The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-09
Epcning Story
That Sweetheart Booth.
BY MARGARET NJ. LUKEs.


there in the dark for a breath1ess
moment before she struck a match
Then in the sudden glare of gaslight
her eyes darted to the bureau. They
travelled furtively to the little table
| in the center of the room. Kathleen
gave deep sigh and threw her bead
ed bag down lstless on the bed.
There was no letter. 1t was three
days now.
She looked in the mirror and sud
denly great hate for herself and
her cheap prettiness arose in her.
There she stood like a little blond
painted lips. And what did it get
her? Not even an invitation to the
White Palace Friday night. The
angry look slowly faded from Kath-
took its place. Charlie Hayes was
getting tired of her. Some one who
got more than $50 week pounding
a typewriter, some one could spend
more money on clothes than she could
had won him away from her.
In their weariness her eyes caught
the eyes of her mother looking sweet
ly at her from out the frame on the
bureau Her lips trembled. All the
things she had thrown away to come
to the city six months ago, the coun-
try town home she had been ashamed
to tell big, handsome, stylish Charlie
Hayes about suddenly became most
| dear to her. She had not event sent
her father birthday present Re-
morse and shame crept into her heart
A wave of defiance followed. Did
he, with his fine clothes and his
money every other night in the week,
think she was going to forget her own
people just so she could have gay
things to wear and go to the White
Palace to dance? Let him have Ros-
ammo Finnegan with her lace stock
ing and a new hat every pay day.
She would show him.
1t was two days later, just as the
winter sun was setting, that Kath-
leen stood on the shabby station
platform at Frackville, stood there in
her plain blue coat and rushed pelI
NELL into the arms of her mother
She had let them know. She had
wanted just this, Dad trying to tell
her about the big new Giant Tire
Company plant, hadn't she read it in
the city papers? Jack jumping up
and down at her side yelling about his
| skates. And mother! Thru the
voices of them all she could some
how hear her mothers.
For good dear, you've come" she
said, mot just d visit?''
Nope; mummy, for good" Kathleen
answered as they bundled her into
little car which was an ACQUISITION
since her departure. Game home to
make pies>for daddy, and, say. daddy,
can learn to run this thing?"
you bet your life you can, but
your mothers going to keep you
mighty busy for the next few days.
Signed you up for the fair. Can 1
tell her, mother? All right, here
the Sweetheart Booth What you
know about that? Thought you being
in the city could tell them cards and
Spades
And that evening after the piping
hot biscuits and the fricassee chicken
and the CHEEKY conversation in the
cosy kitchen they whisked her off to
committee meeting of the fair What
again! The girls wanted to know if
she still knew how to make cake, the
boys wanted to know if anyone in the
city had cut them out. There were
endless plans to be gone over. What
did she think of this? What did she
think of that? Here she was wanted,
Kathleen thought. 1t was good to be
homei
But up in. her little white curtained
room that night Kathleen stood for
long while in the moonlight and looked
out the window To say you are go-
ing to forget is one thing; to forget
itself. another.
Now came three wild, Hurried days
of cake baking, crepe paper twisting
and goodness only knows what. Then
at last the night of the fair itself
clear. sparkling and moonlit.
The Sweetheart BOOTH" needless to
say, was a center of attraction. Here
eager-eyed sirls in bright colored
dresses stood ready to be bought for
dances. One white dress stood out in
contrast to the others. 1t was kath-
leen's. I'm tired of co1ors," she told
her mother, and brought forth a ruffly
summer thing. Her pretty golden hair
was combed softly about her forehead.
With her cheeks just softly pink as
she whirled in the arms of one partner
after another she was very lovely in
deed. If there was a look of wistfulness
in her blue eyes nobody noticed. There
was too much noise, too much gayety,
for that.
Nobody noticed either when, at
10 O'Clock, Kathleen threw her pretty
white wool scarf over her shoulders
and slipped quietly out the side door.
That sweetheart booth!" Boys and
girls looking things into each others
eyes. She could not stand it any
longer. She made her way slowly
down to the orchard where she played
when she was little girl.
All at once she realized some one
else was there. Some one tall, with
his hands in his pockets. was walking
slowly in her direction Kathleen
stood stock still Her heart turned
somersault. Was she dreaming this? /
There in the moonlight Charlie Hayes
took the last steps toward her.
Kathleen" he cried as tho he, too,
were seeing a vision. What are you
doing here-out in the country?''.
It's where I live, Charlie" she
answered in a strained little voice I
only pretended 1 was a city girl
lied" Kathleen was deeply ashamed
Then, But. Charlie. what, what are
you doing here?''
Wearing out my heart for you.'' he
said in boyish. even tones. 81 ran
away from you because I was broke. |
I was always afraid to stop taking
you to places. because was afraid I'd
lose you. Then / found out I couldn't
keep it up any longer. I had to for
get about you. You were out of my
class. I couldn't even say good-by. I
read about this new Giant Tire com
pany in the paper. and that's where
am now. A bunch of the fellows
came over to this stunt tonight. 1
4no1r n rool- IN F-varvbr1- was too !