The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-08
THE EVENING STORY
Miss James Wedding Feast.
lBy Virginia BIair.1

Jane dropped into the rocking chair on
the porch and stared blankly out on
the sunlighted garden.
They amt coming" she said to
Josephus, the big yellow cat. who lay
at full length on the gravel walk
AT the sound of his name Josephus
rose lazlly and came toward her.
They amt coming Miss Jane re-
peated, and we will have to eat up
our party alone Josephus''
The big cat followed her to the kitch-
en- and shifted ecstaticaIly as she op-
ened the oven door. Within was a
cb1cken pie of huge proportions.
And to Think sighed Miss Jane
that no one will be here to help us
eat it,
Josephus mewed sympathetically,
and Miss Jane picked him up and car
RED MIN back to the porch, leaving
the pie to further baking.
She rocked back and forth in the
big chair, her hand caressing the pur-
ring cat Her face settled into care
worn lines. She was deeply disap-
pointed. In her lonely life there were
few opportunities for social pleasure,
hence this yearly gathering in June,
which celebrated the birthday of her
only brother, was a red letter event.
Years ago her brother had moved to
the city, had married and was sur
rounded by family Of children whom
Miss Jane adored. And, today, tho
| gay group had been prevented from
| coming by the illness of the youngest
child
The telegram had brought the news
| just at the moment when Miss Jane
had finished setting the table. She
thought regretfully of the two cocoa
nut cakes, the cottage cheese, the
| tarts and the crullers to the making
| of which she had given the whole of
| the previous day. In the refrigerator
were the crisp salad and the luscious
fruits. All was ready, but there
| mr.
Into her mind came suddenly a fan
| tastic thought: GO ye into the high
ways and the hedges and compel them
to come in" Far down the long road
dwelt a little colony of poor whites.
| Miss Jane knew what a joy the good
things would bring to them.
81 could pack a basket" she said
| to Josephus, "but I hate to waste all
my good cooking on crowd like
| that"
She was still undecided when the pie
was ready to take out of the oven. AS
she placed it, all Drowned and smoking
on the kitchen table. by the window,
| she looked over the kitchen garden, be-
yond which were the flower beds which
! followed the path to the front of the
| house. BY the side of the path was a
great bush, covered with snowy bios
| SONS.
AS Miss James casual glance rested
| upon it, there appeared. back of the
| whiteness, a patch of rose pink.
"Well," Miss Jane remarked, that is
a queer king of blossom on that bridal
| wreath bush"
! Followed by Josephus, she went down
| the path, her soft slippers making lit
tie noise. AS she reached the bush
some one rose from behind 1t. 1t was
| q girl in a pink sunbonnet. In her hand
she held a half dozen sprays of the
bridal-wreath She was little and
slender, and she wore a cheap, white
gown.
oh" she said as Miss Jane stared
at her. do you mind am goins
| to be married and 1 wanted some flow
ers, and we hadn't any.
"You might have asked me-" Miss
Jane said austerely.
"I-I was afraid the girl STAN
mered, land pap would't buy me any
flowers, and he-wouldn't let joe He
said it was bad enough for me to mar
ry Joe without US wasting our money.
But a wedding don't mean much, does
it, without any flowers or without any
wedding supper? Pap said poor folks
haven't any right to expect such things,
| but Joe says girl only gets married
once, and he would have bought me
some flowers, only 1 wouldn't let him.
1 was afraid pap would be mad"
The long explanation came out in
stammering sentences. Miss Jane
found herself looking with interest at
the blushing, bright eyed little crea-
ture.
ried ?" she asked.
.sThis afternoon at 4 o'clock" the
girl answered.
TITS 8 now" Miss Jane told her
! You ought to be home getting ready.
There won't be any getting ready,
the girl said wistfully. "Im going to
wear this dress. and I thought
would make a wreath of your flowers
You don't think it would look silly
do you?"
! 81 think it would look lovely" Miss
Jane declared Her heart went out
suddenly toward the shy little creature
''Why didn't your mother cook your
wedding supper?" she asked.
"She's dead" the girl said simply
Maybe if she had lived things would
, have been different
Miss Jane had a sudden inspiration
Look here" she said quickly, ST have
| something to show you. Come up to
the house with me-
: They went rapidly up to the house
the faithful Josephus pattering after
i They passed through the kitchen, frag-
rant with savory cooking and into the
{ dining room. The long table was SCI
for twelve and was gay with fine
white linen, shining old silver, glitter
ing glass, and some pink roses which
'sIIow would you like to have your
wedding supper here?" Miss Jane de
manded. you could be married ir
the parlOr ana nave your 1IleHuS ner'
to eat my chicken pie and cocoanu
cakes"
The girl gasped. "But we amt you
kind We're just poor folks that livet
j down in the hollow"
"I guess 1 know who you are, Mis-
n Jane said sharply, but am not goins
to see any girl married without SOM
q | fuss being made over it. am no
married myself, but If I had been
. should have wanted the whole tow
{ | to turn out to look at ne. And any
. how this dinner must not go to waste
a and there isn't anyone but me AM
I Josephus to eat 1T.
The girls face was lighted will
radiant happiness. She made only
n faint show of resistance you com
s With me and ask nap., she pleaded