The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-16
THE EVENING STORY
Romano . at Last.
by Grace Kerrigan.

Nancy Baffins had lived TO be 50
years old, and never bit of romance
had come into her life. When that is
said, it is to be understood that she
I had never had a lover. 1t must ba
further understood that Nancy wasn't
ravishingly handsome and she didn
have a form to remind one of a will
low bending this way and that in a
half-gale.
Nancy shall have full justice done
her, and it is justice when one says
of her that there was much to criticiSe
in a physical way. She had lived to
so on hope, and on d feeling that grew
| stronger as the weeks and months
passed-a feeling that her day would
come. Her brother John said it
wouldn't; but he couldn't discourage her.
He sometimes charged her with stop
ping the clock by looking at it; but
she always disproved the assertion by
showing that it had run down.
Living in the country as she did,
and knowing many hired men as she
did, some folks thought it queer that
Nancy Baffins had not entangled one
of them. The farmers hired man stands
ready to love and be loved on the
slightest encouragement, but they
passed Nancy by. They looked and
passed. 1t didn't seem to occur to
their minds that a real homely woman
has a heart of gold, and can be left
at home while the husband Journeys
as far west as Kansas and back, and
she never thinks of an elopement.
But the old maids romance came a
last, just as she had said it must. Steve
Croker came to work for Farmer West,
the next neighbor on the north, and
within a week he was in love and
thinking about it so huch as he plant
ed corn that his employer had to yell
at him.
dropping half pint Of kernels to a
hill! Dye think we want to raise a
crop of suckers here?"
It might be said that Steve had sized
himself up before sizing Nancy. He
was bow-legged. He was lop-shoulder-
ed. He had but one good eye. He
was little deaf in one ear. He had
red -whiskers, and If he didn't look
out for it, when he talked he fouDt
himself stammering. No, Steve Croker
was no Apollo, and he knew it. For
years he had realized that unless he
found and fell in love with a homely
woman there could be no happy fire.
side for him.
"I have found her at last" he said
to himself after his first peep at Nan
cy. And from that hour on there was
a song in his heart.
It is romantic to be loved. Nancy
Bafins said it was as she sat and
peeled the potatoes for dinner, and
Steve Croker said it was as he straight
ened up in the field to rest his tired
back. He was willing to let it go at
that, but Nancy wasn't. She felt that
a hero must come out of it to make
it complete.
Just as soon as they were engaged,
which event took place after Steve's
sixth evening call, she began to poster
him. That is, she asked him if he was
willing to die for her.
ct dunno about that was his doubt
full reply. You see. if I should die
you'd lose me and you
But if you saw a tiger carrying me
off you'd rush in, wouldn't your"
IF I could find a club anywhere, /
would"
''And what if I was captured by an
outlaw"
IF I couldn't lick him I'd buy him |
off,"
Nancy was disappointed in Steve. |
He wasn't a hero and evidently didn't |
want to be. She didn't want him kill |
ed, but it did seem y her as if he |
ought to do and dare for her sake to |
show how great mis- love was.
Again, as they were strolling alons
the banks Of the river on moonlight |
night, she softly said:
steve, I'm going to jump in!'
Lord, but you'll get wet!' he re-
piled.
I'm going to jump in and let you
ct couldn't rescue a chicadee. I'd
go to the bottom like a ton of brick"
Nancy let go of his arm and sat down
on a stone and pouted.
Whats the matter?" was asked |
after awhile.
You don't love me-"
Yes, I do. I love you oceans and
oceans. Because Teller can't swim
has nothing to do with it,
But if there was an elephant after
me 90
"a big one?"
big as a haystack.'
And you'd crossed your feet while
running and fallen down?"
And he was about to squash the
life out of you?''
Yes, yes
Say, Nancy, I'd walk up to him
and kick both his tusks off and then
boot him into the next county,
That satisfied the old maid for a
lay or two, and then she got to think
ng how remote such a contingency
vas, and she found herself on the
edge of a crouch. She didn't sigh for
In imaginary hero, but one on the
Ipot-an up-to-date one.
A few days later Steve came over
o help her pick cherries. He had
climbed to the top of a tree when
Nancy called up to him: Z
steve, do you love me?'' s
LAS much as all the water in Lake
1rie!' he answered. ,
Then be hero. Let go and come
umbling down."
And break my dinged neckt No {
ir-e-ei I've got to have a neck on t
na after We GET married