The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-15


and Mrs. Murray. your neishbor. you
isn't she q dearl" exclaimed Elisa
beth. such q nice neighbor-but
my's popovers win be spoiled IL we
stand here much longer"
Waring said he wasn't hungry.
That's just the point" cried Eliza
beth with enthusiasm. You will be
II you come into the house and smell
and-best OF alice cold mint julepsi
Come right along and tell me your
complaints at the table,"
But. Mrs. Yorke.' interrupted
Waring, ct couldn't think Of imposing
on stranger In this way"
.'Lawdy me! II you knew how glad I
am to have some one to eat with mel"
She dropped into one chair at the
table and motioned him to the other.
As boy. Warning had visited In the
south. and had never ceased talking
mother could never make with any de-
gree of success.
Mammy's corn pudding was the
same kind as that which he had eaten
in years gone by, and instead OF the
complaints of his townspeople the
iIldyOI tOlu LuOSt IillCICStln6 kdlCo VI
his boyhood-how he had roamed
from one state to another-how he
loved the south and its people-how
he had settled in Vaudeville and TAX
en- up polite farming to kill time and
how the people had made him mayor.
Not until after luncheon. when the
mayor and the widow were seated on
the shady porch, and Warning caught
sight Of Mrs. Murray leaning over the
hedge Of dahlias. did he remember
why he was guest of Mrs. Yorke. Be-
lieving in the eternal fitness OF things,
Warning realized that this was not the
time to push his complaint. and he
left, after many hearty thanks and
more complimentary speeches.
Sunday morning found the altar in
the little church laden with dahlias-
gorgeous red and white blossoms,
hanging their heads in reverence to
the text, taken from the twenty-third
chapter Of the Proverbs, and the
third verse: BE not DESTROYS OF his
dainties; seeing they are deceitful
meat
waring attended church as part Of
the duties OF his office. and this sun
day he walked home with his hostess
of yesterday. He wanted to leave her
at the gate, but Elizabeth protested.
do come In as an act OF charity.
You see I've not been well, and our
old home doctor ordered me to some
quiet country pace 10 rest up. ~
nanny and I landed here-but oh,
I'm just nearly dead with lonesome
ness, although do feel the change has
done me good. Come along and have q
bit Of our fried chicker-won't your
He came that day and he came again:
The women Of Vaudeville were still
skeptical Of Mrs. Yorke. but in mixed
debates the men stood up for her-and
some of the married men went SO far
as to say disagreeable things to their
wives.
The mayor was seldom at his office
the day came when he must be seen at
once. Mr.. Murray knew where to find
him, and hurried down the street tow
ard Mrs. Yorke's little cottage. just
at the gate he met the Rev. DR.. Bot
cher, about to make his second cal
on the new parishioner. Together they
walked down the broad lane. They
were not disappointed. The widow and
the mayor were on the porch together
I'VE were just talking about you.
| exclaimed Elizabeth. as she greeted the
minister.
Just in time" called out Waring
and the newcomers noted the blush
| that overspread the already pinl
| cheeks Of Elizabeth.
Mr.. Murray lost no time in telling
| Waring what he wanted.
but you know I resigned my ofnc'
| last week-you see I'm going on a lont
| trip" announced Warning.
| '"Trip!" echoed DR.. Botcher. Surely
| you're not starting on another one o
| those lonely globe-trotting trips o
yours, Jack?"
This one won't be lonesome-'caus
| I'm going to take q wife along to chez
me up-that's what We were talkinI
about when you came along-how abou
a little wedding in the church. eh?"
| They could not see the beaming fac
| of Elizabeth. for her back was turnet
| to them. She was busily engaged II
| spreading a white cloth over the hick
| ory table in the corner Of the porch
| and nanny was making various trips
| back and forth to her own mysteriou
| storehouse-(Copyrig 1908, by As
| ISOLATED Literary Press.)