The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-01
THE EVENING STORY
Goldfish and Cupid.
(By Stacey E. Bakery


the young man inherited seven cod
fish and a spacious tank for the same
along with several volumes on fish
culture. To cheer the respondent
Robert, $50, 900 accompanied this &C.
centric gift, all to be his own If he
abided by several conditions-easy
conditions.
Ezra Dodderman had won the be-
ginning of his fortune as the captain
of a. fishing smack off the coast of
New England, and his sentiment for
his dull eyed pets, while freakish,
was commendable.
A Goldfish could not be called friv-
oIous. All it takes is plenty to eat and
a bit Of brine wherein occasionally to
move an indolent fin. Ezra Dodder-
mans seven be-wfiskered emulsion
makers, while parlor cod, were no ex-
ceptions to the general rule. Ezra
wouldn't have thought of keeping
their huge tank home in any other
room in his modest domicile. The par
lor for his finny ones! Hadn't their
kind established the moneyed house
of. Dodderman? Nothing should be
too good for them. He gave them
The $4,000 that came to Hamilton
was accompanied by the command
that the pets of the departed be given
| all the comforts of home; namely, a
conspicuous place in the parlor and
twelve changes of sea water each day.
Failure to make good in any of these
| conditions would result In Withdraw
al of the coin, and another intimate
high stool for the lanky side whis-
kered Robert.
| Hamilton was of the young-old type
| that is often found in clerkly capa-
cities in business institutions. His
life was clock-like, methodical. He
went to work at a certain hour and
did everything as he had done 1t each
day during his connection with Cleg-
| ton & CIogg. He lunched at certain
hour and returned to ms nome at
certain hour! Life with Robert Ham
| i1ton was a system. Uncle Ezra had
put an end to this system.
Hamilton was Mortified when the
Breezeville lawyer cited the cond1-
lions attached to the acceptance OF
his uncle's legacy. The attorney, in
turn. was Mortified when the book
keeper refused to consider them. 1t
took seven days of picturesqe elo-
quence to bring the unimaglnatlve plod-
der around.
Hamilton was not married. His
scaled wards were moved into his
humble cottage in the night. Inc
bookkeeper was ashamed OF tnem.
His housekeeper. an aged dame, VINO
had been sworn by the youth to keep
closed lips as to the presence of the
tank and its inmates, snorted disgust
edly as she stared through the thlck
glass of the aquarium into the ex-
DTGSSlOnloSS
parasites. Thence on, tank OF water
arrived each week from Boston.
Fortunately, Hamilton's little cot
tage was near the tracks, and. at very
little expense he had spur thrown
into his back yard. People were Curl
Gus about the importation. Some
thought Robert had discovered oil in
his cellar. They didn't know about the
fish.
Hamilton, long since drifted into
Clegton-C1ogg books willingly. This
was made impossible by the impera-
tive clause in the will demanding
twelve changes of water for the fish
liver over the green stuff from the
eastern coast to the parlorites 1t was
necessary for Hamilton to attend to 1t
himself.
Hamilton always dressed in black.
He wore stiff white shirts and white
ties. His modest garb and reddish
sideburns lent him a ministerial dig
nifty, and this was even as it should
be, for Richard was model young
man. He did not indulge in tobacco,
LIQUOR or expensive explosives. And
yet there are flaws in all good timber.
Hamilton had one, dissipation. Her
name was Annabelle Lea.
Annabelle Lea was a rabbit raced
damsel who, despite her omnipresent
expression of meekness. had most
resolute will of her own. She had
known Robe1' all her life. They ca
pered in the same exclusive society.
For three years the bookkeeper had
paid Annabelle assiduous attention.
She believed he intended to marry
her, and her lady-1ike heart pit-a-
patted at his very approach. She
kept her determined spirit in the
, background.
Robert. however, was, at this par
ticular moment, far too busy with cod
fish to bother about girls.
No one in the village knew of the
Youths inherited $4,000; no more.
in fact, of this than they did of his
parlor boarders.- Therefore their var
ious; bumps of rustic curiosity throb-
bed when Hamilton resigned his posi-
ton and stuck calmly to his cottage,
Sabbath mornings.
All of this persuaded the ambitious
Annabelle from the scodishy secret
eating out the heart of the man she
weeks she DOTTED her maidenly diff
dence and called.
Robert was at home. He was al
ways at home He invited the lady
previous calls, Annabelle had been
ushered into the parlor. In this fail
ure to comply with an ethical condi-
ton long established, Annabel1e be-
lieved that she could discern wav-
ering affection. She smiled.
ST thought maybe you were i'll?
commenced Annabelle coyly. tsThat is
why 1 called today. I haven't seen
you pass the house on your way to
work lately. You know, Robert, that
dear mother used to say before she
was taken away that there was no one
in town as clever as when it came
to sickness, and
1--WE quit work. interrupted Rob-
ert hastily.
"Quit % gasped Annabel1e. Robert,
out of work. was not the catch that