The Topeka state journal., 1908-11-16
The EVENING STORY
Mattie's IiIknlan
(By MURRAY Fiel.l

Miss Jeanette's objection to Gene
Carman was his profession. He was
night editor on a morning paper, and
he came home anywhere between and
o'clock in the morning.
Miss Jeanette was country bred and
for forty years she had accepted with
out question the dictum that those who
were out of night were no better than
thieves and robbers.
Just what was the difference between
thieves and robbers Miss Jeanette did
not know. She knew only that those
were the only sorts of persons who
were out when decent folk should be
abed, so when her pretty niece, Matte
Boyer, gave evidence of more than Il
passing interest in Carman, she very
promptly frowned upon the young man
and warned Matte that she must have
nothing more to do with the Carmans,
mother and son.
The latter lived on the floor above
Matte and her maiden aunt, and kind
ly Mrs. Carman had been tower of
strength to Miss Jeanette when she and
Matte had first come to the city to
live.
She had pointed out the best places
at which to trade, and helped Miss
jeanette to get an obnoxious tenant on
the lower floor out of the house, and
had initiated both the elder and the
younger woman into city ways gen.
orally.
N
when the Boyers had terminated their
friendly relations without word or
warming but a hint from Matte to
Gene soon set matters right.
Matte was accustomed to Miss Jean
ette's sudden whins, and she assured
Gene that presently there would be
turn of the tide in his favor. Mean
while she had to obey Miss Jeanette's
prohibition against seeing Gene, so the
only communication they held was by
means of notes.
Every morning when Gene came
home from his work he found note
stuck in the wide mouth of the empty
milk bottle beside the Boyer doorway.
The milkman came through the mousse
later, gathering up empty bottles ana
leaving the filled ones.
To any person who chanced to pass
it would appear to be a note of instruc-
tions to the milkman, but to Gene
coming home tired and sometimes dis
heartened, the little blue envelopes
were like mental cocktails
The same bottle would not serve as
his postoffice as well, for Miss
Jeanette took in the milk.
The best that Gene could do was
to leave his letters in the candy store
On the corner. where Matte could get
them when she returned from her
work.
Had Mrs Carman been willing to
act as messenger the problem would
nave been Tar more OuL lAO
kindly old lady would have nothing
to do with the affair.
She was hurt that the friendship
should be so suddenly terminated, and
still more hurt that her son should
be regarded as ineligible. She Won
dered at his lack of pride that he
should still want to marry Matte In
spite of Miss Jeanette's prohibition,
and she was most ostentatiously
neutral.
Office answered its purpose excellently
well. Miss jeanette went to bed
early, and let Matte close the house,
so that the latter set the bottle out
in the hall every evening
But one morning Gene did not
come home as usual. There had been
a sensational accident, and all the
men on duty had been rushed to the
scene. Even the men on the desks
who could be spared were sent out,
Gene among them.
1t was nearly noon when he at last
reached home, so exhausted that not
once did he think of the letter. Mind
and body were numb and he did not
the letter intended for him and was
gloating over its contents.
Mattie's letters were not affection
ately personal She knew the danger
of the missives falling into other
hands, so she wrote vague notes of
good cheer.
In the missing one there was an
allusion to the long wait for loves
elimination, and this gave to Butch
Cassidy, the milk boy. the idea that
the young woman with the glorious
blue eyes was very much interested in
him.
ST bet she seen me somewhere on
Sunday" he unused. "She's pippin,
when I get me new harness on. It's
darned shame that she didn't pipe up
a couple of weeks ago. She'd have
put it all over Slim Bleecker's girl at
tn ball of tn, MIX Wagon Drivers
association. The Lady Flirts give
their blowout week from Thursday,
and that's the day after pay day.
wonder would the little dame give a
look
Butch was a firm believer in the
adage that faint heart ne'er won fair
lady. so as soon as his horse was
stabbed and his routine ended, he made
for the fiat house in which the Boyers
lived.
He was somewhat taken aback when
Miss Jeanette answered the bell. Matte
worked only in the afternoons, reading
to an invalid, and generally it was she
who paid the bills on Tuesday morning
when Butch made his regular round. 4
where's the little lady?' demanded
Butch, determined to brave it out. Il
want to say suthin' to her."
my niece is out just now" was the
severe response. "I understood that she
paid your bill yesterday
.'BilIebe blowed.'' said Butch, politely.
This is a personal game, see? got me
money yesterday. 1 want to make a
date Wit her. Get that over your think
plate?"
your" cried Miss jeanette in dis
gust.
Sure" was the easy response. "She's |
stuck on me shape and sent me mash
note. I amt wise up to all her talk |
but that's clear. Give a look
Moved to anger by the incredulity in |
Miss Jeanette's look, he produced the |
note, now sadly soiled. You amt just |