The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-01
TIE EVENING STORY
Martha Ellen's Beau.

I
| Here folks are saying you are jump
ing at the first chance you've ever had
to get married, and that Sam Camp
bell never thought of wanting you I'M
| til his mother died and he needed a
| housekeeper. And you just sit here,
and let them talk
| They have no occasion to talk,
| returned Martha Ellen quietly. I'm
| doing the same as any girl might in
my place."
! But why you should wait until you
are 25 years old without encouraging
| a single one of the fellows who have
pick out Sam Campbell, beats me-
| Martha Ellen knew better than to
ask why she should not "pick OUT
| Sam; too many times had she heard
her mother declare that she had
| lived too near to the Campbells all
| her life to endure one of emf!
1T isn't so much what folks say,
as it is Sam himself that I object to-
fenced once she had opened the sub
| ject. you've commenced with Sam
| just as his mother did with his father,
and you'll end just as she did. There
| is nothing on earth any more set o.
any stingier than Campbell can be.
you've done nothing but give up
Martha Ellen, ever since you have
been engaged, until I should think it
would scare you as it does me. You
gave up having a ring to save money
for fixing up the house. And you
gave up the idea of a honeymoon trip
or any new clothes for some other
reason that 1 haven't patience to re-
member. If Sam was poor, I'd say
you were doing right-but he isn't
poor, he's just stingy and set And
he hasn't used any of the money you
are saving for improvements that I.
know of and I'll bet you he never will.
There" observed Mrs. Stewart to
herself, as her audience slipped quiet
ly through the kitchen door, II knew
she wouldn't say a word, but she
knows what I think, that is one COM
fort,''
"And, oh, I'm afraid she is right
Martha Ellen was whispering, trying
to fight back the fear that had been
growing all through her engagement
find out. 1t will be dreadful, now, but
not so bad as it will be later. I'm
going to find out!''
Sam Campbell was looking across
his garden place with an experienced
eye. This GARDEN he was mentally
calculating, Ought to furnish our
able if Martha Ellen knows how to
manage well as mother did. 1 mis-
trust she's been brought up pretty
careless regarding money matters, but
will say for her she seems amiable
and willing to fall in with my plans
for being saving. L guess Martha Ell
len will be as good as any one L could
find"
AS if to flaunt his satisfaction, at
that moment came Martha Ellen along
the garden path, dainty. smiling
Martha Ellen I've come to show
you my new gown, SAM she said
gayly please tell me I look as de-
lightful as I feel in my fnery."
"A new dress-I thought we had
decided" began Samuel, in a dis |
pleased tone.
"Of course. I had to have one, at |
least. Who ever heard of a girl get
ting married with no new gown? |
Don't you like it, Sam %
1T is a good looking gown, much |
too good to be trailing round in the |
garden observed the young man |
with ill-concealed disapprovaL You
had better go home and take it of, |
Martha Ellen"
But now I am here, I wish to tell |
you what 1 want in the garden, dear. |
I've quite a list to add to yours when |
you send to the nursery for the berry (
bushes
sibly use when the new vines begin |
to BEAR said Sam, set look COM
ing into his eyes.
But the place is so bare and I'M
homelike, Sam. I've decided to put |
the money we save from not taking a
wedding journey into shrubs for the
lawn and garden. Twenty dollars will |
change the place so you will hardly
know it"
Il guess it would, agreed Sam, with |
a harsh laugh.
Sam, what do you mean? That you
will not let me-after I've given up ev-
erything to save the money!"
Il shall certainly not consent to any
such foolishness, Martha Ellen
Then they were right about you-it !
was housekeeper you We're after?"
The girls voice was dangerously even.
Il am sorry, butt can never fill such
a position successfully. Good-by.''
Samuel did not sense anything that
hi
day the place seemed strangely and
unbearably lonesome, and he sent for
his uncle's widow to keep house for
him. Then he set to work doggedly at
his summer labor. OF course he was
bitterly disappointed in Martha Ellen,
but she should see whether or not his
heart was broken
AS for Martha E1len's heart that GER
tainly seemed unscathed. She bios
somed forth in all the radiance which
her mother had always desired for the
girl Sam could scarcely help seeing
her as he went about his work. and
the sight did not add to his peace of
mind: Martha Ellen in frilly frocks
talking to frivolous young people; |
Martha Ellen entering gay1y into all |
the neighborhood happenings and be-
ing driven about by scatterbrained
young men.
Before the end of the summer, af-
fairs seemed to have settled pretty
much in the direction of one young man
in particular. Sam had to watch him
tuck Martha Ellen snugly into his
smart little runabout many times. And
by this time Sam was consumed with
a sense of injury and loneliness and |
longing for Martha Ellen.
One evening as he watched her wait
ing on her own porch, anger blaZed up
in him. What right had she to be
wearing that dress driving with another
man-the dress she had made for him?
What right had she to disengage her /
self when she saw fit without consult !