The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-08
E0ening Story
a Mutual Discovery.
BY CORONA REMINGTON.


Guess you'd better get out here,
barn and unhitch."
Quickly the girl picked up her suit
case. and jumping out of the buggy
started for the front gate.
Where's mother ?" she wondered.
Maybe she didn't hear US drive up
At the click of the gate neat,
plump figure appeared hastily in the
doorway, a figure clad in a brand new
Bingham dress and in shoes that
squeaked beneath the weight of their
burden
Land How'd you get here, Mary?
1t amt a minute since looked out the
door and you weren't in sight
"Oh, mother, it's so good to be
home!" The girl kissed the smiling
old face and. noted in one glance OF
satisfaction the healthy glow in her
mothers cheeks and the sparkle of
happiness in her eyes.
You're looking a little bit peeked,
yourself" remarked Mrs. Allen, pick
ing up the suitcase and starting in
doors.
Mary was glancing about at the old
familiar home. She saw the new front
steps. so white and shipshape. and the
little strips of new flooring that had
been slipped in here and there along
the outer edge to replace the ones
that had succumbed To the endless
L
had the sleek ed-off appearance OF a
home that has recently undergone a
garret-to-cellar cleaning. and Mary
recognized with throb theee silent
little signs of welcome.
Think of it, mother. B. A. col
lege graduate, full fledged and run
ming over! 1 never dreamed I'd get
there"
But you did, and now I won't have
to be worrying all summer about your
going away in the fall. Lay off your
hat Mary It's awful pretty. How
much did you give for it? I'm going
to pull of these shoes; they're killing
my left foot. Then we'll go to the
kitchen. 1 was just fixin' to roll out
the pie crust
Mrs. Allen tried to hide her excite
ment by talking rapidly.
Bob was over this morning" she
went on. Got back wednesday.
| Reckon you know more about him
than I do tho, bein he's proba bly,
| been Writin' TO YOU most every day.
He graduated with honors, the paper
said. told him you was coming home
today, and he said he'd be over after
supper. Reckon you two youngstersli
| be glad to see each other again He
seemed kinder glum; didn't say much
of nothing, and Bob generally carries
on so much foolishness. Don't know
what's the matter.
Mrs. Allen sat on a hassock in front
| of the upholstered couch and drew
two eninently comfortable, flat-footed
old shoes from beneath it. With
sigh she carefully removed the others
and pulling her stockings out at the
toes. slipped on her shabby old friends
That's better" she said, rising
Now I'll be able to get around. it,
most supper time. Well have te
hurry. Land, Mary, what makes you
so pale? Nothin' I said frightened
you. did it?"
The girl tried to conceal her emo
ton with a laugh.
mo. not frightened, mother. Just
dreading something. somehow"
"Pshawi You're not bothein
about what I said about Bob, are you
He's all right; lookin' fine and a hear
stouter than he was when he left last
fall
The supper somehow fell flat. No
body had much to say; Mary was not
| in her usual spirits and Mrs. Aller
felt disappointed. For a week she
had planned that one meal and this
menu included Mary's favorite dishes
yet there had been no enthusiasm
Tired and sorter let down from the
graduation and the trip and ALL" Mrs
Allen concluded. AS they were clear
ing the dishes away together a knock
sounded on the front door.
There he is. Mary. You run on;
can finish this"
Mary. now quite pale again, stood
beside the table and fumbIed with this
knives and forks in her hands.
Hes knocking again. Hurry uI
and take off your apron"
Mrs. Allen deftly jerked the strings
behind her daughters back and
pushed her toward the door. Me-
chanicaily Mary went down the hall
and met Bob Hansard coming in.
"Oh don't, Bob" she said, backing
away from his open arms. Il can't
we mustn't. Oh, it's terrible. Come
into the parlor and let me get over
with it,
Hastily she led the way into the
stiff little room to the right of the
front door, talking all the time.
II don't know how to tell you;
can't. 1 hate myself. and I know