The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-03
THE EVENING STORY
The Bride.
(By Annie Hinrichsen.)

/ 10y annie E1lnrlCnS6n.)
He had been introduced to her half
an hour before. Another member of
the legislature had drawn him into
the group of legislators. newspaper
men and lobbyists that surrounded
her, and she had asked him to take
her up to the gallery to watch the
meeting of the House of Representa-
tives. >
You are not a political woman, are
your" he asked.
NO"
I'm glad" There was a warmth in
his voice and deepening of his tone
that made the speech a personality
From his square. clean shaver chin to
his closely cropped hair the red color
suddenly flashed. For moment
when I first saw you. 1 feared you
might be a lobbyist and-well, I knew
1 was going to like you awfully well
and 1 wanted you to be-just charm
ing, beautiful girl
Il don't know anything about lob
bying. I am interested. of course, in
the work of the legislature, but
know really nothing about it. There
is but one political matter which 1 I'M
derstand, and 1 care great deal
about it. I hope the state will locate
its new Home for the Aged and Infirm
at Greenville."
| why Greenwich" he asked quick
| ly.
| II00HVlll9 Is nome. 1t is a
large mining and manufacturing city.
Three-fourths of the population work
in the mines and the factories. They
are poor people and many of them
are too old and too i'll to work. But
they have always lived in Greenville;
old people do not uproet easily, and
in order to remain there they totter
about, old men and women, doing the
little tasks that hardly suffice to feed
them-unwilling to go to the state
/ homes in other cities, too proud to go
to the poorhouse. Mr.. Eversman, there
there is nothing on earth so pitiable
as an old man or woman who bears
on age-bent shoulders the bitter bur-
den of poverty, loneliness and home
longing"
"And YOU care so much for the peo-
pie of Greenville 90
"An old man, proud, broken
She stopped suddenly. Whether it
was a resolution to say no more or a
sob that had arisen in her throat and
choked her voice Eversman could not
determine. He was remembering joy
fully that he was chairman of the
Icommittee of legislators appointed to
decide the site of the new Home for
Aged and Infirm. and that he had the
power to give to the old people of
Greenville a home, in their own COM
munity.
A week later the chairman of the
committee called to order a meeting.
"Mr Chairman" began a young
member of the legislature Can init
mate friend of Eversman), 1--WE have
in the last week visited each proposed
site, and have inquired carefully into
the merits of the various places offer
led We are now assembled to vote for
the location we think most suitable.
desire to cast my vote for Greenville,
and move we make the selection I'M
animouS."
1 III fan
seconding the motion.
| 81 objectl I object!" Numbered a
Legislator who had listened to a voice
of gold which had advised him to vote
for a location which was not Green
vile.
'"The motion is before the commit
tee,' ruled the chairman. '"Those in
favor of building the new home at
Greenville signify by saying aye. Those
opposed, no. Three in favor of Green
vile; three opposed. In a tie the
chairman casts the deciding vote. The
chair votes for Greenville. Greenville
will have the new state home"
"And I tell you,- Don Eversman,
shouted an angry voice, that you're a
blackguard, a high-handed political
thief. You were brfbed into giving
Greenville the plum. That cookbook
ing daughter of old Jim Vincent's has
been down here coaxing you into
planting the home at Greenville be-
cause the site chosen there is an old
mud hole belonging to her father for
which the state will pay a big for
tune. You've been br1bec b" woman
The chairman's. fist sent him to the
floor.
A few hours later Donald Evers-
man was in Greenville.
| Miss Vincent" he announced alb
ruptly, "the home will be built in
lGreenville- 1 came to tell you.'
| fYou came here to tell me-just to
| tell me-all the way from the capital
| ST came to tell you that you lobbied
successfully for the old people of
GreenviIIe. Sentimental talk and a
beautiful face made a fool of the
chairman of the committee and he
dictated the selection of the site
She stepped back from him. Her
face was very white.
81 have learned, however he went
on in a savage, jeering tone, that
1.-The touchingly sentimental story OF
the homesick. old people concealed the
freak reason of your desire to have the
home in GreenvilIe. You've won. Your
father will become by the sale OF ms
lland to the state, a rich man.
at, was for him." acceded the girl,
t'tthat pleaded with YOU
"You arranged to meet me? You
knew the day I talked with you in the
IHOuS6 RdheTy lA1dI L =" as CAAe--@
1.-The committee? You knew that dis
liked women lobbyists and you pre-
TENDED to know nothing of legislative
Juggling? You acknowledge this ?"
Eyes"
/ He walked up to her, laid one hand
lon her shoulder and with the other
turned her face until her eyes met his.
las he looked at her the anger left his
lface.
"Tell me-" he argued gently, "all
al !, firm
land tender lips ever deliberately de-
lceived a man in her own interests.
There was a reason"
ga reason-yes. For an old man
a poor old man, broken and helpless,
and very proud. Mr. Vincent is not
INV axvr7 father 7 am his steDdaughter.