The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-28
The EVENING STORY
Second Best.
10y Louise Olnev.1

by Louise Olney.I
| Ann Marks eye flashed. Dirct as
4eE name. sne refused to marry Henry
casper. He stood before her, a little
amAwaroIy, but yet man that most
women would have considered kindly.
he was not 40. well off for the simple
community, highly respected, and his
Wlre, Caroline, had been dead three
years Being a mere man, how could
ne know that Ann. his old schoolnate
had suffered agonies when. as a voung
man. he had courted and married her
cousin7 49, --0-
No one knew why Ann had not mar
rleo-she never wore her heart on her
sleeve. Now, in spite of herself, her
heart softened to him, noting how his
hand ruffied his hair. as it always did
When he was puzzled and unhappy.
l never did think could be second
pest IN any mans Hfe." she went on
rather cruelty. And I don't see how
at my age-S5. and I don't care who
knows i'll don't see how I can begin
playing mother to another woman's
chiid. The boy will hate me. as all
children do a stepmother. No: ask
angrily.
Don't insult me. Ann. You know
l don't want any other woman. I've
always-you know 1 can't tell you what
l always thought OF you. It wouldn't
seem fair to Caroline. who did her best
by ME-"
The world knew she had been a
weak, fretful untidy woman; Jealous.
thrl1tleSS, her baby beauty gone in a
few years. And it knew of his loyalty.
He could not tell this woman how, in
the years she had been about his house.
helping Caroline. his heart had gone
out to AIMS CHEEKY strength, her whole
some, healthy kindness. He tried one
word more.
Ann, if you knew how 1 needed you,
In every way, You would come. Do you
think I have forgotten how to love?"
Still she shook her head. He turned
and drove to his own farm. Ann sat
thinking. for she remembered many
things. She finally rose and went in
to her sisters house. where she was
visiting. Molly looked at her curiously
RS she entered, waiting to be told some
thing, for she had guessed Henry's err
rand. But she was forced to respect
AIMS silence.
In the crisp September morning Ann
started out for walk. She went over
Molly, and with Henry and Caroline. |
How strangely things had worked out. |
She thought of her busy life as fore |
woman in big shop, her practical.
visit to the old place would be over.
Reaching the top of the hill, she sat |
down in the falling leaves, pushing the |
heavy dark hair back from her face.
Her big eyes were soft and kind and
dark, like an animals eyes. She was
tall and vigorous.
Down in the valley she could see
Henry Jasner's house and barnyard.
He was hitching the bays to the buggy,
and presently he drove away. A sud-
len temptation assailed her. She had
heard Molly say his most recent house
keeper had left. Should she go and
nave a look at things? She did not see
he boy about. Probably Jimmie was
1t his grandmother's. She rose and
walked across the stubble-
The door was locked, but she found
he key under the mat and entered.
She could have groaned at sight of the
litchen-dishes unwashed, floor ditto,
disorder rampant. The sitting room,
he bedroom, everything was a sorry
light to her housewifely eye, for she
vas first and always a housekeeper.
Things had been bad enough in Caro-
Ines time, but now they were impos-
ible.
She had no compunction about en-
ering-she had always been in and out
'efore she went to the city. He would
ot care. She looked at the clock and !
alculated that he could not get back !
rom town under two hours. Then she
oiled up her sleeves and skirt and \
7ent to work. Dishes first, then the {
DOR, then sweeping, busting and MAX +
n~ beds. Before she knew it three
ours had gone, and it was noon. She
ound a bite to eat and decided to go
n even If he caught her at 1t. She did +
OF care.
Knowing it would take weeks to get
Terything as it should be, she chose t
AXE her sheer comfort. She made L
'me pies and ginger cookies and
)ughnuts and boiled some corned beef /.
ON the barrel, trying not to see the a
'ndition the cellar was in. The after
>on wore on and still Henry did not I
turn. She mended some of Jimmies
othes, poor child.
She had decided that she would keep K
work as long as possible and then E
lde out the back way when she saw t
m coming, but he was not to be. o
bout she suddenly was aware of a
ailing in the yard, and from the door
held Jimmie, f1shpole in hand, limp s.
g along and crying uc every step. He t
as a boy of ten. like his father as 3
lie pea to another. She ran to meet r
m and saw that his foot was cut and
eeding. She picked him up and car
ed him in washed his foot, dressed ii
and put him on the sofa, where she h
him. AS she came to take away "a
e plate he suddenly. in the most I'M h
ylike fashion, snatched her about the Il
ok and kissed her. Then he fell N
leep.'
BY this time she had no thought Of n,
'ing back till the child's father came 81
lie moved about the kitchen and din 80
g room in her orderly, effective way "
way businesslike, eminently womanly +
Id good The waste apparent every
here annoyed her thrifty soul. She saw
rty ways to better and save. She set
e table with a fresh cloth and put
,od supper to cook on the stove she
Id blackened at the cost of her pretty, n
Jump hands-her one beauty. save her
es. 1t was nearing O'Clock. m
After q little Jimmie awoke, and,
Ithout warning, began to cry, refus n.
g to tell what troubled him, but deny
e that it was his foot. Finally Ann
It low rocker. took the child in her ~ ~
ms and began to rock him. Great Id
" that he was, he snuggled to her,
un1oved little heart accepting the IN