The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-08-31
The Truth About Tobias
Vt TOOK nanora quite time to find

1T TOOK l!.nora quite time to find
7 out the truth about Tobias. Not
fhat Tobias could ordinarily be con-
sidered a mysterious individual. In
Iced he was precisely the reverse.
From the cool dawn hour in which
lie arose TO go forth and drive the
roam for Twist d Taffeta, of which
firm he was trusted collector. until his
return at $40 TO the modest fiat where
his sister-and supper-awaited him.
his life was a clean and commonplace
page. spread wide for every casual or
interested glance His nights, If less
EXPOSED to the are lights of public
scrutiny, might AS we'll have been so.
For. after eating heartily OF the food
Hanora had prepared. and referring 10
the same in admiring terms, he was
wont to remove his shoes as unneces-
sary impedimenta. place his feet IN
their wel,-darned hose upon the chair
"beyant." light his pipe. drink the sol
itarv bottle of beer which Hanora per-
nitteG him. and read the mighty accu-
mutation Of both morning and evening
papers until the autocratic spinster
who ruled his abode suggested "a
decade" and turned the lamp low by
way of q gentle but quite sufficient
hint
Tobias was 40-plus five. He had
brickdust skin. pale brows. a pugna-
,ious nose, and a smile OF such sudden
sufYusing. apologize radiance i cN-
nlained his love for his fcllOw-mcn IN
I'm, ~ ~ "A
Indeed, his was the only love that had
ever come Hanora's way. She had never
been guilty Of that form Of highway
robbery known as coquetry. Not tina.
uhe was unsophisticated She knew
shat a woman quick OF perception and
adroit Of finger may appropriate the
purse OF one who walks her way ana
suffers incarceration. And she knew
also that one who possesses herself OF
an unappropriated masculine heart not
only goes free in the sight of the law
but glories If she will in her guile anc IN
the magnitude of her deeds. Whether
the bonds of inopportunity had snack
ed Hanora Ryan or whether she haa
preferred maiden triumph 10 the ex-
tultation OF matronhood deponent say
eth not. Anyhow, 10 get back TO the
truth about Tobias. On one memorable
midsummer eve he devoured lemon
pie without protest. Hanora knew re
loathed lemon pie. On the followin
morning he meckiy ate the French
boast She set before him, instead 81
his regulation potato and rasher. Ihi'
was her second test. For Tobias nae
frankly declared only two weeks age
that he would eat no more French, OF
Flemish. or-no. ,4corrah--B oer toast
that was made OF sale bread dipped u
egg and fried! So there She begaT
20 feel suspicious. lie was goo'
Brother. but alarmingly docie whel
presented with viands for which he pos
sessed an aversion.
She was like the parrot which II
owner declared "said little but done
devil OF heap OF thinkin!' Sh
thought good deal in those days. Whe
Tobias suggested bringing frien
home with him to dinner she though
more than ever, albeit she possibly SAL
less.
ITO be bringin' a man here for
male." uuoth she. "What kind OF
man might he be. now, Tobias"
"sthraight as they make EN-.
promptly responded Tobias. lie drive
the rush bus. He's n good wan. He
relish one Of your raspberry rolls
that he would IIanora" Where's
Hanora bushed in a wintry suns'
sort OF way and said he might bring h
eriend.
lie did bring his friend. And
tell the truth--Hanora looked excee'
ingly well. She had given her blac
silk skirt dip" whatever that myst
rious phrascology may mean. IN
she wore with this shirt waist
softest lawn. which she had bought
quite an absurd figure because i WI
one OF the smallest sizes. This 81
had duly and de.icately Numbered. ~
that
The household art was the only dover
she would bring for a silt to him she wed
But the household art shone up
resplcndcnce on that particular nigh
Never. thought trcacherous Tobia
with glow at his heart, had any ms
such sister, and il IL were not 4
the--here he broke Oft in an agony
deception which made him temporari
oblivious of the merits Of the ras
berry roll.
"lou amt eat . bite!" avow
llanora.
Tobias made sweeping gestu
across his Adams apple. "Clear
hcre!" ne declared, with delicio
0sndacity.