The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-27
TIE EVENING STORY
A PIain-spoken Woman.

That was what Aunt Betty Hildreth
had always prided herself or-being a.
plain spoken woman. From the min
Aster OF her church, whom she rever-
enced down to the tin peddfer who call
ed at her gate, she said just what was
on her mind. She was near-sighted and
little deaf, and she didn't always see
or hear how people took her plain
speech, but as for the matter Of that
she didn't care.
One day. after Aunt Betty had been
widow for I'VE years and had got to
De woman so years old, she paid a
visit TO her cousin, Susan Burke, who
was a widow Of 80 living at Sanford.
It was the first time they had seen
found Susan a good-looking, active wo-
man, and they had scarcely finished
hugging each other when she exclaim-
Wen, Sarah Burke, you need talking
TO, you do. It's three years since Sam
uel fell into the millpond to be drown
ed, and you haven't married again."
It was two days later before Susan
owned up that a certain man in the
village had been paying her "atten-
lions" and that a match might possibly
come OF it, but at the same time she
carried the idea that SamuePs memory
was strong in her mind He had been
a good husband, and sometimes she felt
that her conscience would never per-
nit her to marry again.
Sarah, don't you talk no such non
V 4
have never married again because no.
body wanted me, but with you the case
is different. SamueIs memory is all
right, and it won't hurt 1t the least
mite If you marry some good man. I
amt saying that he shouldn't have been
praneing around on the millpond and
running the risk of his life but I am
saying that you can remember him lust
as well for being married again. What's
the name of the man who is shining
up to you2''
Sarah hemmed and hawed and put
her off. She knew of Aunt Betfy's
tricks, and was a bit afraid of her
Then I'll find out for myself" said
the older widow as She set her Jaw.
us women was brought into the world
to marry. If we happen to lose one
husband it's our duty to find another.
1 m out of It now, being so and homely,
but you are just too bouncing for any
thing. I'm going to see you all ready
to be married before / leave for home
That ended the conversation on the
marriage question. When Mr.. Gilbert
builder, who was the mar paying at
tentions,'' called on the widow Burke
of Sunday evening, he was of course
Introduced to Aunt Betty. She sized
him UP and withdrew. After his de-
parture she askeds
Sarah, how long has he been COM
ing here"
"Going on a year
Going on year, eh2 HIM! Seems
to be nice man."
Hes a splendid man.
"Old bachelor, take it ?"
Yes, he has never been married"
Don't look like a man who would
find fault because dinner wasn't ready
on wash days. Do you think he's in
love with yOu2"
Don't ask me such questions, Aunt
Betty" pleaded the young widow with
blushing face. HE has come here
once or twice a week for the last year,
and think l,o likes mo I11If oven if he
should ask me to marry him there
would be Samuel's memory like and
/ respect Mr.. Gilbert, but can't say the
feeling goes beyond that"
Aunt Betty nodded her head and
compressed her lips. That aight after
1 she got to bed she mentally repeated
/ to herself:
when a man has been calling on
/ widow two nights a week for a year he
/ ought to mean business.
when a widow respects and adj
mires she is ready to love.
Its all right to remember a dead
husband, but it's Fighter to catch an
other live one.
and Sarah is too shy to encourage him,
then Aunt Betty should come in to set
tie things.
Memo. Don't say word to Sarah.
! Next memo. Do a little plain speaking
/ to a certain party
And then Aunt Betty fell asleep. and
her conscience was so clear of all in
1 tent to wrong human being on earth
! that she was half an hour late for
! brea l<fast next morning. When she
/ had finished the meal she took a walk
/ down to the store to get some hooks
and eyes. In the afternoon she walked
out again to get paper OF pins For
1 the next three or four days she was
walking out by herself much Of the
time. Mr.. Gilbert called again and she
had quite a visit with him. Owing to
her near-sightedness she could hardly
/ make out the color of his hair, and
owing to her deafness much of what
he said was lost, but when she went
to bed that night she whispered to
/ herself:
..An women must take chances, but
as nigh as I can make out he'll make
Sarah a good husband. 1 don't quite
catch what he said about the lonely
life of lonely man, but think
can make his future years lively
enough think 1 can
Three days later Mr.. Matthews, wild
over. from the town of Glendale, who
/ had decided to move to Sanford with
| his lumber business, was waiting in
front of the post Office to see Mr.. Gil
bert about building house AS he
waited Aunt Betty approached,
touched him on the arm and said:
Mr.. Gilbert, If you are going UP
the street I will walk with you little
ways"
Il beg pardon, but I am not Mr..
Gilbert was the reply.
Aunt Betty didn't catch the words.
She had a mission. and was somewhat
embarrassed and perturbed over it.
/ She walked along. and the man
walked with her. It was a quiet street,
and there was opportunity for con-
versation. She began it by saying.
I am a plain-spoken woman. II
have got ANYTHING on my mind al
ways spit it right out. Our minister
prea ches an awful poor sermon some
/ times. and I amt afraid to tell him
So"
"Yes?H replied the stranger.
I'm Sarah Burke's cousin. I'm
widow. too. but I'm so old and homely
that I haven't one chance in ten thou
sand of getting married again. With
I Sarah it's different Shes young