The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-10
THE EVENING STORY
Sturman- Hancher VS.. Hymen.
(By Stacy E. Baker.)

SturmanH ancher VS.. Hymen.
(By Stacy E. Bakery
There was bad blood between the
house of Hancher and the house of
Sturman, This, however, did not pre-
vent the respective scions of the fam
lilies from falling in love with each
other.
Mabel. the fond pride of sturman
senior. was I girl whom any youth
with red blood in his veins would be
proud to call sweetheart. She was as
pretty as the break of June morn
long dashed. She was tall, gracefully
SLIM and walked with the virile
spring of youth. Tom Hancher was
fortunate.
soul of Father Hancher, inflamed
years ago against Sturman, sr., re-
fused to discriminate between the old
grocer and his daughter.
But you don't know the girl Tom
protested, VIXEN the old gentleman
had included the maid in his frenzied
summing up of the faults of the head
of Mabels family.
ro she is oh ns5 fathers dont naaS 10
So, once again, the confession that
trembled on the lips of the youth
was stilled. 1t would have been
most unfortunate time to explain to
this parent IndC MS HlOSI
hated enemy's daughter was to be-
come his sons wife.
The hatred of Sturman for Han
cher, and vice versa, extended back
| over a dozen years. Both were gro
GERS in the thriving town of Tings-
boro. Both lad been fast friends. Tn
| fortunately, both had lived in the
same ward, and had aspired, at the
same time, 20 the common council.
Some one has said that politics makes
hnd under.
mines strong friendships. After three
weeks of mud-slinging electioneering.
Sturman won the coveted laurels by
majority of one vote.
Sturman aud Hancher were friends
no longer. Hencher moved out of the
ward. Their grocery shops were now
at opposite ends of the city.
Tom Hanct1er, only son, was now
only daughter, was now her fathers
| bookkeeper. The evenings, however.
belonged solely to the young people,
and they met frequently at the homes
of mutual acquaintanceS with their
embittered parents being not a whit
On the evening of the day of Tom
Hancher's last argument with his
father, the we'll proportioned chap
with the frank eyes, walked with his
lady fair under a moon bright sky.
''Father is so set,'' complained the
youth. But never mind, dear, 1
have enough money of my own, and
We will be married first, and tell
has the nerve to object-after seeing
you-you know he doesn't even know
you by sight-I'n pass UP his old
grocery. and start one of my own"
All this brought the gratffied red
to the pretty cheeks of Mabel Stur-
man, and the light III her eyes was
nice to see as she turned to the ardent
Thomas.
IAN in due time, Tom she
soothed- There is no great g1s. hurry Try.
and 1 am not yet 90
The plan of waiting did not ap'
peal to the impetuous young lover.
He would like to have to go to Stur-
hand, but a knowledge of the temper
of the lean, wiry east end grocer told
him what would happen If he did this.
Time dragged on. Patience, that
ioveIorn pair, but still the girl would
NOT consent &c a secret marriage.
Something might happen.
Something did happen!
Sturman bought an AUTOMOBILES
big red touring car, u once the pride
| and envy of the neighbOrhood. Han
cher heard OF this. Not to be out
shone and outdone by his ancient
rival he invested in the goods of
competing company, a yellow car.
4
Gent, drove their own machines.
For awhile they kept to their own
| particular, neck of the woods, but
mischievous fate one day impishly
suggested to each of them that he in
wade the others territory, and awe
him with the aptness in the control
of his machine
On the same day, and at the same
hour they started, but by different
| routes Patiently. lean Sturman
| honk-honked up and down in front
| of Hancher's store; persistently, fat
Hancher drove his red monstrosity
| past the Sturnan grocery-and all to
no purpose. Sturman could not catch
sight of Haucher; Hancher could not
| dazzle the eyes of his rival Puzzled
| clerks watched the manifestations.
The Sturnlan store stood on cor
ner. Hancher. turning his machine
close to the curb and with his back
| to the walk, failed to notice a tipsy
man with a number of long iron rods
| over his wavering shoulder. The lat
ter staggered around the corner, and
the rods, suddenly turning toward the
street strucI, the unseeing Hancher
on the side o. his head, precipitating
/ him to the pavement, half uncon-
| scfous. Instantly a crowd gathered.
AS is usual With crowds, none seemed
| inclined to render the luckless one
assistance. Suddenly dainty damsel
| tripped out Of an adjoining store.
Let me IN to nin, she said,
authoritatively and the gaping crowd
broke before her. In an instant the
head of the downed man was lifted to
the lap of the girl, and bottle of