The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-27
The EVENING STORY
Hospitality in q Nutshell.
Ru BELLE ManiatasA

/
angular poplars in valley between
the high hills was a little white house
with a lean-to at the rear and a big
porch in front. Here had lived for
| forty-eight years, a childless old cou-
pie. They thought thattheir little
pie. They thought that their little
Nutshell" the most beautiful place
in the world, and their only lament
was that so lew persons ever dropped
in" or even passed by. Neighbors were
remote and their road was not de-
serving of the appellation. It was not
even crossroad-hardly lane
| and the grass grew high between faint
ly defined wagon ruts. Where 1t end
ed and turned into crossroad. there
was such labyrinth of underbrush,
brush and foliage from low hanging,
interlaced tree tops that the opening
was completely hidden from view.
One afternoon as they sat on the
porch-stoop, Phineas called this
wife, Hannah, stopped rocking sud
denly and listened.
"Some ones coming" she exclaim-
| ed, excitedly.
AS she spoke, a beautiful young
| woman on shining black horse came
| into view.
Like picture" said Phineas. TAX
| ing the pipe from his mouth.
| The young lady looked admiringly
at the little place and bestowed a
| friendly glance upon the old couple.
ST can't let her go by" gasped
Hannah, as she started down the path.
| The rider refined in her horse.
Wouldn't you like to stop a bit
and have a drink of cold milk?"
| Hannah spoke enticingly and ap-
pealingly. The answering smile was
radiant.
Indeed, I would" she replied. dis
mounting, land may I have one of
those rosy checked apples I saw in the
orchard?"
You may have a bushel." emphat,,
ically asserted Phineas, as he stood
up and held out his hand. "Set right
down while I tie your horse"
| She proved to be what Hannah call
ed "folksy.'' She cheerfully told her
name. where she lived and everything
that Hannah yearned to know.
was you goin' far?' she finally
asked.
IT wasn't going anywhere in par
ticular. I don't know how came to
don't see how people find it."
"They DON'T" said Hannah, visit
fully. mo one comes by but the gro
Gerry man once a week, the essence
while the tin man. We like company,
Phinny and I. and we like to have
game, too. We taught the tin man
and the essence man to play casino
the grocery man don't get the time.
him in. We played with a dummy"
| ct call that hold up" laughed the
girl.
ing up the steps. Mis-
Irene she answered.
s"That was my mothers name, ''he
said musingly.
ssCan't you stay to supper?" pleaded
| Hannah. 1--WE have it real early be-
cause we have dinner early
'eThank YOU" replied the girl. 81
should love to stay"
you can telephone your folks"
suggested PhineaS. I'VE have a tel
| ephone.''
S'sIt won't be necessary. often go
for long rides.
So Phineas led the horse to the
barn to feed, while Irene helped to
set the table with blue sprigged china
and old small bowled spoons. Hannah
made air light biscuits There was a
square of honey with cream to match
heaped with thick slices of gold and
silver cake and strawberry preserves,
| pickles and fragrant tea completed the
| menu.
cried Irene, ecstatically.
"Pshaw. just bite! scoffed Phin-
| cas-.
But while they were magink merry
throughout the supper hour. clouds
] had gathered, and quick patter of
| raindrops took them all to the window.
A storm was coming on in earnest and
| in a few moments there was a terrific
roar of thunder and the rain came
| down in torrents.
| Its in for an all nights Storm"
| predicted Phineas.
"You will have to stay all night"
said Hannah, gleefully.
Yes; ten miles in the rain and the
unknown roads would be too venture
some, even for me- replied Irene, go
ing to the telephone and informing her
mother of her safekeeping.
Presently the telephone rang again.
| The message was for Irene.
That wasn't your folks" chuckled
Phineas, as she hung up the receiver.
How did you guess?"
! Your tone was different"
nah, timidly.
Y-es-no-almost my beau" laugh
! ed Irene. HE asked me to wait here
| tomorrow until he rode over and we
could ride home together
| "Then we can have a game % said
Hannah, hopefully.
yes; he shall stay for several
| games"
In the morning the sun was shin
ing brightly, and after breakfast, while
Phineas fed the cattle, Hannah churn-
ed so that 'Irene's beau might have
fresh buttermilk to drink.
II should think" said Irene, mus
Happy NAAio oCoA AAtt-C PidCc.
! Hannah made no reply. Irene
! looking up quickly, saw her wipe away
a surreptitious tear. The girls SYM
pathetic questioning finally elected the
! cause of her sadness.
I t'Phinny 7on't know yet" she said,
land I'm going to keep it from him
as long as can, but you see there's
been a mortgage for quite spell on
| The Nutshell. We've kept UP the in
terest, and thought we could always
renew it. but the man wrote us yes
| terday that we must pay right off
Miss Simons brought me the letter
from town, and. luckily Phinny wasn't
here. I can't think yet but that a way
will come"