The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-21
THE EVENING STORY
Ruti,s Aunt Mehitable.
py Anne Heilman.)

AVN, past the garden of many-hued
Uses Uses ana away to the woods. ali white
ST. STU o1s"ood and purple with violets.
Sne held letter in her hand. Not in
many long year had Hetty's face
"orn such an expression of woe.
you please, ma'am-" awakened
nef from the trance. She turned to the
COOK and gave her orders for the day.
and re-read it:
Dear Aunt Mehitable.
apa and Jessie Miller will be mar
rleo tuesday morning, and sail for Eu-
cup9 the same day on an extended trip.
SO I shall leave college and 20 home to
look after you
Inc Strings are here for the we'd
ulhs. You know they are related to
Jessie Fred looks as old as his father.
tney nave made mint OF money, min
ing IN colorado. and intend to buy back
tneir estate and settle down as our
nearest neighbors again. No place like
the south. they declare. Papa invited
tnem to make our house their home
WINE negotiations are pending. Bust
ness will detain Mr.. Stirling in Boston
Ior few weeks. but Fred will come to
Town with me. Expect us on Thurs
DAY. Your loving RUTH"
Jessie's a dear soul. I hope they'll
De very happy" Hetty murmured to
would marry again. And Ruth coming
back a year before expected! This'll
never seem like home to me any more"
detty Peters was single. She had
never had lover; had never looked for
one. and incredible. as it may seem.
had never wished for one. She had
been altogether too busy. first, in look
ing after younger sister and brother;
and second. in caring for her delicate
mother, to consider her matrimonial
prospects. The brother and sister had
grown up, married, and moved north.
Her mothers death had left her alone.
When her elder brothers wife died
she had gone to live with him, and for
several years her existence had been
happy, II monotonously uneventful.
Now came the disquieting news of
Johns second marriage and of her
niece's unexpected return.
Ruth had a decided prediction for
managing everything and everybody
she came in contact with. Her aunt
had always trembled before her. Ruth
was the only one who remembered her
baptismal name, and Hetty detested it,
but Ruth persisted in calling her Aunt
Mehitabel.
Perhaps she intends to marry Fred!"
Hetty reflected hopefully. IF she does.
Of course, he'll have to give in. He
was q nice-loOking boy when he left. l
remember I kissed him good-by-he
seemed such boy-and he is year
older than I ami?
On Thursday Miss Peters was at the
station when the northern train arriv-
ed. While she was watching the out
coming passengers from one car, a
hand touched swiftly her arm. and a
pleasant voice exclaimed: 'Hetty, you
have not changed a bit since we part
ed"
'.I've grown fifteen years older" she
answered, giving her hand to tall,
bronzed. handsome man. whose dark
'I know it, he replied. so have
l.
Fred, loosen that checkrein! Aunt
Mehitable, how could you drive this
horse in such a condition? You really
need some one to look after you"
And Hetty realized. with a pang. that
Ruth had come back to her own. q
mo tea for me-" she commanded at
the dinner table! Aunt Mehitable. I'm
surprised at you! Any doctor will tell
you that fannie acid is a rank poison.
It's positively criminal to use tea or
coffee when one can have fresh milk"
The next morning Ruth's sway be-
gan.
Just up?' she called out as Hetty
made her appearance at o'clock. i've
been up for hours. I shall move the
breakfast time an hour earlier, and you
must come for walk every morning
before breakfast. It will do you a
world of good And Aunt Hetty, re-
alizing the futility OF argument where
Ruth was concerned, miserably acqui-
esced.
."Is it possible you sleep on feather
bed?" exclaimed Ruth that evening.
Unexpectedly invading her aunt's room.
Don't you know that feathers are not
sanitary? You need some one to look
after you, Aunt Mehitable."
.'Tm not so old as that" protested
Hetty.
at isn't altogether a matter Of age,
it's temperament You take life like a
grasshopper. You really do need some
mn
ssJJntil you marry?" suggested Hetty.
'1 have been thinking Of 1t, Ruth
admitted complacently. by the way.
how do you like Fred"
II think he is in every way desirable
I don't believe any woman could ask
for a better husband.
sPm glad to hear you say So" said
Ruth. "Was his father good nus
band?"
81 do not remember Fred's mother.
She died when I was very young. But
1 always understood they were very
happy"
IT met Mr.. Stirling frequently at Jes-
sie's" said Ruth He came to Boston
on business. If Fred Is like his father
I'm sure he'll make good husband.
We were talking about you this AFTER
noon. He thinks you look younger 1
YOU need some one to take care OF YOU |
He really takes a great interest in you,
Aunt Mehitabel."
"He takes a great interest in you. |
which is more to tho |
point" calculated her exasperated
aunt. ..Do you mean to pretend that
YOU don't want Fred to be FOND OF
your"
che rose to leave the room. ''Of |
course I hope Fred is going to be
fond of me. I shall have that feather
he'd taken up to the garnet tomorrow |
morning, Aunt Mehitab1e.
IN the DAYS tat followed, Hetty |
found herself taken in hand and /
Hooked after" with a thoroushness
that reduced her to the verge Of
All her actions and
we're regulated by ner
niece, who decided what