The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-01

of manhood. More than that. though
the majors love-making was high
noWn and sentimental, it was attuned
to descending key. He talked to
Mrs Kirkby OF going hand in hand
down Hfe's hill together, when her
heart was wholly vernaI. and, in a
sort, oddly virgin. She had never
loved her husband until age and in
trinity had made him depend on her
The casual romance Of girlhood did
not count. Fifty and freedom had
round her ready for a grand passion.
Add the strength of thwarted ma
ternal feeling and it is easy to under
stand why she leaned from age to
youth. Seena had known for at least
three months how the wind blew The
knowledge had made her set her teeth
but hold her hand.
Seena had not a penny. and was
moreover, no beauty. But she had the
1nVlncible charm of youth, conjOined
to subtle, almost eerie fascination.
Benny Townsend felt it more than ever
when he handed her that morning
into the best rig the town AFFORDED,
and set off with her for a long drive
through summer fields and woods.
Sena had felt dinly that the occa-
sion was momentous NotWith &and-
ing she had not failed to post Mrs.
Kirkby's letter. She had laughed as
she did it-rather grinly. to be sure,
then gone rejoicing on her way.
Consequently, the letter and the
butcher-boy reached Mrs. Bigg at the
same time The bow was bright and
we'll schooled enough to make out
more than half the letter in spite of
Mrs. kirkby's fashionable hand. Mrs.
Bigg listened to the reading at first
with frowns and curIs of the lin but
toward the end chuckled aloud. The
boy also chuckled, asking as he gave
back the letter: HSay. Missy Bigg,
whutever viii yer do to her? You
shOrely wont let no woman-person
L
Little boys mustn't know too
much-run erlong with the nickel
give We" Mrs. Bigg said thrusting
apples upon him as she pushed him
through the kitchen door Then to
her image in the kitchen mirror, nod
ding between words: "I'H fix you,
Madam Kirby! That I Wilt Deceit
full old CO. tGot ye are-tTyfng to keep
me from talkin' back III show We
about that. I'll show ye, too, sech
cOokin' as you amt tasted this many
la day!'
Thus it fell out that luncheon next
day was prompt on the stroke of one,
also that Mrs. Kirby pronounced the
fried chicken heavenly the salad
dream, and the raspberry tart an ex-
perience, regretting between mouth
fuls her own inhospitality; she really
should have kept the rector. whether
or no, and phOned the major to come
straight away instead of waiting unz
the door, grinned as she heard her
employer say to Seena: 1T was an in
spiration-my letter. Biggs has not
got it read yet, of course-but just
knowing that she has it, has put her
on her mettle. Such a nice letter, she
feels she must live UP to it."
''She does. men," Mrs. Bigg said
soto vOce. shaking her fist at the
door. Seena ate with her eyes in her
plate. like one in d happy dream.
ha1f mast three Mrs Kirk nv wa &
fitting rather ponderously about her
library, arranging things as she knew
the major best liked to see them She
had the normal feminine impulse to
that came in her way. 1t gave her
start to see Bigg come through the
door. in her starChest. clean frOck,
and with her most wooden expression
But the memory of the flesh pots so
treasured her. she began to beam and
say: so you are going out this after
noon. That is all right. You deserve
it, I'm sure-and you needn't hurry
back. After that luncheon We can't
possibly be hungry before nine"
I'm not wishful to go, men, Mrs.
Bigg returned. still wooden. But since
I'm no scholard wont ye be good
enough ter read me this? It come yes
terday-and I've been that drove. L
haint had the chance to take it to
nobody alse."
why, I'D love to-if I had time.
But Major Winn may come any min
ute now Mrs. Kirkby said, going red
and white. Read that letter-her own
with Rigg showing herself thus a
household treasured Not for anythingl
But unless she did read it, Bigg would
take it to somebody else-and hear 1t
badly, with no suppressiOns, slurrings
nor omissions In that caSe-AITS.
Kirkby sat down quite overcome. Had
not Mrs. PTimly warned against stove
heat as above everything destructive to
the middle-aged compleXion2 Desper-
ately, with shut eyes. she reached for
the letter, but as she took it, opened
her eyes, and said, smiling brightly:
What That letter. I needn't read
that, dear Mrs. Bigg-because I can tell
you all that is in it wrote it myself
to thank you-to let you know my
gratitude for the excellent care you
take of me-and TOTO ask you what [
could do for you in return. You see,
I'm the poorest hand at saying out
mercy! I judged you was jest the
other way Mrs. Bigg interrupted.
But read it right along-every word.
I do love to hear nice pretty ones-I
amt had SO many of EN-
We'll, it won't take lOng-I do write
the crawliest hand" Mrs. Kirkby said
uncertainty ''Lfstenl This whole first
sheet only says: j am writing to thank
dear Mrs. Bigg for the beautiful boun-
tiful tea she gave us last Sunday"
L know what that lad-boy Benny
Townsend dotes on Didn't cook
thar?'' Mrs. Bigg interpolated, with a
small malicious smile.
Mrs Kfrkby hurried on, all in a fiut-
ter: And I thank you more for-oh
what is the word for my good hearty
breakfasts, which are making a new
woman of me- There, dear Mrs. Bigg!
That's really all of any account. I'm
ashamed of myself didn't know I
wrote SO dreadfully I must have been
upset about something. Let me burn
this scratch, and some day you shall
&c BURN It! Not muchle Mrs. Bigg
said. taking the letter foreibly. m
goin' to show it at church-meetin' to
let folks see you amt stuck-up and
proud like they say. I'll tell 'em when
[ show it. to quit some more of their
fool talk-about you and Benny Town