The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-20
THE EVENING STORY
An Angel Unawares
(By Jerome sprague.)


| use % ehs
Mrs. Kendall came to the kitchen
door. We'll. Z don't see how we car
help taking her in
One more mouth to feed - sold
Mr.. Kendall as he piled boxes and
papers on the flames.
wen, told her." said Mrs. Ken
daH anxiously, that she'd have To
TAKE pot luck and that you always
because you worked so hard, ard thai
the children and I ate the left-overs,
ana she said that was all right. that
sne q eat the left-svers, too"
auInpn, said Mr.. Kendall, shell
get tired of that"
But she didn't get tired of it. She
ate hash and warmed over potatoes
ana fried bread and mysterious cuI-
mary resurrections, and said to Mrs
henoa1 smilingly, Everything tastes
I'm glad you think so. Miss Mi1Y-
sent, Sarah Kendall said. You al
ways nave had everything so much
nicer that l am almost ashamed to
put these things before you
MRS. Kendal looked thoughtful
She couldn't tell Sarah the story of
the rigid economy that she had nrac-
used during the last years of her res
ioence In the old home. She couldn't
tel now good the hot Substantial
1000 tasted after the months of cold
bread and coffee, of how Mrs Ken
dalPs savory Irish stews and ham and
caDDage made her feel as if she had
Ieasted royalty when contrasted to
the BUTTERFLIES bread and meatless
hashes on which she had dined for
over a year.
To be sure there had been cut glass
ana silver on the table. But these
Miss Millisent's mother would never
nave allowed sold, so that the two
lonely women, the last cent of their
income swallowed up by bad invest
ments had sewed a little for intimate
friends, who would not tell, and had
thus managed to keep up the appear
ance of gentiIity.
But when old Mrs. Estabrook died
It all had to come out. Everybody in
TW1n1ng Town knew at last that Miss
M1ll1sent whose family had for gen
erations lorded it over the surround
ing country, was left without a penny
and, except for the kindness of her
old servant, Sarah Kendall would
charity of the town
Miss M1llisent bore her misfortunes
with seeming calmness. 1t was so
good to be filled once more with food.
To sit by Sarah's warm fireside. in
stead Of shivering over a few Goals in
the great bare drawing room, that the
little lady forgot pride, forgot every
thing but that she was comfortable
She. sewed for Sarah's seven chill
dren and earned her place in the
household.
But Mr.. Kendall grumbled. 1t was
an extra mouth, he kept insisting.
It's an extra help, too" Sarah told
him with flashing eyes. You don't
think how much her sewing lifts off
Of me-"
Miss Millisent was not blind to
KendalPs attitude. But she endured
for Sarah's loyalty and the
owe of the little children made up
,or many things. But the time came
when even Sarah could not protect
Ter from Amos's crossness
Its hard enough to earn a living |
or your own he flung out one Sat |
irday night as he came, in with a /
leaped up basket of provisions |
Seven mouths to feed. and one ex-
rats enoufh to make a man break |
lown-and butter at thirty-five
ents''
Sarah flashed an anxious glance at |
Hiss Millisent. but the little lady went
m sewing calmly and the good wo-
nan sighed with relief.
But Miss Millisent had heard, and
hat night when she went to her little
DOM, high up in the caves, she took
rom its hiding place the one treasure
eft to her out of the wreck of her
ortunes.
1t was tn pearl ring that John Ire
1ont had given her on their. betroth-
l. When the engagement was brok-
n later because of her mothers stern
ecree, John had refused. to take the ,
ing back.
81 want you to keep it until you die,
Iillie,' he had said. "I don't blame
ou. Your mother doesn't think I'm
our social equal and 1 guess she is
light. If 1 was sure could make you
Apply I'd run away with you. But
m not sure: You are SO far above
1e dearest {
So Miss Millisent, through all the
tress of poverty. had kept the ring.
nd it seemed sacrilege to sell it I
ow. But the need was urgent; she i
lust not take bread from the mouths
f Sarah KendalPs children. s
On Monday therefore, Miss Mill {
snt. for the first time in her life en-
cred a little second hand jewelry 4,
1op, and when she came out there :
as a roll of bills tucked away in her
nall bag.
With shrewd intuition she knew Q
lat she must not let Amos know that
he had any money. He would not
: satisfied until he had it in his pos i
,cklessly as he did his wages {
So it happened that mysterious
ackages began to appear at the Ken
Ill mansion. One week it would be r
little pig ready for roasting, the
ext a leg of lamb with greens. Again
was a basket of groceries. a>bucket t
oysters-and, on Thanksgiving, ap-
cared a turkey. r
There" Sarah said triumphantly
she showed the turkey to Amos, t.
-ou can't complain now that you've
It too many to feed" n
TITS no credit to her." Amos grum-
ed, that we get the things"
''Well, I'll bet it Isl Sarah said. &
'ome of her old friends are probably
ling for her that way. They don't II
ant to hurt her pride by offering 1t &
,enly." :.
But If the Kendalls had observed y
osely they would have observed Ii
at Miss Millisent rarely partook of
e 1uxuries that graced their table. o
} her sensitive soul 1t was blood II