The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-21
TIE EVENING STORY
Love and a shotgun.


Clarence Davis was one of the students
who elected to work during the vaca-
ton. He went to a farmer who wanted
only one man, but a big, stout one.
Clarence was big and stout, and the
farmer figured that if he only had a
small appetite he would be as much
of a bargain as a dollar shirt mark ed
down to So cents.
There was regular hired man on
the farm. He had been there a year.
The farmer, the good wife and the
daughter welcomed the new hand, but
Jim, the hired man, didn't. He took
a long look at him, listened to his
talk for few minutes, and then went
the haymow and kicked over a half
bushel measure and hoarsely ex-
claimed:
IF he does it I will kill him if
hang for iti''
Farmer Bush's daughter was named
Amelia. She was twenty-five years
old and engaged to Jim. He had woz
her heart and hand in the first three
months. No date had been set for
the wedding, but it was counted a sure
thing Amelia had taught a district
school one term, and was inclined to
look down on jim
The college boy went to work with
a good deal of vim. He wanted mus
Gle, and he wanted the wages. While
he was a hired man for the once, he
COQlQll IlOlD A6lnS himself dL the same
time. He didn't use soft soap to wash
his hands; he made use of comb and
brush before coming to the table; he
made change from his working
clothes after the chores had been done
up for the night.
Amelia was impressed from the very
first day, and she was foolish enough
to show il. The student hadn't been
an inmate of the farm house two full
weeks when it was plain to everybody
that Jim was down on him. He jeered
at his work, sneered at his talk and
became almost insulting over his mu-
steal abilities on the cottage organ.
Better go slow" cautioned the
farmer to the lover one day. eff you
get him real mad he'll break you in
two"
but he shall never take Amelia
from me and livel" was the reply
Pooh! He isn't giving her a
thought"
But Jim could see Irritation, love,
marriage and all that in every little
men were milking the COWS, he boiled
over. The knowledge had come to
him that the lemon pie on the supper
table had been made and served on ac-
count of his rival That pie broke the
camel's back. He announced the fact
to the student and pitched in. He was
gathered up and thrown over the fence
and then he planned a tragedy.
Two evenings later, as Mr.. Davis
entered the barn to feed the horses,
there was a flash and a roar and a
handful of birdshot whizzed around
him. Jim had fired a second too soon
and the old tanning mill. instead of
a live man, had received the leaden
pellets. The would-be killer was taken
by the neck and shaken.
Nov, then, you blamed idiot, sit
down there and tell me what's the
matter What do you want to make
a lead mine of me for p
"Amelia" almost sobbed Jim.
And what about Amelia %
~ GU have cut me out with her. She
has gone back on mel We loved till
you came. Now she says she don't
know whether she will have me or
not"
You pumpkinseed! I have simply
been courteous to the girI-nothing
more. So this is what has been ailing
you. is it,"
Jim took from his pocket memo
randum book. and by the fading light
of the evening he read
Amelia was in a futter about his
coming.
tShe frizzed her hair for the first
time in six months.
Had on her Sunday dress.
Had on a breastpin.
Talked with him about New York |
Boston and Chicago, though she never !
saw these places.
said yes, sir and no, sir to him.
Scrambled his eggs for breakfast !
coffee.
Been dressed up every day since. |
Been talking about Shakespeare and |
Byron.
on the veranda.
'Hain't the same girl she was.
Won't let her mother cook any
more billed dinners. Says they are
9lebein and vulgar.
Il am desperate man.
You must have been suffering all |
his time" said the student when the
aired man was finished.
Suffer! I'll show you how have
suffered. Listen to this. And he took
he lantern down off its nail and light
I'd the stub of candle and solemly
'ead:
amelia struck on the college chap.
md he on her. Didn't get to steep
i'll an hour after midnight
college chap eats with a fork I
'neered at him, and Amelia gave me
nasty look.
college chap combs his hair three
ines day Tried to joke with Anne
ia about it, but she wouldn't joke
college chap says thanks when
lis plate or cup is handed him
old Amelia he might be a horse thief
or all that, but she said I'd better
mend my own manners.
"The two We're talking about a poem
u SoHelHihS named EXangenne,' on
he veranda last evening. I broke in
0 talk about hogs. and later on Anne
ia said it would be awfuIly hard to be
led to a man like me.
Laid awake and tossed all over the
led till I heard the roosters crow.
That college chap had best beware. My
owing heart is not the only one that
las been driven to desperation.
Amelia still frizzing and saying
sir. College chap can play the organ
nd sing. I said he'd better be split
ing rails instead. and Amelia wouldn't ]
peak to me for the rest Of the even
ng. False girl, beWarei
college chap is too big for me to /
aIc hut 7