The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-11
THE EVENING STORY
spinsters OF Scarlet Ridge.
(By TEMPLE BAILEY.o

(By TEMPLE Bailey
They liked to call themselves spin
Isters, although Hilda was only thirty.
and Helen and Harriet were still
younger Indeed, Harriet was so
young that she still wore her bright
braids tied with black ribbon.
They lived alone in the old house
on Scarlet Ridge, and it was because
of their purely feminine household
that they termed themselves spin
sters
I'VE are never going to marry" they
declared, and the people in the little
town half mile away knew the rea-
son of this declaration.
Poor things, poor things" they
would say with shake of the head.
good-for-nothings 1t isn't any won
der that they don't like men,"
There was money enough in the old
house on the Scarlet Ridge. so that
the three girls entertained comfortably
and were famous hostesses. They were
talented, too, and Hildas music and
Helen's paintings were matched only
by Harriot's skill as housekeeper.
''She is the youngest of u.s." Hilda
would say, "but she is the most prac-
teal; and she looks like one OF
RaphaePs angels
Scarlet Ridge got it's name from the
wonderful masses of dogwood which,
turning red in the fall blazed against
the gray powders The rugged seem
cry, the wild river which leaped at the
foot of the hills through rocky passes
made it a favorite haunt for artists
who came from far and near, especial
~ in the autumn, to paint the glowing
landscape. When the artists were
women, the three spinsters in the old
house welcomed them with open arms,
but to all strange men the doors were
shut.
Perhaps for this very reason men
L H. j L ~ 4.-s< -,
admittance to castle whose gates
were closed to them. II was known
that the spinsters were attractive, but
invulnerable This fact piqued curl
osity. It came as something of a
shock, therefore. when, on stormy De-
knock at the door and was faced by
three young men in raincoats.
eve saw said the foremost young
man, diffidently. '.the light of your fire
through the window. We were here
in October to paint the fogwood. We
thought we would come again and see
the effect of bare branches, but it is
cold outside and it looks warm within.
Will we be imposing too much on your
hospitality if we ask to share your
fire?"
Harriet hesitated. The rule of the
house said. mo admittauce for mas
eulines;" yet this young man with his
hat in his hand, with his deferential
of mastery was new force to deal
with.
I'll ask Hilda.'' she said at last.
Hilda, playing songs without words
"Of course, they can't come in
well, you go tell them," Harriet
said
.sOf course" HiIda responded. "only
don't see why you can't do it, Har-
riot"
you'll see when you get there
was Harriot's response.
Hilda, sweeping down the hall, her
soft white robe trailing behind her,
was a thing of beauty. To the men
embody everything that was gracious
and gentle With her words. how
ever, came disillusion. RI
ST am sorry, gentlemen" she said
crisply, that We cannot welcome you.
There is an inn in the town..
"But we didn't want to go to the
inn," said the tall young man, plain
lively. I'VE are three poor travel
ers who have seen the light of your
fire. Would you condemn US to steam
Hilda found herself smiling. "But
we DON'T she began. Then the Sec
on man steppe forward. He wasn't
very tall, but his massive head and
thick hair that wkaved back from his
forehead gave him a wonderful per-
sonality.
at has been many years since I
have seen a fireplace like that,r he
said, with the big back log burning
and with the old guns and antlers
above the mantlepiece; yet you would
send US back to the darkness and
baroness of the hotel parlor'
Hilda, turning from one to the other
undecided, heard voice from the dim
1t was Helen, in her blue linen
painting apron and with her easel in
her hand
ST heard what you said about steam
pipes and radiators" she said and
laughed mo other argument would
have been effective, but we hate mod
ern heating, SO in the name of our
heartstone we bid you welcome"
The three men said nothing as to
whence they came or as to where they
were going; they simply settled them
selves in the three big chairs in front
of the fire with the air of wayfarers
who have come to stay. First, how
ever, they begged that their hostesses
would remain. Hilda settled that.
1--WE have our work to do" she said
"You are welcome to the fire, but you
must not interrupt the duties of our
day.
Then she marshaled Helen and Har-
riot before her, and went out and shut
the door,
The three men left alone. leaned
back in their chairs and laughed. The
third man, who was boyish, said eager
~. Did you Sc. the youngest one?
She is charming"
The man with the massive head
looked into the fire thoughtfully. 1--WE
h. We bombarded the castle gates" he
said, land have found princesses as
beautiful as they were reported to be.
So far. so good"
At noon, Harriet came in, followed
by maid. who carried tray on
which were coffee and sandwiches.
There was a cake, too, and Harriet adj
She sat down on the end of the old
settee, at their earnest solicitation.
"HiIda won't like it," she said.
The ApoIIo-like young man Whisper
ed, "But we like it,
Helen came in presently to find Har-
riot. and she, too, was persuaded to
STAY At last came HiIda. flaming with