The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-18
The Ese.,ine Story

(By Larry Burton. !

i -
pillow slip. Tho slip was ono Of q
chest.
| So many pillow slips, towels. table,
cloths and the like had Miss Phoebe
made for Garrison brides-elect in her
ever came when tho bountiful lady
could decide whom she herself would
| marry, she would not have to worry
about her. own linen supply for tho
rest OF her days The people OF Gar
rison remembered favors-as well as
they remembered whose eister-in-law's
cousins aunt Deacon Malloy came
near to marrying fifty years ago.
Therefore it knew that Miss Phoebe
mad had no less than eighteen pro-
posals Of marriage In her time, and
was still having them for that matter.
Not only mad she retained her beauty
ana ready wit. but she had acquired
certain softnees and kindness with
the years as well as becoming plump
ness that was most attractive.
The boy came along with the morn
ing paper. Miss Phoebe took II, hesi-
tated an instant, then laid 1t with de-
termination upon the stand unopened.
One. two. three, four. five, turn She
held the hook poised for an instant.
and looked wistfully toward the paper.
Finally she got up. took the paper,
went back to the kitchen and stuffed
1t into the stove.
No! She would not read the polit-
zeal news! She would stick to her bar
gain and let things take their course.
Then she went back to her work and
thought about her two latest suitors.
Loyal Sanderson, sitting in his Of
ice In the Casey building on Main
street, WsS at that minute chuckling
over his prospects as one OF the afore-
said suftors for Miss Phoebe's hand.
He opened the morning paper and
read eagerly the chances for the Dem
Ocratfc candidate for the judgeship at
the primaries that day. To be explicit,
| there was no Democratic candidate
as the governor had signed the non-
partisan bill and there were no party
lines. The two highest men at the
primaries were to be the candidates at
the November election!
But Miss Phoebe did not know this.
Miss Phoebe had at last decided to
marry. It had been dinned into her
ears SO long about her duty to make
q good home for some man." and to
think of her own lonely old age" that
for her own peace of mind she decided
she would take a husband.
Years ago there had been = boy
whom Carbon had always suspect
ed to be the real reason for Miss
Phoebe's spinsterhood. However, 1t
was the cne thing that Garrison had
| never known for certain--but only sus-
pected. There had been an early
had moved to another town in the
same county, and later he had married.
He had since become q well-to-d0
member of the bar. and tales of his
greatness came back to Garrison to
Miss Phoebe's ears. She had heard,
too, that on trip abroad his wife
had died in Paris and was buried
there. But Garrison could only sur
mise as to the seriousness of the af-
fair. 1t had happened 80 many years
ago.
Miss Phoebe had made up her mind
that she would marry either Loyal
Sanderson or Max Miff1in. But which
of the two should it be? Finally she
decided that the vote at the primaries
should settle 1t. She promised to
marry Loyal Sanderson IL the Demo-
cratic nominee for Judge received a
Majority of the votes cast, and had
given the same encouragement to Max
Miffiin If the high man proved to be
Republican. 1t was the same as II she
had chosen broomstraws. It took the
responsibility Of choosing out Of her
hands, and. as she read 30 little about
politics. she knew nothing or the nom
Ipartisan bill.
1T will be easy enough" chuckled
Loyal to himself as he poured over
the paper, Ito explain It all to her
lafterward. LAmbert's always been a
democrat ana he's sure to get the
with yourself"
In his ofice across the street Max
Mif1lfn was saying likewise. mo trou-
bic to explain to Phoebe after it's all
over. To women everything II Demo-
cratic and Republican anyway.
publican and he's sure to come out on
top. Congratulate yourself. old man:
things seem to be coming your way"
But there was q surprise In store
for both of Miss Phoebe's suitors.
The day was yet young when q dark
His name. not printed upon the bal
lots. was being written by the voters
In the blank space at tho bottom.
The idol of the people had at last
ANNOUNCED his willingness to be q cam
didate. His supporters. mot discon-
took hold of tho town and ran thinss
to suit themselves.
vote for Richard Dangerf1eld. ;"
was the slogan that rang all over the
country. Richard Dangeraeld for
Judge. Write his name ON the ballot
Extras were sent out.
Min Phoebe listened. Richard
tDangerneld for judge!" Dick Dam
lgerneld! Her hand went to her heart,
and she grew 0eathly pale.
Dick Dangerheld. her girfhood
Isweetheart. had been dead to her for
Years. She knew he had married to
Iplease his mother. after their quar-
rel and she knew his wife was dead.
But she had put him out Of her life.
out Of her thoughts altoGether. She
had been certain that her feeling for
him was dead
i And now! What was this? The
very mention of his name made her
fa1nt She went into the house, nm
i to her dArkened room whore abe at
for hours battling with herself. What
hAd she done! She hs-d gtvon her
Ipromise to E-aFFy one or the other Of
i two men whom she realised now abe