The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-24
TIE EVENING STORY
An Unofficial saint.
(By Grant Owen.l


furniture, its gaudy rag carpet. its
stuffed birds and its impossible chro-
mos was a dismal place at the best; but
now with the double row OF chairs still
ranged stitf1y about the sides of it. and
the feeble light of an unshaded kero-
sene lamp emphasizing all its barren
ugliness, it seemed a yeritable desert
of a room.
Sarah Biddle sat prim1y erect on the
sofa, her black-bordered handkerchief
crushed between her hands. She was
vaguely resentful of this unwonted
solitary dignity she was forced to
maintain. She wanted to be out in the
kitchen washing dishes. This sitting
still with folded hands like a visitor in
ones own house was in no wise pleas
ing to her. But she realized that to-
night, at least, it was expected of her.
and Sarah was not one of those in
trepid souls who can throw conven-
tionality to the winds.
It was all over The last mourning
relative-fortifed by the ample post
funeral supper-had condoled with
her, wept with her and departed train
wards. The only sound to break the
stiffness was the clatter of dish wash
ing at the kitchen sink, where two
sympathetic neighbors piled their dish
towels and discussed the late sad
function infinitely.
Sarah moved uneasily on the sofa.
No one could wash dishes to suit her.
She would have to do them all over
tomorrow before. she put them away.
She ached to get at them now; not
only to have them done properly, but
to relieve the strain of this unwonted
inactivity. This, however, was clearly
of the community. To have a mind
for household duties before the NOR
row would SAVIOR of ca1lousness.
She heard the gate latch click and
then the sound of heavy footsteps
coming up the gravel walk She leaned
forward, listening intentIy Any diver
sion would be welcome to her tense
nerves. Presently the front door
opened softly and as softly closed. She
was aware that some one had tiptoed
clumsily into the room. She looked up
to find a pair of good-natured eyes re-
garding her whimsically.
Good evening, Seth she said, with
out rising. Wont you set down ?"
Seth Carlton selected & straightba
Cd chair In the front row, jerked it
forward and sat down awkwardly.
1 run over to see how you was get
tin on" he explained
"Oh, nicely" she replied. EVERY
body's been SO good. And Seth, want
to thank you now
What for?' he demanded brusque-
For all you DONE" said she. ''hxin'
UP the hedge an lookin' after the
ers." She paused a moment Don't
you think everything passed off well p
she asked.
He nodded abstractedly. He appear
ed to be thinking deeply.
Sarah, he said at length looking at
her with that penetration of gaze she
always found rather disconcerting, do
you know 1 was sort of provoked to-
day?''
''Provoked!' There was surprise
and wonder and disbelief in her voice
Yes, provoked he repeated fatty.
Her eyes questioned him, but she
waited silently for him to go on.
1 was 1iStenin to what lots of them
folks had to say to you today he re-
sumed slowly. ct heard 'em talkin'
about his sufferin' an his patience
heard one of EN- say he was a regular
wasn't her" Her tone was very
calm, but there was hint of challenge
in it.
I'D be the last one to deny it, said
he, but what made me provoked was
that them folks only looked at one side
of it. There Warn't none of EN- that
spoke of your sufferin' or your pa
tience"
She was silent. Her hands were nerv-
ously twisting and untwisting the black
bordered handkerchief. A spot of col
or came into either cheek.
Mind, I know your father was one
of the best men, he said sturdily. but
it made me mad that they didn't tell
the other side of it-that you are one
of the best women. Didn't you give
up everything for him? Where have
you been for the past ten years? No
where's. What have you done all that
time, except take care of him? NOthin'
Amt you suffered an been patient?
Didn't you give up the man you loved
so you could spend all your time taxin'
care of your father2 Sarah, II was
goin' to name a regular saint on earth,
7 eI-o wont
It was a long speech for Seth Carlton
to make He sat back in the chair,
rather surprised at his own statement
of his feelings. Sarah smiled feebly.
1T wasn't so much as you make out, -
she protested.
He grunted Didn't it mean nothin'
to you that night, ten years back when
you told me you could never marry me
so long as he Hved?''
The color spots frightened in her
cheeks.
'sDidn't it?" he persisted.
Eyes" she admitted slowly,
AN hasn't it meant something all
them ten years?
She nodded her reply. for her eyes
brirnned with tears and there was a
lump in ner throat
TALK about patience an sufferin' an
saints on earth!" he exclaimed. Them
folks amt got eyes to see beyond their
noses. That's what made me provok-
ed"
He rose and stalked up and down the
room. At last he paused before her.
you've been a-saintin' of it about
Ions. enough" he declared, you've done
your duty, more'n done 1t, an I've wait
ed for YOU for ten most insanity years.
Now. next Saturday I want you
mot so soon as that, Seth" she
sssSext Saturday" he said inexorab1y.
AN we'll go on to washington an
stay a month, an to New York, an TO
Pbiladelphv. Your saintin' days are
over. It's time you had a chance to
be jest a woman for awhile"
IT can't-not SO soon" she pro-
tested.
eDid say a word durin' them ten
wears p, he asked
She shook her head.
Hadn't that ought to count for
something's"