The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-15
THE EVENING STORY
Lincoln No. 2.
(By Grant Lester.l


For a good many years people had
said that Farmer Johnson's wife was
head of his house, but that he was a
great incumbrance to her. They mad
a farm just outside a thriving town.
and, had it been left to the wife, there
were many promising speculations
she would have entered into. She was
allowed to boss things around the
farm, but when it came to outside
matters, the husband would take no
risks. When his death finally took
place, people looked to see Aunt Betty,
as she was called, though only forty
years old, carry out some of her ideas
and make things hum. They were
not disappointed. She went into straw
berries and made money; she went in
to the dairy business and made mon
ey; she went into poultry and made
money. 1t was said that there was not
half dozen men in the county who
had her business sense.
Aunt Betty had a daughter nineteen
years old, by name Prue. Prue did not
run to business. She was simply
sweet-tempered and lovabIe girl, who
attended school in town in the winter
and helped about the housework in
summer. Up to the time of the faith
er's death, the mother had not "suf-
fered aspirations regarding Prue's
future. 1t was tacitly understood that
she would marry some young farmer
and settle down to the humdrum life.
d
business woman, there were other
plans for the girl. She was to be edu-
Gated in music and other arts and
made a lady Of
Just how Prue johnson and Darius
Livingstone first met is of no great
consequence. He was twenty-five, and
had graduated as lawyer and settled
in the town. He was a slab-sided young
man, tall and angular and ungafnly.
There were a few people who said that
might q ShOWa6
but the majority were of the opinion
that he didn't know whether potatoes
grew in the ground or on trees. If
Prue held with the majority it was
rather singular that the young lawyer
should have come driving out to the
farm one June day to inquire for her.
She was upstairs at the time, and it
was her mother who received him. At
homeliest young man she had ever
seen. After the second she took him
for some peddler of music and went
upstairs and said to Prue:
There's a bean-pole down stairs
asking for you. 1 never saw such
gawk. He says his name is Living
stone. He's enough to scare a setting
hen off the nest. Did you ever hear
OF any such Teller ?"
why, ma, he's a lawyer in town and
we have met three or four times,' re-
piled Prue, as her face flushed scarlet
"A lawyer-humph! If you was to
put club in his hands he wouldn't
know enough to pound sand. What's he
here for?''
"Why-why, he said he might call
some day. don't see why you call him
homely. I've heard lots of folks say
that he reminded them of Abraham
Lincoln
The mother shifted her contempt and
turned away. Prue went down and re-
ceived her caller, and though Mrs. John
son was rather busy around the house
and yard she saw and heard enough to
satisfy her that the young man was lin
terested." He remained for an hour or
so and then left, and while his back was
yet in sight Prue was properly warned.
II shall have to have a son-in-law
some day. added the mother, "but |
milk, and who knows a cabba ge-head |
from an old gander. Lawyer! Lawyer! |
Why the poorest lawyer we've got in |
town would make your young man look |
like a bob-tailed woodchuck If they had |
a case in court"
and things quieted down for a week.
Then the mother came home from town
one afternoon to blurt out:
do you know what L heard this af-
ternoon? At least half a dozen people
told me that you and that scarecrow
young lawyer were in love-"
"Oh, mamai'
You needn't-'oh, mama me. If
you've fallen in love with any such |
man I'm ashamed of you. Why that |
red-headed, cross-eyed Sue Williams |
wouldn't look at him. |
1--WE are not in love-" stoutly protest. |
ed Prue.
Then what are you looking so red |
for?"
"Because-because we are simply |
friends That is, he's awfully smart |
when you come to talk with him. I've |
been reading the life of Lincoln, and it's
wonderful how much alike they are"
Wonderful boshi Abe Lincoln was
a whip as a lawyer
But Darius is going to be If he ever
gets a CASE
Ever gets a case! I'd like to know
who'd trust him with a easel"
The young man called again in
about a week, ostensibly to make in
quiries concerning the strawberry pest,
and while Mrs. johnson didn't order
him off the farm, she gave him what
she called a chilling reception. The
fact that he didn't seem at all put out
her, and but for a bust
ness engagement taking up her atten-
ton she would have had much to say
to Prue.. Four days later she came
into the house to say:
well, when 1 dreamed of black
hogs one night last week I knew that
trouble would come. I've got a law
COWS I bought over in Delavan last
week had a chattel mortgage on them.
The holder of 1t wants $50 from me.
[ must either pay or be sued. I told
him to sue as soon as he pleased and
he'll probably summon me tomorrow"
'And you'll have to have a lawyer 2"
asked Prue-
"Of course. I'm just going to drive
INTO town TO see Lawyer Parsons"
but why not give Mr.. Livingstone
the case?"
"Prue johnson, do you take me for
an idiot" exclaimed the mother in
"oD you think 1 want
10 lose $50 and costs. besides $40 more
Tor a lawyer? Folks around here think
IN a rrettv Srr1a IF Hrnt1nara liant