The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-08
.TIr FOR TAT

gested the society, and thereby she
hoped to attain national fame For il
the first blush of enthusiasm she pre-
dicted that the Provident Home elut
would in time extend from New York
1 to. San Francisco with the Carson club
as the parent organization.
The p. H. c. was simple enough. II
consisted of nearly all the marrfageable
girls in Carson who, fired by the en-
thusiasm of Mrs. Anderson. pledged
themselves not to marry until their fu-
a bank account, thus making ample
| provision for the inevitable rainy day
| The young men had no share in this
enthusiastic admira ton for Mrs. An
| derson. Indeed, Frank Harper had had
his first quarrel with Rose Wilder be-
cause he had happened to hint that
Mrs AndersonS enthusiasm might be
somewhat less were she not comforta-
bly, married. Jack Anderson has plen-
ty of money" he growled, but old man
Anderson married when his sole capital
was railroad ticket west, and he new
er saved up enough to bring his wife
out to their new home until after the
| second summer
DO you dare to say that she is not
| sincere?" demanded Rose holly. She
was one of Mrs. Anderson's strongest
partisans.
she is sincere" admitted Harper,
"but if Jack was as poor as his father
was, and she loved him, I'll bet the
e. ed. T. C. would never have been form
In the end Harper went home with a
heavy heart, carrying the little ring
that had been the pledge of their love.
Rose had declared that he must pay
off the mortgage upon his farm before
they were married, and have at least
$1,000 in the bank. 1t took Harper ex-
actly a week to pull himself together.
Then he inaugurated retaliatOry meth
DDS. The ladies of the Methodist church
were to have a fair for the purpose of
lifting the mortgage from the church
property. Some time before Mrs. An
derSon had declared that the church
should stand free of debt within year,
and it was believed that this fair would
provide the last $500.
The day before the fair opened the
young men of Carson came out with
small badges bearing the letters G. 9.
c., but the mystic import of these char
acters could no the learned. The only
information ELECTED was that Frank
Harper was it's president, and that it
would make its object known in good
time.
The fair was duly opened. Half
dozen local celebrities made speeches,
and two or three dozen married men
made purchases from their wives and
daughters who Were standing behind
the stalls. Then there seemed to come
a 1ulI. 1t was Mrs. Anderson who made
the discovery that there was not an un-
married man in the room. Every young
girl in Carson was present either as
a saleswoman or visitor, but there was
not a DacnelOr IN slSnl- Inc AleA1ISu
men turned to manfully and bought
what they, could afford, but by half
past nine most of the crowd had gone
and the receipts counted up $3.50
The next morning various young
gentlemen soIemnly expressed regret
that they had been unable to attend,
and promised to get around that eV-
ening If they could. Evidently they
Of the fair was even duller than the
first. Many of the married men had |
stayed at home, and in desperation, |
Mrs. Anderson commanded her nus
band to see if he could not find some
Of the young men and induce them to |
come over. 1t was not long before |
Anderson was back, his face wreathed
= Most OF the boys are IN the va
can't store. next to the postoffice," he |
reported. 'They are havingsaS m Getting |
Of the G. S. club to discuss certain
important matters
Did you tell them to come over? ?"
she demanded.
Il did. but they declined the in
t'Weil." said Mrs. Anderson. with a.
knew full well, II am going oyer there
20 tell the boys what I think of them
Tor breaking up my fair"
81 think" said Anderson with a
eyes -belied that they would be very |
glad to see you. 1t is not in any
sensesa secret society!'
Ten minutes later she was being !.
welcomed by the G. S. c. with elab-
orate courtesy. ct is with especial
pleasure" said Frank Harper, in his
capacity as president, that we well
come you to our meeting. We feel that
t is to you we owe our very existence"
ITO me?" said Mrs. Anderson help
essly. I'm sure 1 never heard of the
club until just the other day.
'None the less" continued Harper,
while Jack Anderson tried to get as far
behind his pretty wife as he could,
that she might not see his tell-tale
lace; none the less, it is to you that
he honor of forming the club really
belongs.
''It was your idea that the young
of Carson should pledge each /.
0ther not to marry until the pros
oective husband had home and
5 s. 900 in the bank. While it is not
probable that under such conditions
many of US can afford to marry before
We are fifty, we recognize the bril-
fancy of your idea, which you your
self have declared is destined to reach
rom the Atlantic to the Pacific. We
EEL that the eyes of the country will
IN ortly be turned toward Carson, and
We have organized, supplementary to
your society, the Get Something club.
Dur members are pledged to attend
10 entertainment, to spend no money