The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-15
T The Euening Story .
= .
"A Little Strategy.
(By Donald Allen,)

=" n.y. ouSaus am Surpr1SeQ!
II don't see why. Amanda!"
you have been a widow for three
years" -.
eyes"
You are only thirty-eisht years
That's ALL" :
"And you own this h Use and lots
of money in the bank"
". H.
well. when you tell me that there
Is no man shining up to you I must
wonder what sort Of a male population
you have got around here" =.
1t was Mrs. Amanda Baker, a mar
red sister, who had co.-.e on a visit
to the Widow Spfcer. "a = .
II hadn't given although to marry
ing. again, said the widow
Nonsense! Your John was a good
man and a good husband, but he was
only one out OF a Million
Amanda" 49, -
But you are not. I believe he
went to heaven, and he has got hap
know whether you are a widow and
have to shovel your own paths all
winter. or whether you hive q hus-
band to dc that and lots Of other
things for you:''
But lots Of people think we should
marry but once. protested the widow.
And lots Of people are fools for
thinking so! I don't believe in hus-
band and wife getting a divorce three
or four times over to try another
mate, but I do believe in a widower
or widow getting married again.
There is everything to say for it, and
nothing ag. INST 1t. We we're placed
here to take what comfort we could.
Any one but an idiot knows we can
take more OF it in the marriage state
than in the other" -
Would you marry again n Peter
should die?" H.
Most certainly I would, and he'd
do the san e. Peter is a very handy
man to run down cellar. feed. the pig,
shut up the hens, thaw ont the pump
when HIS zen, and kill on taswhen
tRey get too thick. and lf9 dia6. some
othe5 64bd NAH must EA6fa him
He likes hash and hot Biscuit and
picked peaches. and when I die he'll
have a look around and find some
body to do as well as 1 have" >
"But they say there is no love in
a second marriage
That's why they are generally SO
happy. There is respect and COM
mon sense IN place Of namby-pamby-
ISM
Nothing more was said on the sub
ject until two or three days later.
and
had a look at the men.
Susie, who is Mr.. Atkinson ?" she
asked one evening.
why, he keeps a dry goods store. -
Eyes, I'kno-7. I was in there. He
is a fine-looking man."
'Yes?''
Something tells me he is a wild
over
Tt. believe So - ::-.. =
You believe SO? Why, you know
he is. Do you do your shopping
there?"- -
"Sometimes.''n-
What Find of a housekeeper has
he got?"
AN old maid sister, older than he
is
'And I'll bet she can't cook for
shucks, and she makes his bed with
the foot the highest. Susan, there is
a widower that needs the care Of a
| good wife,
Il think he could have his pick
among hal a DOZEN"
But you don't size him up right.
He is bashful and difndent. I'll bet
his wife had to do tn proposing. He
realizes the need Of \ wife, but that
| again scares him half to DEATH"
| The poor man,
Something tells me. sister. that he
has thought of you.''
IF he has. he has kept very quiet
about it!'
Il told you he was bashful. When he
proposes it will be very sudden and
through excitement My Peter is just
such man. We were riding out one
evening. and not talking a word OF
love. either. In fact, / wasn't really
sure that I loved him. and he hadn't
given me hint as to his feelings.
What do you suppose happened when
tbs horse suddenly bolted and ran
away?''
| why. you were both thrown OUT
| Nothing Of the sort. Peter slipped
an arm around my waist and Rugged
to go 1t, and said to me: Amanda.
you are the only girl in all this world
for me viii you be my wife?'''
| And love came to your
| 1T just dubbed right up!.
| And the runaway horse?'
| He stopped so dead still that we
almost went over the dashboard. There
was no need of his running away any
j further"
| After the women had had a laugh
tinued: WAS the bridge over the
river swept away last spring.
j Yes. We had a big Sreshet"
now?"
Yes. Only the few people living or
this side OF the river have to use it,
I But Mr.. Atkinson uses ft?'
He lives. in the big house on the
HILL.
And he always comes home to din.
ner at o'clock?''
He does. Amanda. but. have 70,
been spying?''
Il Not exactly. It's what you might
call laying the groundwork. Susan. car
you row q boat?''
Lands. yes Haven't I lived beside
fhtQ FeiIlpanH Inv r-wS
Lets seer unused Mrs. Baker IA
this season of the year it Is dark a
$3.50 O'Clock. and Mr.. Atkinson crosses