The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-14
TIE EVENING STORY
ordered by Mail.

t'Ach-it fss not much" the woman
said, refractory tear starting down
her cheek, 1T fss that America so
strange island the city the COWS
miss-and the garden, and making the
butter-yes,' and her exceedingly blond
skin turned red with the effort she made
to keep the tears from coming in tor
rents.
Mrs. Johnson's eyes looked meditative
while she tried to think what form of
comfort to offar.
I'm sorry you are homesick--it's an
awful feeling. But cheer up she said
money for theater tickets and you can
both 90 to see that spectacular thing
they say is so wonderful
Johanna smiled gratefully. You so
very good iss,'' she said, as she went
towards the kitchen.
In the midst of his dinner, Mr.. John
son thought of something and COM
menced laughing.
from q. customer down south. He or
dered a whole list of things, then cli-
NAKED with one wife for a widower of
g.
Mrs Johnson's eyes were wide with
unbelief. Charley Johnson-you Ger
tainly are jokingl The man couldn't
have been so foolish as to be in earn
est?"
1T wasn't for himseif-it was for a
country customer young widower
with dairy farm on his hands that has
been going to rack and ruin since his
wife died.
Mrs. johnson was evidently struck
with an inspiration.
oh! Charley-how would johanna
do?" she suggested enthusiastically.
I think she would do finely-5ust
the bill-if she would CO. Mr.. Johnson
finished obviously. But if I sent down
a piece of pink and white, yellow-haired
perfection as Johnna-I am afraid I
would have an order from every farm
er in North Carolina, and would be
forced to open matrimonial bureau.
do you know anything about the
widower2" Mrs. johnson asked at
length.
Yes; Hayes wrote me a letter and
gave q pen-picture of his life from the
cradle to the grave-his wife's grave
he added with grin appreciative of
his wit; says he will absolutely vouch
for him, and that If I can find a woman
who Is suited to the man he described
it will be a good thing for her BY
Jovei I believe Johanna is the ne plus
ultra-if she'll go-pity she can't talk
better English
ooh, her little foreign talk won't
make any difference; he can stand it;
you see I'm able to stand your Latin
or French, whichever it Isl can
never quite determine from your ac-
cent
John Burden pulled the horses up
N@---~--
door of the ladies' waiting room and
handed the reins to his companion,
with a sheeoish smile.
Hold on to these, Mr.. Hayes; you
got me into this business, and you must
help me through. Do 1 look much
like a fool?"
Martin Hayes, dealer in general
merchandise, chuckled as he took the
reins. mo, sir; you are the personid-
cation of the gay and festive BRIDE
lyTO0nl-1nf pnacCaTV sign
foolishness about you. OF course, the
new suit and the rosebud in your but
tonhole are allowabl as betting the
occasion INCEST suit I had in stock
old boy-hope she'll like it."
Burden arranged his necktie with
clumsy fingers. "Glad all this internal
Quaking don't show on the outside.
There's the train in sight Gee! Don't
believe there's ever day made as hot
as this
He made his way through the crowd
around the depot and stationed himself
where he could get a good view Of the
passengers alighting from the train.
i've been staid and have Travelled in
the usual rut all my life he com
muned with himself, but if this amt
acting like a fellow in novel, 1 never
read one
He kept on the lookout for a woman
wearing a. dark-blue dress and carrying
a suitcase marked Johanna GersIer Mr.
OOil41SOA 1Ao0 NA4blcAA tIdt ne NOQlQ see
that the name was printed in large let
tiers and that there would probably be
no trouble as to identity in a town where
the incoming travellers were few.
Johanna stepped from the train, her
blue eyes looking as wondering and as
childish as they did when she landed in
America six months before. She paused
helplessly, and just then Burden saw
the name on the suit case.
He looked at the woman's facets
blonde fairness an unusual style in a
southern tOWn-and the thermometer
seemed to jump several degrees upward
She looks like-like-an angelp' he
muttered. "She will be disappointed in
me-" and he went to her anxiously
and diffidently.
I'm John Burden he said simply.
''You-you did want me to come?'' Her
voice trembled and he saw tears in her
blue eyes.
Want you-want your" his tone
gained assurance. Anybody with an
ounce of sense would want you to come
and to stay" he said. his face radiant
as he took the suit case from her.
After the dinner with Hayes at the
hotel and the quiet marriage ceremony
in the hotel parlor they drove the Eve
miles to Burdens farm and reached
there just at the beginning Of the long
summer twilight.
The climbing rose was In full bloom
over the veranda, and flock of white
geese were wandering through the
gate toward the farmyard.
do you like it?" he asked, his voice
almost a whisper
''It is 50 much home she gasped in
her hating English. even the cows
that in the farmyard stand
He led her into the house and paused
before a sweet. clean room whose mus
lin curtains blew in and out the open
windows.
This is your room" he said simply.
mine is across the hall-where I can
hear if you get afraid and call me"
His honest sunburned face was full
of kindness. and although her compre-
hension of English was limited. she
caught q glimpse of his soul in a Ian
euaRe that is universal.
TAKE off your hat. little woman: 7
hear cid Jenny putting supper on the
her hair where her hat had pressed it
tahla,, He looked at the pale gold Of