The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-03
The Euening Story
The Flower of Romance.
(By Kate Conway

Will have him., Laura remarked
| thoughtfully. "Berenice told me she
wouldn't live in the same house with
him not if he was seven hundred times
her grandfather. And Ramsay says
he'd pinch a penny till the eagle
squealed."- -, .--.-,----s---.-s-t
| mo more eagles on pennies, child
laughed Aunt Bethiah merrily. Ram
says fifty years behind the times.
What else?"
! well, he lives in that little old
house all alone and he can't keep
housekeeper cause no one will stay
with him. And now he's half sick and
cross as two sticks. Why, when Tom
my went over for the milk this morn
ing, he threatened to thrash him with
his cane If he split drop along the
| side path. I'm SO glad you've come.
auntie, for it is really dreadful to have
such a neighbour
oh. I've known Tuck Crawford
| ever since he was knee high to a
grasshopper," said Aunt Bethiah
placidly. HE won't hurt anybody,
and I've never been afraid of him.
He's got plenty of money hid down the
well, 1 suppose, or under the mount
ing stone.''
Then it's a pity he doesn't dig up
some of it for Berenice,' said Laura
passionately. She perched herself on
the edge of the table, a plate in one
''She has had to stay at home and
take care of her father and all those
children, five of them, ever since her
mother died, and they're-well-not
poor, I suppose, but always just get
ting by-don't you know what I mean,
auntie? There isn't enough money for
this and that, and Berenice can't even
think of getting married for years and
years."
HAS she got any one picked out
vet ?" asked Aunt Bethiah.
Has she? Why, don't you know
she's engaged to our Rob?"
Mrs. Fennimore dropped her croch-
citing and looked over her eyeglasses
at her youngest niece. The hope of
the Fennimore family was Rob. And
in the past it had been a safe axiom to
state that girls might come and girls
might go, but Rob went on forever.
He had passed through college without
any troubles and was building his first
engineering contract, the new concrete
bridge over the Quinnebaug river, sew
enteen miles below Fairview Hall.
II suppose" said Mrs. Fennimore,
with just a bit of a sigh, "they were
sweethearts when they were children.
Rob's the kind of boy to keep the
flower of romance blooming for years.
Is she nice, Laura ?'
Mice? She's just a darling, auntie.
Well ride over there this morning and
you can see her. She's the winsomest
girl you ever saw-just that, the win
soonest
Willing to marry Rob?'
"Oh, yes. 1 tell you they've been
engaged since his junior year, but she |
has big idea of duty and her father !
needs her. The two after her are boys |
and the next three girls, so there's no
one else, you see, to look after them |
and bring them up. But if their |
Grandfather Crawford would do the |
right thing they could afford to hire a |
housekeeper and let Berenice get
married in peace"
Always was too selfish to give a
crow a crumb," Aunt Bethiah agreed. |
Wen see what can be done. 1 never
was afraid of Tuck Crawford and L
amt today. He needs a boss fear
fully"
About 10 they drove over to the
junior Crawford home. 1t was an old
story-and-a-half farmhouse backing
up against a rocky hillside. There
were late asters blooming in the gar
den and chrysanthemums, and the
porch was rudy with woodbine.
"Real slightly old place, amt it?''
said Mrs Fennimore when they came
away, land 1 do like Berenice. She's
sweet a tea rose. I declare she is,
with those big brown eyes and that
fair, curly hair. Bless her heartI Just
drive over to her grandfather's place,
will you, Laura ?''
Back on an old side road it was,
little gray house in a tangle of trees
and grape vines, with big well sweep
road. Mr.. Crawford was struggling
with the well, trying to draw up pail.
and Laura hurried over to help him.
Don't spill it, mind" he cautioned.
testify. Cant bear a mite O. damp
or mildew round my house Some
folks don't mind, but it makes me
fearful chilly. Just set it down on that
shelf by the sink. Laury- Much
How be you, Tuck?" called Aunt
Bethiah, happily, coming up the path
toward him, her full skirts brushing
off leaves and cobwebs from the dry
weeds. So sweet faced and blooming
she looked that Laura stared at her
And so did Tucker Crawford. Not
such a vision had he seen in many
years in his front yard He wiped his
hand off on his coat and gave it to her
a bit shakily.
claimed. Look just as young and
pert as ever. When did you get over
here?"
Been east two weeks"
Widow, too, amt your"
''Th csc ten years, Tuck"
Well, well. How pert you do
look" His faded blue eyes fingered
on her cheerful face hunGrily. Want
a place as housekeeper, Bethiah? I've
been looking round for a good, hard
working woman.
No, thanks" she laughed. I'm
provided for. Tuck. I wanted to see !
you about Berenice, your grandchild. !
Our Bob's in love with her, and she
with him. I want them to be married .
before go back west Now, I'll give !
Rob sore money, enough to set him
up and 1 want you tic look after Bere-
nice give her a nice wedding and some ,
of her grandmother's linen and silver, /
know she had lot of it, probably i
right up in your garnet this minute I
Like enough it is" murmured Mr.. i
Crawford. stroking his little pointed /
beard. ST amt looked to see. How s
pert you look. Bethiah! 1 can't get