The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-15
The EVENING STORY
AN Orranized Epidemic,

very far, from wise. Indeed, she knew
no more than to be sweet and bidable
to grabbed task-mistresses. They were
the Grimley sisters who had taken her,
as they said daily. out of charity, ana
to whom she served for hands, feet ana
eyes. She was rated sharply If she
talked back which was seldom. since
she had rather talent for silence than
for speech.
The sisters were not consciously un-
kind-it was just that they had fallen
into the way of fretting at everything:
Life had defrauded them of the natural
outlets-husbands and children. There
fore. they made the most of such small
worries remained to maiden gentle
women.
Minerva came to them when she was
ten. For the next eight years her APP
petite and her trick of breaking things
especially those she was handling with
utmost care. had served as vital grew
ances. But since she was full grown
she ate much less, and hardly ever let
fall anything, no matter how fragile or
precious; hence. the Miss Gr1mleys nao
had to invent new sin for her. They
had chosen to find it in her possible
future husband. According to their
notion, she was always intent upon
matrimony, and scheming to ensnare
whatever masculine person chance
threw in her way.
The young circuit rider. for example;
Jim Mace, the constable, who rode by
the big gate every other day; the two
Leonards, who farmed the lower place;
even the young fellow clerking over at
the MISUNDERSTANDING he actually tried
to get board the Grimley mansion? DR..
Bell, the one person who dared speak
up to the sisters, rated them soundly
for such suspicious. No wonder, he
as any white rose. was awkward, al
most rude, indeed, to all the young fell
lows she encountered and therefore
likely to die an old maid.
Miss Jane and Miss Abby nodded ap-
prevail there. Minerva was to have
everything when they were gone-it
would be quite enough to keep her like
a lady. Husbands were but worries
most of the time. AS for cIildren-they
shook their heads and sighed. Clearly,
in their Judgment, a woman was lucky
to escape such things. Look at Minerva
herself! Where would she be now IL
the Grimleys had not chosen that bet
ter part?
DR.. Bell, who had a tongue as rough
and heart as warm as his great coat,
growled at them. After a while, being
a strategist. he did something else
something which, at first blush, made
When his wife asked the meaning of it,
ne said systematically:
oh, I'm going to cure some chronic
cases by provoking an epidemic
And that was all she could get out
of him, no matter how hard she tried.
She could not try very hard, since,
like the rest of the neighborhood, she
was giving all her mind to the COM
ing session of the synod.
1t was to be a great occasion, min
listers, their wives, sons and daugh-
ters, were coming by the score. Their
number would not be too great, how
ever. for the countryside's hospitality.
With no provocation whatever
from the church, DR.. Bell fixed it so
the GrimleyS would have rather more
than double share of the clerical in
hux: Namely, Deacon Brown and his
wife; DR.. Henshaw, a pulpit Samson,
just beginning to look about him over
the, edges of weeds not yet rusty;
Prof. Balderson,s famed for persuad-
Ing money into college channels: and
young Lee, not yet come to full or
dination. How the doctor managed
all this is not known. He was almost
when it came to carrying
out plan. AT least two other house,
holds were full of bitter jealousy over
the parceling out of guests, but the
guests did not suspect it-least of all
those fated to sit at meat with the
Grimleys
Miss Jane was a famous cook. Miss
Abby was past mistress at preserving.
Minerva made cake that was simply
heavenly, and black Susan was mi
racle of efficient strength in the kitch-
en-. So the visitors rejoiced that their
lines had fallen as they had. Indeed,
all through synod week they could not
say enough in praise and gratitude to
their hostesses. AS a consequence,
err to scold or to suspect. Carried
away by the tide of hospitabIe i'm
pulse, they showed for what they
were-excellent gentlewomen, of the
first rank.
AS for Minerva, she fairly blossom
ed. Even the most callous onlooker
saw in her a new creature. She was
SO radiant, indeed. that, before three
days We're out, Prof. Balderson, a sea-
soned bachelor, made up his mind to
marry her-if he could. He changed
his mind after good Sister Brown had
let fall words of wisdom.
Its providential," she said, nod
ding toward Minerva and young Lee.
IF ever anybody was cut out for
pastors WIFE it's that sweet girl
and I'm mighty glad to believe both |
Of them have found 1t out"
Slight observation brought the pro- |
lessor himself to the same belief. For |
1ah an hour he was right down crest |
he flung up his head and |
actually whistled. Possibly the sight |
II Miss Jane had nothing to do with it |
through the days following, he kept |
pretty close to her. Miss Jane was in
state of mind. 1t was plain as a |
'ikestaff that that man Henshaw was
making up to Sister Abby-Abby who |
lad never before tolerated anybody's |
,ourting.
"He must have bewitched her-that's |
Il the way 1 can account for it, she
almost weeping, to the pro-
essor upon Saturday afternoon. Some
hing ought to be done about it. It's
her time of life. I don't |
understand it Bit
"No-but it may be the cooking. DIR. !
1enshaw's good man. but not wholly
Ibove earth,' the professor ccmforted
wisely. Besides, 1 can quite under
tand-a mans loneliness is something
readful He has just about had time
O find out how much he misses his
wife. In that he is worse off than l.
Who have been lonely so many years"