The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-02
The Euenir1g Story
From Heroism to Pumpkins.
(By John Philip Orth.)
by gosh, I'll do I'll"

do what?"
Marry her"
who is it?''
Fanny Moore, b'gosh!"
"Jabez Perkins, you are . born
fool!"
Jabez Perkins was a farmer. 30 years
old. He had never given q thought to
marriage or love.
Rebecca Perkins was "a years old.
She kept house for her brother and
had never loved.
Jabez was sandy-haired and lop-
shouldered. He had warts on his
hands and freckles on his face.
Rebecca was as thin as q lath and
as homely as a huckleberry marsh.
In his trips to the village Jabe8
had seen Miss Fanny Moore and ad-
mired her. His admiration had been
the same AZ farmers for an extra
nice calf-no more.
shes a hummer" said Jabez to
to himself.
After supper on this day he had
sat down at the kitchen table to flg-
ure out how much 81 bushels Of DO
tatoes would come to at SO cents q
an idea flashed through his brain. It
was as II he had said to himself that
he would sow the back lot to turnipa.
another year. His sister. Rebecca- had
heard his words with amaxement, She
had seen the girl mentioned, and she
knew that Jabez did not stand one
chance in a million.
Yes, you are q born fool!" she
said as she stared at him.
I'D like to know why" he replied.
Because you hain't in her class. Do
you 'spose a millionaire from Chicago
is coming here to ask me to be his
birdie bride7'
But that's different"
You can't be a hero
why not?''
"A hero-bosh!'
IF I can save that gals life two or
three times. she'll be grateful won't
she? And gratitude viii lead to love.
won't it?"
''Bosh!''
And love to marriage?''
That girl wouldn't wipe her muddy
shoes on you'll"
THAT gal or any other gal will mar
~ man that saves her life, and don't
you forget it. Rebecca Perkins,"
But how you goin' to save it ?''
Dunno, but there is allus a way
provided for heroes
And there are asylums for fools!
'Sposen you did get her-d'ye think
she would know how to wash and
iron and cook?''
Il could hire you"
mo. you couldn't! The minute a
wife comes In here Co."
Well. we won't get het up over II, %
said Jabez in a soothing way. TT jest
to marry that Moore gal. but it hain't
Wuth raisfn' q row about"
Then let this be the end Of it,
But Jabez didn't mean it to be. He
went to bed to think 1t over. and the
tho idea. He was not infatuated-he
was not in 1ove-he wouldn't plan to
marry for riches. 1t was just q plan
OF his, the same as he planned to grow
SO many pumpkins among the corn.
The next morning he set out for
town with produce. He wanted to
dress up in his Sunday best, but Re-
becca was watching him. He had
never heard of a man in overalls maxi
ing a hero of himself in the eyes Of a
chance was almost nil.
His old buds may keep him from
making a fool Of himself" was the
sisters comment to herself.
Providence was with Jabez Perkins.
She probably wanted to make up as
far as she could his misfortune in
carrying that name around, and to re-
ward him for having an original and
a rather startling idea. At any rate.
just as he was entering the town he
encountered Miss Moore. She was on
horseback. Moreover. the horse was
running away and she was screaming.
1t was Jabez Perkins to the fore.
AS the runaway horse and screaming
girl were about to pass Jabez's wagon
he drew a long breath and jumped for
the dangling reins and caught them.
He was dragged through the dust and
wrenched and battered. but the horse
was halted and he was . hero.
You are brave manr' said the
hysteric girl.
"Oh. 1t wasn't nuthin' compared to
gittin' out Of the way OF a rollin' saw
log" was the modest reply.
He orter have a gold medals" ex-
claimed half dozen men: and while
they were brushing the dust on his
clothes with burdock leaves Miss Moore
made her escape.
Jebes at first determined not to say
anything to his sister. but 1t was the
first time in his life he had been q hero.
had been ripped and torn. and she must
have some sort of an explanation.
What on earth has happened to
your she demanded.
He related his experience with some
pride and good deal Of compla-
cency, and when she had heard him
out, she said:
II you saved that girls life you can
turn to and save mine.''
But, how?" =
by bringing in the wood and water
and running up and downstairs for
me-"
Don't go to kicking, Rebecca. That
gal Is thinkin' Of me this very minute"
Yes, she's thinkin' what . big fool
you arer'
What a hero I am, you mean"
"Shut up" was shouted
Poor Jabez was choked on. and that
night he lay awake for a long time and
wondered about etiquette. He finally
decided not to call until he had done
something more heroic. That would
show her that he was no one-time
round.
Sister Becky was SO mad that she
wouldn't approach the subject again.
for fortnight. Then as he was going
into town again she sneering1y called