The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-27
The EVENING STORY
HOW Matilda Helped the curate.
(By Jane OSborn.)

AItIe gray eyes tnat always began by
amusing and usually ended by capti-
waiting all those who came in her way
| II she were beauty" her younger
sisters used to say, I'VE wouldn't SO
much mind having Matilda walk off
haps took little satisfaction in the fact
that several years after they had both
married, Matilda Grant was still Miss
Grant-stil, to be sure, fascinating
and amusing.
Every one used to think that Ma
tilda would end by marrying her child
hood playmate and companion, Paul
Meade, and it had been whispered
more than once that there was an en-
| gagement. And it was also whispered,
/ though Matilda made confidant of no
one. it was Paul's fault that when, not
birthday, he went off 70 South America
| on big engineering scheme, he did
not take Matilda with him.
| Matilda acts exactly like a disap-
pointed spinster." said her sister Clara
| one day. "She's gone into church work
as II her last hope went with Paul to
| South America. She's at church now
taking charge Of one of those tiresome
her time going about and visiting the
| poor parishioners."
Constance smiled and loked I'D from
her sewing: Disappointed spinsterv
have forgotten our new curate It's
his guild she's working for, and his
poor she's visiting and the end of it
all will be that he will propose like the
rest, and almost think Matilda would
take him, too
Clara gasped: "You don't mean
that little Mr.. Cobb, do you? How
perfectly ridiculousI Why, man like
mere boy and he hasn't had any ex-
perience. To be sure he's the most
unsophisticated and delightful boy in
the parish, but he doesn't know any
hnyxy ~
tilda than one of his own choir boys
would"
few minutes later Matilda came
upon her sisters. Here" she excIain-
ed, undoing package she had brought
with her, won't you take some of this
sewing? Stephen-.Tla14 is, Mr.. Cobb
wants to get the work off tomorrow
1t is for his mission UP in the noun
tains, where ne supports a deaconess
with his own money. Isn't that gener-
Gus of him? 1 promised to finish these
garments tonight. and I never could
manage by mys eff
Clara looked up in surprise. 1.-THE
first thing you know, Matilda. that
little cUrate Of yours will be in love
With you" she said, reproachfully. ST
should think you'd have more sense
than to trife with mans feelings
ike thst.''
Why" laughed Matilda. at think I'd
your"
u
Constance timidly.
Don't get excited" Matilda, assur-
ed her: He hasn't even proposed yet.
I'll tell you when he does"
Before many days had passed it was
quite obvious to the two younger sis
ters that Matilda actually had designs
Upon the affections of the honest-eyed
Mr.. Cobb.
she would like 10 be minister's wife,
and 1 suppose she has to marry some
one sometime
Yes" sighed Clara. "but still think
she is in love with Paul. and she'll
grow tired of poor Mr.. Cobb and break
his young heart
At the very time tina. the sisters
were discussing Matilda's affairs over
usual earnestness with the young
Curate.
DO You know. Miss Grant" he said
looking at her with an intensity OF
purpose that almost surprised Matilda
and made her feel for the first time the
real force Of the young man II want
to ask you something. I thought I'd
speak to the bishop about it at first
but 1t seems as if you could perhaps
give me the best and wisest answer. |
Knowing me so well you can be best
and naturally advise me. Please don't |
consider the personal side at ALL" He
paused nervously and then camc to |
the point. DO you think I ought to /!
marry?"
you see, I want eventually to de-
vote my life to my little mountain |
mission. That's always been my am
bttion, and when first spoke to the |
bishop about it he advised me not to /
marry until I had established myself, |
because of the hardships of the work. /
It didn't seem hard then, for a year
ago I had never even considered the
possibility of wanting to marry. But
since I have been here it has come
upon me very forcibly. OF course I
wouldn't want to marry woman
who wasn't as devoted to the cause
as I am; but a young woman like,
you. a little older than i, with her
whole heart in the cause, couldn't
help but be an inspiration to me-
Matilda had listened to this studied,
but obviously heartfelt, declaration |
with TIE color deepening in her
barrassment. IF only he liked me
for something besides my devotion to
the cause, she thought. and then, af-
ter, a pause, she said:
ct understand your point of view
perfectly. am glad you have put it
as you have. Yes, 1 do think wife
would be helpful to you: one who
you and would have your in
YOU are right" She spoke with hes
itancy and falterede because of his
behavior.
Thank you from the bottom of
my heart" said the curate. And then
some one, the sexton, no doubt, came
into the room and ended his confess
sions.
Matilda went home that day with a
confusion of ideas, some pleasant,
some very disconcerting- To devote
herself to the mission of the neigh
boring wild mountain district might
be almost as absorbing as being an
engineers wife in South America And