The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-27
four DANCING FEET
TOM MAKES FRIENDS WITH THE
= FAMILY.
BY JANE PHELPS



They were nice chiIdreni Tom
| thought as they crowded about him
after their first shyness had worn off.
/ Uncommonly nice children, consider
rag everything. Jennie was pretty.
too, not SO pretty as Gertie. but still
pretty Anna was plain, but her
piquant little face was attractive;
while sturdy Tim intrigued him great
! ly. especially after he was told how
anxious he was to help so Cert would
MT have to do it all.
'.She's good. Gertie isl She gives all
\ her money most to ma, he had con-
fided-after the present of a pocket
| knife such as he never had dreamed
| existed, a good substantial knife, such
a one as a ranchman would be likely
TO carry.
But it was Mrs. Cummings who in
terested him most, Gertie's mother.
Her conversation, iIliterate tho it was,
showed her to be woman of charac-
ter She showed, without realizing it,
her anxiety for her children; her de-
sire that they should grow up good.
After Jennie finishes and TIM IS
older, we hope to move to a better
place" she tol Tom. There is bad
boys and girls everywhere, but I'm
thinl1in' if we was to be in a better
much badness. So far they have been
all right, thank Godl"
Tom smiled inwardly. Mrs. Cum
mingS was evidently a religious sort of
person according to her views.
She was hoSpitable too. She made
cup of tea. and gave it to him, and
with it some homemade gingerbread
not yet cold. Tom ate and drank with
relish. What if the cup was thick
and the plate had a nick in the edge
That didn't mean anything.
Gertie looked on. saying little. but
fascinated, happy. Wasn't he the real
Shar fcI, I'D H.
see, then she was glad she wasn't
She might say something about his
being her beau or something to en-
barrasS her.
clock on the shelf over the stove told
him it was o'clock. Then he pro-
posed they start.
I'm sorry Gertie has to work on
Sundays" Mrs. Cummings said. ''but
she does. Be sure you git her back"
Il will, Mrs. Cummings, and may 1
come again before I go home? I shall
have to go in a week or two
Come as often as you like. SIR
Tho last slipped out, unconscious trib-
Gertie hadn't heard her mothers
reply. For her the light had gone !
out There was mist before her |
eyes. She could scarcely see Going
away. In a week or two-rne end!
Courageously she pulled herself to-
gether. 1t was nice 10 see him for |
maybe two weeks longer. She would |
pc happy-e especially today, when he !
was taking her into the country again, /
Come down to the car with us,
Tim, Tom said when Gertie was
ready. brought some fruit for the /
chlldren," he added to Mrs Cum
m1ngs. His delicate feeling for their
poverty had prevented him carrying
it up with him
Delighted, Tim followed them down
stairs, and out to the car. around
winch had gathered a crowd of chill
dren, among them Lilly's brother and
two little sisters. Lilly would hear all
about it now! Gertie thought gladly.
Here. young man, Tom pulled
out a big basket of fruit: a steamer
basket, the best he could find, and the
biggest.
Gee whitiker!" Tim said admiring-
~. Gosh. That's great" Then at
a look from Gertie he remembered his
manners and said: Thank you"
DO you think you can carry it up
stairs?'' Tom asked smilingly, as he
helped Gertie into the car
I'll tell the world I can't and Tim |
they rolled away.
Tom had glanced. up at>the window,
waved his hand to Mrs. Cummings
and the two younger children all
three pressed close to see them drive
away
You are awful good, Giving the
children all that lovely fruit 1t must
have cost a heap!" Gertie said, then
blushed because she had said it. Some
way it hadn't seemed right-she didn't
quite know why-to speak of what it
cost.
II hope they will enjoy it," Tom
paid no attention, to her relief. per
haps it will console them for taking !
you away Then: "You have a won
derful mother. She was kind to give
me tea, and that gingerbread Why,
[ haven't had any like it since I left
my mothers home"
I'm glad you liked ma
Indeed I did! I only hoped she
ike me half as we'll" I
She liked you all right. I know
ma. hope the children didn't bother
you, they amt she hesitated. Amt
wasn't right, but what word should .
she use? No use. She couldn't think E
So she finished. used to company" /
81 thought them all very nice, and I
very nicely behaved. You need never ]
% ashamed of any of your family,
iertie." sensing her feeling. "Nev err Y
1e ashamed to take anyone to see
hem
Tomorrow serious tally