hugh was startled. Saw Florence
Milton? Where?"
Here in town, of course. Didn't
think ia been to Europe, did you ?"
But thought she wasn't coming
home for another year." persisted
Hugh, resuming his work.
Bob Taylor smiled. t=He recalled the
fact that Hugh and Florence had once
been sweethearts - before Florence
had gone off to Italy to study sculp-
ture.
That night Hugh did not work with
any other color but the blue.
The next day he called up Mrs. Mill
ton. Ostensibly. he called her to tell
her how well the blue was working
into the rug. Really, he wanted to
why don't you bring it over to
show me, Hugh asked Mrs. Milton.
"I-wel1, could, at that he said
guiltily. I'll put it in the car and
bring it around tonight"
ct used to make them myself years
ago. My grandmother taught me to
hook rugs out of all the old ties and
silks and make wonderful things. I'd
love to see yours
But she did not say a word about |
Florence. Hugh had a suspicion that
Bob had been chatting. him.
When the door at the Milton home |
was thrown open that night the first |
the inside that caught his |
eye was Florence, herself, standing
there to greet him. |
What she began,
oh, it's a rug I've been hooking |
and your mother wanted to see it,"
he explained.
And then he took both her hands |
and looked into her eyes to search for
that she had told him was
not within her.
''Florence-is it there yet? Have
you found out that you care? Is
Is that why you came back?"
Florence nodded, while tears filled
her eyes.
Together they went into the great
iving-room where Mrs. Milton sat by
The fire. Hugh showed her the rug
and she detected the blue of Florence's
suit.
See, dear" she said to her daugh-
'or his corn-flower blue. Isn't it
oretty?"
Pretty isn't the word" corrected
Hugh. at is wonderful. And into
he corn-flower ] have woven all the
dreams of the past few years I may
have a memory"
You may have more than a MEM
said Florence, going over
% him and putting her hand in his.
Mrs. Milton discreetly studied the
pattern of the rug and recalled some