The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-03
The Eueni,,e Story


NBy martina n. W1u1AmS.1
Mazda sat in her little shop. every
nerve on edge. She had walked shiv-
ering family in sleep tho COM
ing ordeal had haunted her. But. with
one black frock to her name. and that
growing rusty. something had to be
done-unless-
She would not let the thought. the
| apprehension rather, shape itself arr
| ticulately. But Greenville articulated
it loudly. saying In parlors. choir
meetings. upon street corners even. II
was the poorhouse for those proud
Jeffersons. unless Mazda came to her
senses and married Bev Jones. What
If he were elderly-a bald bachelor.
and grizzled as to what hair remain
ed? Hadn't he two farms besides
money ahead? Also wasn't he anx-
| iOus to live in Greenville, renting or
leasing the farms-if it could be man.
aged with home cooking and without
too much expense?
jefferson cooking was famous
taste of it indeed had first set him
considering Mazda. Nobody knew it
certainly, though surmisc was open
! enough that the Jeffersons. mother
and daughter. had stinted themselves
through a month in order to afford
| the marvels of rich cake they had sent
to the missionary festival. Neither of
| them had come-upon plea of recent
bereavement 1t had saved their
shifted she didn't really believe they
had the price of tickets, and since it
was in a cause SO holy there was OF
| course no free list.
Thus she had been free to drop q
hint in the bachelors ear, after he
had devOured his third slice of cake.
and was offering to buy what remain
ed of the bigger loaf, If the price were
made to suit.
There he had been turned down
the cake was going like wildfire-as
later his advances were turned down
by MAZDA herself. The missionary fes-
tival had shot a faint ray of hope to
her. 1t had hurt so to think she could
do nothing but marry for living.
since her only talent appeared to be
for homemaking. Cooking she loved
dearly, not the while disdadning books.
Her education had been desultory, got
good books. Her dear father. the
major, had been SO much a book
worm he had let his estate slip peace
meal through his fingers.
His office---he had made a feint OF
practicing law-stood at the roadside
well away from the rambling house
House. ragged lawn, the office itself
were mortgaged. and so heavily they
were as good as lost. Paying the last
interest had taken everything but one
COW and the chickens. All told. they
would hardly fetch enough at sher'
ifs sale, even waving exemption. &c
pay more than court costs of fore
closure.
But until New Year, the Jeffersons
were secure. Hence the shop. Mazda
had scrubbed and whitewashed the
Office, curtained the half door, the tiny
window, with her sole party frock-
out of style. even if she had not beer
beyond hope of use for it. She had sci
the mahogany side tables. which hel
great-grandfather had fetched across
the Alleghanies. end to end, for I
| counter. covering them with the yer.
best tablecloth. Upon it. in the fines
china they owned, mother and daugh
ter had spread cakes. pies, custards
loaves Of fresh salt-rising bread, crisl
beaten biscuit melting tea cakes. mos
extravagantly of all. ham, boiled ant
3 baked, spiced and wine favored. un
I til it perfumed delicately the who'll
' place.
I All this had meant a fearful outl "
one that spelled ruiz if customers di'
not come. But Mazda had said witt
/ q rather grim laugh. IF the wors
! happens, mammy-we'll live high for
| tfortnight--our stock being edible.''
e They had cooked all day Thursday
a the most part Of Friday, and made tn
Il biscuit early Saturday morning. Their
e was sometime of method in their mad
/ ness. Auto travel was always heavies
e Saturdays. This particular Saturda
4 had a Sunday-Monday holiday intervs
4 ahead. hence the traffic would be Ger
: tainly double. Riding made peopl
ilungry-rhat the Jeffersons had al
e ready found out through pleas for foo
y food of any sort. So far they ha
# given ungrudgingly. Even in extremit
e the thought of sale grated. But MAZDA
hand has been steady when she uaile
,, up the sign outside She couldn't bea
= to let nanny see how she vas hur
- She went on duty as saleswoma
. while the last biscuits were bakin,
y Nobody came. Her heart went dow
q down, down. as each whfrr of vince
sped forward unchecked. At IL not or
= person evidently had noticed the sigl
- She ran outside for minute.
:. seemed to her she must scream withor
u a breath of air. But she got scant re
- freshment. for as she lifted her eye
', from his blackboard and grinning tr
:, :, umphantly. He strobe through til
!. outer door, which gave upon tn
= road. helped himself to a couple of te
cakes. ogled the jam. and called lus
lily, Forward" as he had heard me
= do in the city stores.
Good morning. Want anything
- Mazda said loftily.
. He answered with his mouth full
N Bet yer life! Want-pretty niue
everything in sight. Say. these heI
:. sweet cakes would liven a woode
= Injun. Have another, Bev!" helpin
!. himself: so good they've put a fir
- notion in my head. It's this-nOw thu
y you've done the cookin' up so fin
why not let's have q weddin'? II
ready
, How about the bride" Maid
flung back.
He laughed loudly. THE bride
~ Oh, she'll be throwed in with the SUI
= per. see! 1 allow ter pay q lot fer til
y supper. Let's see! How much il til
IL mortgage and interest -
You can find out at the bank
le being a director" Mazda answered.
u red spot flaming in either cheek.
y The spots ought to have warne
!! Bev instead they made him moi
y reckless George! Cookin' become
* YOU! Didn't know till this minut
10 (, ~, .,<,r6 vo,r Iookad h. cried Covr