The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-08
The Story
of Seda1ia.*

ItlTS enlcTgtu tnelT CndOS
of disorder and moved with rhythmic
regularity. After feeling upon our
necks the stiff rcins of many a maid
of-all-work we discovered that those
Sedalla welded were silken and that
she was gentle on the bit, Indeed, we
were apt to get our metaphors mixed
when We spoke of Sedalia, for while
1t was the aspiring young lawyer of
the family who reproved the sporting
individual for such phrase, 1t was
the daughter of the house who likened
Sedalia to a great rock in a weary
land. The pater families jocularly de-
cided that she vas sood for the pre-
paraton of human natures daily food.
And comment concerning her was
capped by the small boy emphaticaly
asserting that she was all right.
So Sedalia adopted us. and we were
duly grateful for the honor. To be
sure, she had her peculiarities. She
couldn't abide body trackin up her
floor. SO few were the feet that trod
thereon soon after the sound of her
scrubbing brush had ceased. And she
resented-as rejecting upon her capa-
bility-the anxiety which brought the
mistress of the house out into the
kitchen before dinner. Her interest in
the health of the household became
vivid-almost aggressive. One must
render account for heavy eyes or fail
ing appetite. The boarder feared to
meet her piercing gaze. Much as he
relshed her waff1es, he shrank guiltily
from meeting her eye. And yet he
was the most harmless of boarders-
innnppnt N I'd IN
men his life was blank, white page.
While he had cared in the course of his
fifty years for several women he had
never been conceited enough TO fancy
that any woman could care for him.
He lived i'm his office, his books his
few old friends. The daughter of the
house called him the alliterative artist
not. she explained, because he paint
ed portraits in his leisure hours, but
because he was proper. peculiar pune
tual. punctillious and prepossessing.
But, then, no one paid much atten-
tion to what the daughter of the house
said. She was at the age when enjoy
ment of athletic games sweetened her
life, and her perpetual exposition Of
the aforesaid delights made melancholy
the lives of others.
The first day that Sedalia bent her
eagle eye upon the bachelor-Mr. Alex
ander Trimmerth by name-that indi-
vidual perceptibly WINGED.
He looked up from his delectabe
breakfast in slightly nervous appre-
hension.
"You-you spoke to me?"
Sedala continued to regard him with
judicial gravity.
"No-1 didn't But will-if you
don't mind. How's your liver?"
Mr.. Trimmerth gasped. He hastily
set down his coffee cup.
"My--my--" he faltered. My"
Your liver" repeated Sedalia. "It
doesn't seem to me that the whites of
your eyes have got a real healthy look.
They are kind of yellow"
That was the time the small boy dis
tinguished-and isgraced-himself.
"1f the whites are kind of yellow, Sc
dalia." he ventured, why don't you
call them the yolks?"
But Sedalia was not to be discon-
Certed. Although her interest in each
and every member of the household
was unusual, it was Mr.. Trimmerth
whom she was apparently most anx-
ious to keep in perfect health. To tell
the truth, he rather resented her So
licitude, and as weeks went on this re-
sentiment deepened. He spoke of 1t to
the head Of the house with something
approaching CONSERVATION.
"Why she moved the hot biscuits out
OF my reach this morning, as though 7
were a child" he gasped. said they
were real short suppose she meant
rich-and said they might bring on
another headache"
You have not been having so many
headaches lately" he was gently re-
| minded.
"N-o! | dare say she's right in the
main. But I can't say that l like her
| everlasting supervision"
shes a capital cook" declared the
| landlady.
I'm not denying that. But she's
| too conscientious. She takes an inter
| est in me because she thinks she ought
| to. That's the trouble with her--con
| scientiousness. Now, I'm old enough
| to take care of myself"
He certainly was. as his silverns
| locks proved. although he did not look
| within ten years of his actual age.
DO you wish me to speak to Seda-
| liza"
"Well--it wouldn't hurt, But any
how the next time she attempts to give
| me advice | won't take it,"
This declaration of independence was
| put to the test the next morning 1t
| was a bleak spring day. Rain had
fallen in the night and A raw east wind
| was blowing. Mr.. Trimmerth came
| down stairs with new spring raglan
| on his arm. Sedalia eyed it scornfully
| You'd better not wear that" she
said. at isn't but half as heavy as
the one you always wear, and this
wind is going to do damage. Put or
| your winter oVercoat."
Mr.. Trimmerth ate his breakfast In
stony silence, but there was a resolute
| glare in his eye. The meal ended, hc
ostentatiously donned the raglan, anc
| without even buttoning II, went off re.
bellious and victorious with his head in
| the air. But that evening came Seda.
| la's revenge. For the boarder came
home with touch OF fever, a head.
ache and racking pain in his side. BY
the time the hard siege of pneumonia
| was over and he was-thanks chiefly &c
| Sedalia-on the convalescent list, hi
was surprised how pleasant he found
| it to have the deep-chested and comely
young woman around. What a pretty
throat she had! How neat she always
kept her dark brown hair! And there
was fine look OF loyalty In the gray,
blue Irish eyes.
"Sedalia," he asked one day, after &
prolonged and thoughtful silence
"Why have you never married."
MAY yet" said Sedalia laconicaly
Don't think | will, though. I dom