The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-15
THE EVENING STOR r
When Things IIunnmed.
[By amy Harris.l

I
for visit with her sister in Miehi-
gan, and the pair had been talking
for the last hour on the veranda while
Farmer Henderson was doing up the
| chores at the barn.
what do you mean, JUDITH" was
asked.
Il mean several things. I mean that
have never heard of a case like H.
Your Minnie has been old enough 10
marry for these last three years, ana
| you've let a teller dawdle around here
and make Sleeps eyes at her and keep
all other fellers away, and yet hasn
more years doing it. call it mean
shame. When I say that things are
going to hum, mean that somebody
has got to toe the mark mighty soon
or get out. You and Elisha ought TO
have put your. foot down long ago"
You wouldn't do anything to embar-
rass Minnie?" pleaded the mother.
That's according; I guess I'll the EN- EN-
side however. Embarrassment is all
right in girl, Hannah, but it shouldn {
be carried too far. Both of US were
embarrassed when we were girls, but
we weren't so much SO as to kill our
prospects of getting married. We knew
when our beaux had hung around long
enough. Has Minnie ever given this
chap a jog?"
Have you or Elisha ever given him
jog?"
Then it remains for Judith Wellman
to do it. and she's straight on deck with
both elbows stuck out. 1t Won't be a
week before We'll know whether Joel
Davis means business or is just sitting
around like bump on log.
but you won't-won't"
II don't know what Ill do, except to
decide the case one way or the other,
and you needn't ask questions. I don't
believe in folks getting married within
week. and don't believe in counting
wants a girl or he don't. If he does.
let him take her; if he don't, let him
shy off and give some one else a
chance"
and a recognized belle for ten miles
around Everybody was agreed that she
would bake somebody a good wife. She
had been keeping company" with Joel
Davis for nearly three years. Joel was
a bachelor of 27, living on the next
farm west. He was steady, sober and
industrious, and everybody said that he
would make some girl a good husband
But Joel was also bashful and retiring.
He was in love with Minnie, to be sure,
but that very fact made him tremble
in her presence. A hundred times over
in the last two years he had resolved
to propose, but on each and every Oc-
casion his courage had OoZed out of his
fingers ends. He felt that the time
must and would come, but whether 1T
would take an earthquake or a cyclone
to bring 1t about he wasn't sure
It was three days before Aunt Judith
saw Joel. She liked his looks. and that
changed her plans somewhat She
hadn't been going to say a word to
Minnie, but now she changed about and
opened fire with:
Teller that has been hanging around
here for half his lifetime, and Will pro-
badly die of old age on your fathers
doorstep"
Il don't know what you mean by
hanging around . retorted Minnie
with a blush and toss of her head.
why. coming over here two or three
times a week to talk about grasshOp- |
pers and 'tater-bugs. 1 am surprised at |
you What can you see in such a Teller |
to encourage him? I suppose he knows
pumpkins from squashes, but I'll bet a /
big apple that if you asked him when /
the Pilgrim Fathers landed he'd fall off |
the veranda. Minnie Henderson, If you
send that Teller packing this very ev
ening."
you mfsjudge him. aunty. He doesn't |
push himself forward, but I assure you |
rive got eyes in nv head" snapped
her aunt. 1T never takes me over five |
minutes to size up a man. Joel DAVIS
is an It! He'll always be ten days be- /
hind the Fourth of July. It's a wonder
your father and mother have allowed |
Minnie choked down a sharp answer |
and went off to her room to cry. and |
Aunt Judith sauntered into the kitchen
to say to her sister:
There, now, I've got the thing started.
and you and Elisha have got to turn in |
get mad. and then see Joel, and there'n
be a wedding before you know it. Don't
you weaken when the time comes
bring back a bushel basket he had Dor
rowed. Minnie was upstairs and Aunt
Judith hiding behind the door. it was
left for Minnies mother to say:
Joel. I've been wanting to speak to
you, for some time. I don't think you
ought here often do.
'W-what!" gasped the lover, as he
Your coming here so often keeps other
young men away and does not give Min
ME a fair chance. OF course, she has no
right to waste her time on you"
Joel stared with open mouth. but to
tenpts he walked off. On his way home
to speak to Farmer Henderson, working
in his field. Minnies father had been
Joel had stammered out that it was a
hot day, and that corn seemed to be
one Of his cows had the hoiiow-horn.
when Elisha finished killing up a hill
'-Joei, they say that there's going to
be a heap Of windmill and wire-fence
men along here this fall. and if any Q!
or two I shall take em In
"W-why?" asked Joel.
well. there's Minnie. you know. It's
time she was thinking Of getting married.
Some of those windmill fellows are
smarter than chain lightning and well
off to boot. I've always kinder thought
I'd like one of them for a son-in-law."
but he had to halt at that The change
In the attitude OF the farmer and his
wife brought great fear to his heart
and started chills up and down his back
Minnie amt looking for a husband,
you know She don't have to do that
but when the right Teller comes along
I guess a match will be made. A piano
agent the other day asked me If she
was engaged, and told him there wasn't
anybody around here good enough. Yes,
it's a purity hot day. Joel, and shouldn't
wonder il tomorrer would be hotter',