The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-31
THE EVENING STORY
Tim and His Time.

town. For the first time he was un-
Impressed by the fact that Cheldon
prlck postoffice that stood quite apart
salary.
Ever since he could remember it had
oeen treat to drive over to the Cen
ter and he had been rather proud of
the town. Now he was seeing it
through Matte Westcott's eyes, and the
huddle of wooden buildings distressed
MIN. Recently he had seen a maya
zine picture Of lower Broadway with
It's mountains Of masonry and its rivers
OF humanity flowing through the mar
row canyons called streets. He Won
presently the train from the junction
should roll in, and she would stand
on the station platform, COMPARING the
| place to the New York she had just
but he knew much about the wonder
CITY,, and he knew also that Matte
would never again be content with
Cheldon Center, much less with Gar
denvale. She would despise the town
and its people alike.
Mates cousin Bess had married
well. Her husband, Richard Beldin.
had been the secretary to a railroad
| magnate, who made his summer home
on the hills back of Gardenvale. Bel
| din had met and married Bess Petty
during one of those summer visits.
After making money in stocks. he and
|
Tim had said goodby with unusual
meaning as he had helped her aboard
| the train at the Center. There had
| been more than hint in Bess' letter
| that she had a match in mind for
Matte. All that had happened two
months ago. Today Matte was COM
ing home.
A faroff whistle announced the ap-
| proach Of the train and Tim sauntered
around to the front of the station.
| The platform was crowded with out
i going passengers and the usual recep-
ton committee Of small country town
loungers. Tim lost himself in the
| crowd until the train pulled in, and a
| 1.-THE, girlish figure sprang down the
Pullman steps before the porter could
| offer his hand.
Tim had been watching the day
| coaches, but he SenSed Mates pres
| ence. and hurried to relieve her of her
suit case. 1t was the first sign of the
| change; this substitution Of the smart
leather case for the near-1eather valtse
| which had been considered good
enough for travelling when she had left
| home.
your pa couldn't get over" he ex-
| planned as he raised his cap without
offering his hand. He had heard that
people in the city did not shake hands,
but simply bowed.
Father sick?" asked Matte quickly.
| Tim shook his head.
cts only the rheumatism" he ex-
planned, "but he thought it would be
bad to get out in the cold, and SO he
asked me to come. III get your
trunk
Matte handed him the check in 81
! 1ence and presently the smart new
trunk had Joined the suit case in the
box of the bobsled, and Tim offered
her his hand to help her into the seat.
1T amt an AUTOMOBILE" he said
apologetically, "but I thought you'd be
in a hurry to get your trunk over to
show all your pretty things, so didn't
bring the CUTTER
"That was nice of you,' said Matte
all the wonders I brought back from
town. Tim, do you suppose we could
stop at the grocery and get some gin
ger snaps? There was no dining car
on the train and I'm hungry"
"Your ma sent over box of lunch, "
he responded, diving under the seat
and producing a shoebox filled with
home made cake and biscuit sand
wiches. Matte gave cry OF & delight:
clared as she extracted huge wedge
of cake. 'She knew I'd be hungry for
home things"
IT should think you could get get better IT er
pessimistically "They tell me that
some of their cooks get thousand
| dollars a year..
| Lots of Them" assented Matte. 1.-THE
chefs in the restaurants. Some get
more than that. but they can't make
biscuit taste like home. They don't
know what home is in the city, Tim. p"
IT should think a man could make
pretty good biscuits for thousand
| dollars a year." said Tim practically.
"But he doesn't make them at all, :"
| declared Matte laughingly. 1.-THE most
money a cook gets the less he COOKS.
| He Just orders the others around. AT
the hotel where Bess lives, the cheI
does not cook at all. He would feel
| insulted If you were to ask him to-"
| ssBess live in a hote1?" asked Tim in
surprise ct should think that would
| cost a lot Of money. Bill Pratt stopped
at a hotel and they charged him a dol
| lar and half a day and they never
| fed him for that"
"Bess and Dick have six rooms In
| an apartment hotel" explained Matte.
'They pay $1,000 year just for six
| rooms"
Tim whistled. you could build a
house for that" he cried.
mot in the city, she reminded. land
costs too much. They have to build
houses high to get the value OF the
| land, although, of course, there are
lot of private houses. Most persons
prefer the apartments.
'sI suppose that even the Center
seems a pretty small place now" sug-
gested Tim upon whom a gloom hao
settled.
sNot a bit of it, declared Matte
brightly. IT'S more like home than
New York was, and I'm just crazy to
see Gardenvale."
Tim touched UP the team.
"We'Il be there pretty soon," he said
| as he nointed to the hill ahead. Once up
| there they should come in sight Of the
town nesting in the valley on the 9TH
er side of the divide.
| TT was a tedious climb but presently
If was accomplished and short drive
brought them to the brow of the hill
on the other side. Matte gave little
cry of delight as the road broKe
| through the trees
town huddle of frame buildings
along the struggling main street with
half dozen back streets sparsely settled.
| The snow-covered roofs cleaned Wn1te
in the winter sun ana the sptrals u
,ol-o from the chimneyS intensified
mhi4anass of the snow. Matte laid