The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-09
THE EVENING STOR Y
A Sociological Exhibit.

nose, things might have happened. The
Morris nose, understand, was more
than feature-rather, a hallmark Of
sorts throughout Rabun county. Who
to follow it, but to keep it going in
the social lines marked out by. Great
grandfather Morris, gentleman whose
spirit had been as high as his nose.
She was not high-spirited, but in
stead, meek and lowly in mind, as be-
came her very moderate fortune. Her
mother, a born Morris, had married
badly. At least the family thought
poor Billy Clayton never did but one
sensible -thing-namely, dying before
he had quite wasted his wifes doWry.
She had brought him land and money
and the land remained, only little
farm to be sure, but big enough to
maintain the widow and her child.
1t would take managing, of course
but the Widow Clayton. she that was
That was exact truth. In proof take
the fact that when Josefa was is she
had been fairly educated, kept always
in wholesome comfort, and had had ali
along clothes quite as good as any OIL
her richer cousins. Moreover the house
was trim and trig, and the small farm
ship-shape-in much better condition
than the shiftless master had left It,
What wonder then that Cousin Anne.
who never whined nor asked for any
thing-advice least of all-was well
liked and wholly respected throughout
the whole family connection?
What wonder either that Cousin
Maria Dalton, also a born Morris, who,
having no children, was a chronic
joiner, and daughter of whatever
came along, took a violent FANCY 10
Josefa? Maria Dalton was mighty
proud of the Morris blood, and dotted
especially upon greatgrandfather. She
had a copy of his portrait over the
mantel in her front parlor, and had
coaxed Lemuel Morris, his eldest
grandson, into giving her his commits
sion in the Continental army. That,
too of course, was framed and hung
up beside the portrait. Inevitably the
next thing was to entertain her fellow
daughters upon the occasion when
meant having Cousin Anne and Josefa
help in the entertaining, notwithstand-
ing neither of them belonged to so
much as, one chapter There were
reasons. Mrs. Dalton was careful to
was the greatest home body, and
Josefa, staying with her dutffully, had
no need of belonging.
"Yes@Josefa is going to be my
heiress. 1 believe so in blood" she
confided to the lady president. That
person pricked up her ears. Mrs. Dali
ton was rich-and the lady president
had a son, a lawyer, just starting to
practice in the county town. He need
ed a wife adly-especially one with
expectations and family influence. And
he was right on the spot, having come
along with the chapter, not only by
way of escort, but as speaker of the
He had seized upon it as a
chance to show" his enthusiasm for To-
cal history. His mother, Mrs. Melvin,
was inclined to regard the fact in the
light of special providence. She
to speak with him quietly, a
little apart, before he read his paper,
and was delighted to hear him throw
into the reading solid chunks of en-
thusiasm for Rabun county and its
glorious past.
Before the assembly broke he had
met Josefa, and talked with her a
good half hour. Next week he called
on her-and the next, and the next.
and of course was his
warm advocate. "Yes-as you say.
Josefa is a Morris. out and out-all
but the name-and We'll change that
she said smiling at him. And remem-
Der you are going into politics. want
you to be senator at the very least.
No matter how high you go, Josefa'll
do you credit She's going to make the
But don't you fool yourself thinking
you can get her just for asking-that
IS not the way with girls of the Nor
ris blood. Court her like man. and
don't take NO if she gives it to you
the first time"
Jack Melvin listened, yearning to
grit his teeth. He was not the least
bit in love-Josefa was not pretty, for
all she was fresh and wholesome, |
and he craved beauty above every
Ware-but he dared not let himself
.hink of her. Since they could not
marry, he meant to marry this Josefa.
It made him laugh only to think of her
saving no to hin1-how could she when
she knew nobody else, save a few
awkward country fellows?
Imagine his state of mind when Jo-
ETA did say "No"-the first time, the
md more as though she meant it. After
he third rejection he went to Mrs.
Dalton She laughed a laugh Of in
lulgent pride when he had hn tih
Tosey-not a bit. You've got the name
# being a dreadful f1irt-whether or
10 you deserve it, I amt saying. Oth-
IT folks are saying Judge Wares girl
he amt the only one-but that don't
natter. I'll go over and stay all night
With Cousin Anne tomorrow. You come
Tut the next day. think youH nno
hings changed a bit.
Woman disposes, man proposes.
ometimes fate intervenes. Josefa
TODD with fate in this particular Wres-
Ie. She said NO" again-and in a
he game was up. But Mrs. Dalton
leId on stoutly to her plan. COUSIN
1nne had fallen in with it ardently-
or all her thrift, she had whole lot
4 family pride. Moreover, she want
d Josefa to get the Dalton money.
"a She Joined forces with her cousin,
nd between them they gave the pros
,ective heiress small peace
Obstinacy, pure and simple-that
vas what allied Josefa. So said her
wo elders in conclave. There could
.ot possibly be anybody in Melvin's
rav Josefa had been sent to school,
he strictest possible boarding school
then she was barely thirteen. Since
he came back from it none of the
youngsters round about mad done
oore than speak civilly to her. Not I
ne had so much as come to the house.