The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-18
TIE EVENING STORY
At the Poor House Door.


knows women that don't marry have I
hard time" Grandma Cole said to her I
sons meek widow.
Mrs Cole answered a little tremu-
lousy. But mother. they do want to |
marry her-Jessy might a-had four /
proposals last year, II only she'd /
a-gone and let the men speak out"
And who were the men. I'd like to |
knoW?" Grandma puffed her throat |
swelling visibly "Widderwers with /
nine children or else one foot in the I
grave, or cranky old bachelors, or may I
be even preachers. Besides how can /
marry you unless he ups and says so |
never did hold with this way of |
maxim out every man that went to a T
house, OF even rode past it. had a /
notion of goin' there courtin.''
She paused in breathIess triumph If /
Mrs. Lem Cole had been wise she |
would have held her peace. Grand !
ma bore controverting very Ill indeed, !
ana 10 prove her IN the wrong was to
risk everything. Mrs. Lem knew that
very well-but a goaded woman is
often desperate one Therefore she
burst out. 'WeIl! Three Of the men
and they weren't widoWers nor
preachers, but real good chances-ask-
ed me to ask Jessy il she'd listen to
EN-. And the other one
There wasn't any other one, Maria,
don't believe one word you're assay
1n., Grandma broke out furiously.
-Four proposals indeed! Why, Ann
Liza didn't have but three in the
whole of last year-and the beaux
around her all the time like bees
around a honey-pot."
THE other one was=Jimmy Wake
field. And he wouldn't be stopped
just UP and asked Jessy, like man
Mrs Lem said-not meekly, but with
such red spots in her cheeks she look
ed almost as young as her daughter.
Get out of here-you-i' Grandma
painted Jimmy Wakefield indeed!
| Why he's never had a notion to any
body but Ann-'Liza. And she's goin'
and ready. Don't you dare talk of him
wantin' that stick of a Jessy. If
thought there was any truth in what
you've said, I'd send you straight out
of the house."
Then We'll go-without Wanting to
be sent" Jessy burst out from the
doorway. She had been standing just
outside. feeling somehow that her dear
patient mother might need her help
and countenance. Il don't like to tell,
to say such things she went on, but
Nanny told the truth=nOthing but
the truth. And she shan't stay here
to be insulted-unless you ask her
pardon, We'll go away"
Where? To the county poor
house? I don't know any other chance
for ye.' Grandma said, white-faced,
her eyes flashing.
She was an imperiOus old lady, nObly
partial to her namesalze and favorite
grandchild, Ann Eliza-partly because
Ann-Eliza was pretty and taking, and
1mperinent, party also because she
had money enough of her own to be
entirely independent
Grandfather Cole had left everything
to his wife. She held on to it with
a grip of iron. All her five children
| had prOspered except IuckIess Lem
ue1. He had left wife and daughter
little, except his i'll luck. It had fol-
lowed them so, throughout the three
years since his death, they had at last
! been forced to accept the shelter
Grandma had grudgingly offered.
Teach SCHOOL, You know I won't
have that" Grandma. had said to Jes-
sy's plan. mo, Missy, I'll marry you
off in a year=then you can take your
mother home with you. Remember,
beggars mustn't be choosers. You
amt quite a beggar-you'u get some
thing when I die, of course. But I
amt going to see my husbands money
wasted SO long as can help it-even
if had any to spare. which I haven't.
1t costs such a lot to do things-why
/ just even half-livin' nearly bankrupts
men. Ann Liza has to have things
she's got q delicate appetite, and SO
notionate. She can afford to be-be-
cause she can keep on havin' what
! she wants when she comes to spendin'
I her own money. You We got no money
! to spend, so you'd better learn econ
oIny every way.
Jessy had been for going away
then. but her mothers timOrous fears
had prevailed on her to stay. Jessy
was not strictly pretty-her eyes were
| too serious, her lips too severe She
/ had good chin, fine and clean cut,
and a lovely neck below it. Her hair
was flaxen, her eyes a water blue.
Ann-Eliza had black eyes and hair.
4 and very high color. Grandma thought
| her the prettiest creature in the world.
! She likewise thought Jessica hardly
passable. But now as she faced her
! grandchild, she saw a J essica new and
strange-one whose cheeks were da-
mask roses.
The change startled her-she turned
half about saying in a grumbling
voice, Maria, you oughtn't to provoke
me so. Go out in the garden-Im
comm pretty shortly And you, Jessy.
| tell the boy to bring round the buggy
u want yon and Ann Liza to. drive
| over to the store for me-
I'm sorry-but I can't 60" Jessy
said. holding tight to her mothers
hand. 81 shall be busy-paclxing up,
and finding out how we can best get
/ away"
! "Oi Shut up, Stop your foolish
/ talk" Grandma commanded fretfully.
Jessica shook her head, and turned
| toward the door. Grandma had weak
ened sensibly-she was on the point
of mumbling out an apology. But as
| Ann-Eliza cried pettishly: Il wish
you'd look at that I told you what
would come of setting beggars on
horseback" her anger famed up hot
ter than ever.
you do as you're told,' she cried,
catching Jessica by the shoulders and
trying to shake her You say you
want to work for livin'-prove it
by waftin' on your betters."
Jessica set her teeth hard, broke
from the quavery hold, and rushed
away. At the steps she stopped, smil
ed bitterly, and shook the dust from
her feet over her shoulder, she call
ed clearly. Mother. meet me at the
big gate in an hourly then I shall
know exactly what we can do
Ten minutes later she stood in the
Wakefield yard, facing Jimmy, with
her heart beating so 1t half suffocated
her. She had so dreaded to tell what
must be toId-tO ask the help what
- irnnerafive It was not much