The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-18
THE EVENING STORY
widower Jndd's Housekeeper.
fBy Anne Heilman.)

about. There was certain comfort
| ing presence in her large figure and
comely face. Although the face when
| at rest was somewhat sad, yet it was
one of those beaming faces that seem
full of love for the whole worId-that
Is, for all whom she admitted into her
world. For those outside of its bounds
she had no use. Just now her
Dor, in whose direction she sent her
| Chances.
Peters getting his supper early"
| she unused. Its pretty lonely for
him. but I hope he won't be inveigled
| into taking Serena Lamb for house.
gossip. but all Clifton knows that her
reputation for dressing far outdoes
her skill in housekeeping. If I thought
- Just then she turned her head
and caught sight of Mrs. Lamb walk
ing up the path.
TOO bad to see that nice home go
| ing to rack and ruin,'' Mrs. Lamb be-
gan, after settling herself in the rock
er. Il hear it's fairly swarming with
| mice. Peter only uses two rooms
| Isn't it a wonder he amt picked out
a housekeeper afore this?'
1--WE an idea" said Mrs. Platt. en-
deavoring to speak unconcernedly,
that he'll probably ask you
"Me!'' interrupted Mrs. Lamb in an
astonished tone. me! And with such
Trust a man to get a cook when he's
| free to pick and choose. Sarah wasn't
| much on the cooking, and I guess he'll
| want a change"
happy years in this house, sighed Mr.
| happy years in this house." sighed
Mrs. Plat. It'd come hard for me to
| leave it,"
"And L 1ldn't possibly leave my
place. protested Mrs. Lamb: And
lot rc or
You'd oughter see my strawberries.
Emeline. Peter says they are the fin
| est he ever saw. I'd bring you over
a saucerful, but as Peter was going on
so about your getting stout L thought
| L wouldn't encourage your appetite
any Well" looking keenly at her
friend to assure herself that the blow
and struck home, 81 must be getting
on"
Serena Jared fortified slowly along
| the grassy lane. "Emeline don't care
shucks for Peter judd" she shrewdly
conjectured. David Platt's money is
more to her than any living man. But
she'd take the place for no other
| reason than to keep me out of it. AS
| If any one would look at her twice
when I'm around" and she glowed
with a fine satisfaction as she COM
pared herself to Mrs. Platt-
To be sure, Eemeline was an UNI
pire on all the arts of housekeeping
/
had never become proficient in the
art. but there were other ways OF
reaching a mans heart. Serena knew,
| because she had proved it twice.
| In fact neither lady had deceived
| the other. Each knew the other, from
widely different motives. stood ready
at a moments notice to respond to
Peter Judd's call for hOusekeeper.
Each knew that Clifton was wonder
| ing which Of the two widows who liv-
- DIT q
called eventually to fill the departed
Sarah's Ilace: for the custom pre-
vailed in Clifton when a man was, in
the wisdom of Providence, bereaved,
to hunt out some widow, respected by
the community to undertake the du-
ties of housekeeper, and generally
after a decent period of mourning the
twain became one.
eff Serena males up her mind to
have Peter he'll have to give in" phil
| osophized Mrs. Platt. "She's already
married two that didn't in the least
want her. She's comfortably off, too,
and don't need to leave her home. I
wouldn't be so set against it if didn't
know twas her that interfered be-
tween him and Floretta Young more'n
twenty years ago. Peter up and mar
ried Sarah out of pure spite. and
F1orettie took that good for nothing
Cy Blaqey. If ever two people were
cut for one another, Peter and Flo
retta were. Well, as he's held out
again Serena for over a. year he may
escape for good. I'll not worry any
more"
But she did. The chance and appar-
emily careless remarks that Serena let
fall, as If an understanding existed
between herself and Peter Judd, fret
ted Emeline's tl,frit. In the depths of
her honest soul she believed that
Peter was regular caller at the Lamb
home. She waited for the announce
ment of Serenas engagement as for
a blow that was sure to fall.
Still, when it came she was not pre-
pared for 1t. One afternoon she had
just taken her accustomed seat on the
porch whenthe gate opened. and Mrs.
Lamb swept us the path with an I'M
usual air of Importance
.Landi Amt 1T hot?" she exclaimed
"Such a muss as I've got into" care
fully arranging the folds of her new
organdie skirt before sitting down.
Her tone rang with triumph. Mrs.
Platt felt the change in the atmos-
phere, and all her world darkened.
There's all that house of Peters
to be gone over this hot weather. Not
a mite of cleaning since Sarah died.
Such a 1ookin' placei And it must be
all red up by the middle of Septem-
Der. I just ran in to ask If your paint
and whitewash brushes were in good
order. Peter said as how you mention
ed having a supply of 'em when you
offered to keep house for him, months
ago. My, how red your face is. Eme-
line! You hadn't ought to wear pink.
Now. If I do say 1t. I've complexion
that'll stand any color"
ct didn't exactly Offer stam-F
mered Mrs. Platt, tears of mortifica-
ton smarting her eyes.
ooh, well, it is all past and done
with" interrupted Serena airily. 81
Just had to give in. He wouldn't take
no. Well, If you'll the brushes
I'll be goin'."
Armed with the brushes Serena de-
parted. every movement of the or
candle proclaiming victory.
In the days that followed Mrs. Plat
gave much time to sitting on the front
porch watching her friends progress
in the housekeeping line. Serena
called seldom now and the time