The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-24
THE EVENING STORY
PIucking a Goose.

don't be greedy and take away the
holsters. Not unless you mean to kill
it right away" Sister Ellet said mean
ingly. cycling her stepniece, Jane, over
the tops of her glasses.
Jane tossed her head saucily-she
understood the alIegory of the speech
But it would never do to let Aunt
Phoebe know her shot had gone home.
I wouldn't let people know I was
so awful old-and old ime-y," she said.
why it's years and years and years
since folks quit raising geese for their
feathers
Sister Ellet shifted. Unless you
leave the holsters to hold up the wings,
your goose won't thrive for the longest
time, she said still allegorical-then
with sudden anger: fMy patience, Jane.
1 wonder you can look at me! You
know men bury their wits when they
bury their wives, yet here you keep
poor foolish Ben Daney tagging after
books. and candy. and taking you to all
the shows when you know he hasn't
got 1t to spend-not without letting
Ellen's poor little children go bare
Il don't make him do it, Jane said
loftily.
Sister Ellet ran on: ut wouldn't be
altogether so shameful if you had the
least notion of marrying him. Widow
ers will be fools-as well about you
as another girl! If Ben had any
Maybe he's got a chance" Jane
| said oracularly. but flushing a dull
red.
Her aunt looked at her sharply.
Dye mean you'll take him if you
can't get Jeems Moore?" she asked.
| well. WE'LL I never thought even
| you'd be brazen enough to own to such
| a thing
! Jane laughed rather sourly, walked
| to the glass. looked at herself narrow
l 81
81 don't call 1t brazen-only honest.
You know and I know, I've got to
marry before the years out. I'm TWEEN
| ty-five and going off in my looks.
| Father won't live the winter through.
Your sister likes me even less than you
do. And I don't see myself going
| around, sewing and nursing and doing
odd jobs for everybody, pinching and
scraping, never daring to say my souls
my own, for the sake of keeping it in
| my body. I would rather have Jimmy
Moore-he's got a temper-but that
isn't as. bad as three children. Ben
Dancy would treat me better, perhaps,
but couldn't treat myself nearly as
| WE'LL
| WHO do you love best?" Sister Eller
asked, shocked, yet in a way diverted.
'sMyself!'' Jane said, with a -shrug,
whereat her elder raised hands and
eyes. muttering:
That's the truth-if ever anybody
told it.
Whats that, Aunt Nan? Can Miss
jimmy tell the truth? thought all the
girls everywheres had forgot how
Jeems Moore said, from just outside the
window. Say" he went on to Jane,
come outside for a little while.
want some yard or so of frozen truth
think you can reel it off for me?"
"Oh, don't know. Maybe so-unless
you ask me about my age or my COM
plexion," Jane answered, stepping
through the French window to join
him.
When they were out of earshot he
| b1urted at her: I'm in love-heels
over head. Reckon it's no news to you,
but it's best to get things right straight
at the start
much the BEST Jane assented, her
heart beating fast.
Moore went on doggedly: what ]
want to know is-have I got a fail
chance?"
SIS there any other man in your
way?" Jane asked. almost TREMENDOUSLY
Moore snorted: ''I most wish there
was" he said. "As far as I know I'm
the only man that's ever looked at heI
this way. That's what makes 1t sc
hard-she don't seem to under
stand
/ "who is she? I don't understand
either Jane cried, her voice sharp.
Pennsylvania Dancy, PENS sister, y
Moore retorted almost angrily Lord!
If only she cared as much for me as
she does for those bratS of his. Right
nice little tricks I must say-if only
| they weren't always so in my way.
How can you court girl with a lun-
mox-y three-year-old clawing to get in
your lap, and q big boy telling you
over all the things he's learned al
school-and e. girl that wants to teach
you kindergarten tricks? ''
why! think it would be difficult, -
Jane admitted judicially. as Moore
stopped short.
He rushed on: "And Penny thinks
it's all right. Brightest kind of al
right. know I can never get at her
unless you'll help me-"
"How?" Jane asked
| Moore looked deeply injured. Gust
by telling her you're going to marry
Ben-she says you're the only woman
living shed be willing he should put
chance of telling the truth-are you 60
ing to take h1m?"
mot unless he asks me-" Jane said
demurely and smiling a little as il
there was a tightness in her throat
Moore laughed huge relieved guf-
faw. Just you let me know If he
don't. and in short order I'll thrash
him in an inch of his life
THANK you very nueh-but I had
rather you wouldn't. Think of the chill
dreni" Jane returned. Besides, cam
you prevail on Penny to adopt YOU
anyway? One more doesn't NEAR
much when you already have fam
lily"
at never thought of that I'll &C
right straight and ask her." Moore
said, giggling like a school boy. And
I'll scare old Ben something awful "A
good fellow. a mighty good fellow
but slow. Ny heayeni Even being 9
widower hasn't cured him.
/ With that he shot away. Jane looked
after him with a curious sense of an
ger mixed with relief. She had a saw
ing perception of humor-in a minute
lshe was laughing. not acidly, but with
genuine amusement.
| so don't have to choose after all.