Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-01-30
HEARD The CALL
Crusty Old Bachelor Who Said
He Would Never Marry Sur
renders at Last.
BY JOANNA SINGLE

V'OpNTibnt, 1870 ny Nv "''iuio EN"'
paper S~yndicate.)
And now I suppose you'll be get
tin married, Fordie."
Ford looked up from his paper, pipe
in mouth, and scowled at the old gis-
sip. Mrs. Peters came in from the
do the work in the little house now
that his mother was dead. Then he
was ashamed OF the scowl and an
swered patiently:
I'm not a fool. I'll leave here
when the lease is out, and board and
make something of myself. I've had
all the care-and glad to have it-of
mother for ten ~years-since was
fifteen. I've nothing but my trade,
and have just kept even with bills.
Nothing"
You're a right good worker,
Fordie, and always with plenty to
do" said the old woman, land getting
married don't take much money"
Nor any sense, either, from what I
notice. Nothing, divided by two-or
uoesu 81 idl' LIT PcopiS
about here don't think. They live
from hand to mouth. They don't
look ahead. They marry when the
fancy strikes them, and then it's pow
erty and worry. I'm going to get
out Of the tread-mill. I wouldn't have
the face to ask a girl to share moth
ing with me, to work hard for her
board and clothes-and those none
too good. I'd rather let her earn her
living alone, hard as 1t is. It's
fair"
The woman, now at the door, gave
a parting shot. She's the sort some-
bodyH get-she might as well marry
the one she wants" Her tone was
significant, but he did not question
her II mean Evie Jordan-she amt
lived two year beside you without
SEEM you"
Ford was glad she had the sense to
go after that. The old gossip! But
In his heart he heard the call he had
been trying to ignore-heart calling
to heart, man to maid. All spring.
with life renewing itself about him, it
had been coming, and now it was
hard to still. For though Ford Hud-
sons boyhood had a mans RESPONSE
bilities, he was yet only twenty-five.
and Evie was very sweet.
His mind could not keep from Evie,
and he missed her running in and out
as she had done during his mothers
long illness. She was a gallant,
bright-eyed girl, all courage and re-.
serve. She grew upright like a young
tree. And never had she shown him
a look beyond mere neighborly friend
Illness. She sold gloves at Benton's.
She came home and washed the
dishes at night. and helped Popsy.
her little sister, with her lessons, and
made solid friends. Ford thought of
Frank Barker, who came occasionally
to see her-he was older than Ford,
without membranes, and owned a
little place in the edge Of town. He
could care for the girl. Marrying
Frank, a good enough fellow, she
would not need to think about rent,
worry over a doctors bill, or any ex-
fras.
Ford vas almost morbid about the
daily struggle for bread he had been
brought up in. His sister, much old
er, had married very young, and was
a faded, anxious, petty woman. Her
husband was discouraged. Their chill
dren had no particular chance. Would
marriage turn EVE into a woman like
that? If so, he, at least. would not
be responsible. p disliked most
married women. They were thin and
anxious and selfish: Or a little too fat.
and a bit slovenly. They lacked tone
the outstanding quality-of, say
Evie, with her poise and stamina.
No, Ford decided, he would stand
alone. He had always believed a man
could overcome any feeling, even love,
II he was not ready for it. He would
work up to something like comfort
and dignity in the community. He
wanted to study n little-he felt his
lack of mroe than common schooling.
He himself had no especial p~arentage,
no training but that of experience.
no backing" He would not found a
family until he could give 1t a better
foothold for an upward climb than he
had had. II he waited, say, until he
was thirty-four or fve-ten years-it
might be decent to ask a woman to
marry him. Meantime he would sim.
ply suffer 1t out and keep away from
EVE Jordan.
Ford had only himself to watch.
EVE went her own way, she did her
work, and sometimes from his yard,
or at a window, he would watch her.
She was nervous, but strong.
calm. There was a quiet. restful, look
in her dark eyes, even her plain way
Of wearing her hair rested him. He
himself was fair and of quick temper.
She seemed always serene, always sen.
rtimental, even when Frank Barker
began coming oftener and sat about |
in the yard with Popsy, her little sis.
ter, ever present. It was queer, Ford
thought, that the man never took her
anywhere Didn't he ask her or
wouldn't she go? Occasionally che