The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-26
Euening Story
Belinda,s Brew.
81 RUBY DOUGLAS.


Belinda was worried. A shadow APP
peared in her dark eyes and a pucker
| fingered on her lips
II certainly would not have set this
brew II l had known L had to make
| this trip to Buffalo. 1t takes as much
attention as a baby.
Ten pounds of raisins at 80 cents
a pound and two pounds of brown SUI
gar at twenty. to say nothing of the
tartaric acid-why-it's ridiculous. 1
can't afford to waste it. And it will
be wasted if I do not stir it every day
and watch it," Belinda began to Won
der what she could do.
There was no one with whom she
lived. She occupied her tiny studio
alone. There was no one with whom
she could burden the brew.
Her trip to Buffalo was necessary.
She had promised Harry that on his
next shore leave she would visit his
mother in Buffalo SO that they might
both enjoy his holiday together In
fact, she had half promised that she
would give him an answer to his pro-
posaI at this time.
Now, she seemd to feel it nui-
sance to go so far away-just to see
Harry. And she was beginning to
wonder if this were the proper state
of mind for an engaged
girl. She was very fond of Harry and
very proud of his officers uniform.
Not that Harry's uniform had seen any
special service but it was becoming.
and he had graduated from the naval
academy and had been in part of the
war zone.
For. the moment the uniform and
Henry-she called him Henry when
she did not feel so kindly toward him
-paled into insignificance by com
parison with the home brew IN Whlch
she was absorbed.
As she put things into her suitcase
she decided to be unconventional ana
ask the young man on the same IiooE
to come in each morning and STIR the
pot. She had never seen him, but the
regularity with which he came ana
went each morning and evening mace
her realize that he was dependable
person.
Tom weston, Scotch as a bunch of
purpIe heather, was surprised at the
quaint request of the girl whose voice
he had heard in the next room TO ms
own For be it known that Behnda
sang and practiced from time to time
The mans smile was encouraging to
Belinda. She observed a long scar
across his che elk. Then her eyes
sought the expression that was unmls-
TAXA ble-the tale that told of unfor-
gettable destruction. She knew IN a
minute that the man had fought IN
the big war.
ssWould it-would you think it
strange if asked you to go to my
room every morning for a few days
and stir my home brew pot?" she
asked timfdly.
Tom laughed. I've done harder
things than that" he said.
81 am dashing for a train" she went
on Here is the key. The big stick
that lies across the pot is to stir it
with. and--and oh, thanks SO much.
Tom took the key. 'TH stir it
Don't worry. And-shall 1 post your
mail. perhaps?"
'sOh. would you?" She gave him
her address. Don't send papers-just
letters that look as if they might be
lures and-sometimes I get a check, !
which I need"
s'TII try to extract some from the
postman for you. 1t will give me
pleasure to do these little things for
you, so don't worry while you are !
away"
Belinda loved the succession of RS
in his words. In fact, Belinda found /
herself as she Travelled toward Buffalo |
and Henry-thinking far more /
and general magnetism than about the
man she was on her way to see. She !
could see the great scar across his
face and the winning smile that OBJ
scured it.
'It-oh. not couldn't be love-at
first sight" she tried to tell herself
''And yeti is something. 1 have
never felt this way before"
Then she began to wonder II he had
liked her. Was she his type?
That she was very much his type
Tom weston had decided Is he stirred
each day the now kissing brew. He
looked about the little studio; he OBJ
served the nominees of it; he decided
that Belinda was a domestic girl-as
we'll as a most beautiful one.
One morning the postman brought
an envelope that Tom decided must
pc a check. and this gave him an ex-
euse to send an accompanying note.
He explained that the brew was get
ing noisy and active-temperame mental.
Is he explained it and wondered IL it
we're all right, or IT, perhaps, he did j
lot DO the right thing by it.
His delight at getting an answer