The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-05
THE EVENING STORY
By the Cooper's Advice.
nv John Philin Arth. }

smartness. Mr.. Whites business was
to make lumber of sawlogs, and he
his hired help. 1t was how much
work a man could do in ten hours
that counted with him. His wife judg-
| ed men about the same way, but their
| daughter Sarah was a bit different.
She had as fair an education as a viii
| lage school could give her, and while
| she realized that a man who could lift
| a barrel of salt was a smart chap, one
who could not only lift the barrel but
name the capitals of all the states and
| give the length of the Mississippi riv-
er in addition was good deal
smarter.
Sarah Jane heard much talk of
| Eben before she saw him, and she
had time to wonder and speculate.
Her father and mother were dropping
hints that it was time she stepped
off, as they used to call it in other
days. She wasn't looking to marry a
millionaire nor a senator. A smart
man was the best she could hope for.
She couldn't be a girl and not have
some romantic notions about her, but
they never made her forget that she
had bread in the oven or stockings to
darn.
why was Eben schermerhorn a
bachelor?
Had he loved and lost?
Had he made a vow never to
marry?
Had he never found the woman to
stir up a heart interest under his left
shoulder?
Very likely he could read, write and
cipher, but was he fond of poetry?
Could he appreciate gorgeous sunsets?
Could he sing? Did he play the fid-
die or the accordion, or stop short at
the mouth organ?
With her father Dragging at the
dinner table every day of what
smart man Eben was, and with her
mother looking at her in a queer way,
it was no wonder that Sarah Jane had
thoughts. Eben was to be invited to
dinner to make the acquaintance of
the family. After two or three weeks
the event came off Eben ate with
his fork. He did not drink from his
saucer. He politely refused second
laugh, instead of a deep base hal ha!
He discussed politics with Mr.. White
woman's rights with Mrs White and
the new fashion in hats with Sarah
Jane.
Yes, he could sing a bit, and he be-
lieved he had played the cottage or
gan. He had seen sunsets that were
positively grand, and he had read
Dickens while laid up with a broken
leg. When laughed at by Mr.. White
as an old bachelor, he blushed and
said he had always been too busy.
Eben Schermerhorn made good Inn
preston on the family Mr.. and Mrs.
White said so right out as soon as he
her room to think so.
Look here, ma said the husband
when they were left alone, that
Eben is a smart chap"
Seems like it, was the reply.
You ought to see him hump a saw
log around!"
"Yes?"
And you heard how smart he talk
ed at the table,
HE certainly did,
Bound to marry some day."
ct think so.'
SOS our Sarah
Yes
whats the matter of-of Eben
and Sarah getting sp1iced? Can't we
help the matter along somehow"
mo, Jonas White, we can't. We
amt going to say one blessed word to
help or hinder. If they like each 9TH
er and fall in love and want to marry
that's all right. If they don't then it's
nothing to us. They are both old
enough to know their own business"
But Eben's a cracking smart Teller |
and 1 guess he'd fit into this family
all right
''You never mind about the fit. |
don't want you to say word either
way. If they decide to get married |
gered me about my beaux till 1 was
half crazy, and I say that Sarah Jane |
shall be let alone.'
Eben Schermerhorn continued to be
ping III for an hour or two in the |
evening, and later on it might have |
been said that he came accounting. |
He was always welcome, but it trans
pired that he and Sarah Jane did not !
exactly understand each other. Within
few weeks they were in love, but |
neither dared own it. Eben was scared |
at the idea of being in love with the
daughter of his boss, and the girl |
stood in awe of him because of his
superior education and his greater
knowledge of the world. 1t thus came
about that their talk was simply
friendly.
When things had been running along
for six months, Eben found himself
in a stew. He knew that he loved, but |
to save his neck he could not say
that he was loved in return This
state Of doubt made him miserable A /
dozen times over he resolved to know
the best or worst, and a dozen times
over he 1inched when the pinch came.
Sarah Jane had quite lost her heart,
but she alone knew it. Her father
and mother were following out a pro-
gram, and she could not go to them
for advice. Cupid must have looked
the ground over and had a good laugh.
Just a word and all would be settled
but the word remained unspoken.
Eben and the village cooper were
great friends and had passed many
evenings together. The cooper had no
ticed things for some time, and at
length one evening he showed the
checker-board aside, and said:
"Eben, you are a fool!''
Guess I am"
You are also in lover
"Wel1?"
you are fool because you dasn't
let Sarah Jane know that you love
heri" j.