The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-16
The Evening Story
The Humorous View.

The Humorous View.
(By Lawrence Alfred Clay.)
1t was a piece of good luck for Rob-
in Bennett.
The young city of Hillsdale was GO
ing to bring its water supply dis
lance of three miles and construct q
reservoir, and it was his first job as q
civil engineer.
1t was matter that interested the
whole town-the taxpayers. because
they bad to pay the bills; the female
population. because the coming of
young Bennett almost at once gave
rise to strange reports.
Gossip had it that he was a very
rich man; that he was born dumb, and
that later on he had been deafened by
an explosion OF dynamite. 1t said
also that the girl he was to marry
went back on him when that dynamite
went off She said that a husband
who couldn't hear her say she loved
him was no husband for her. And the
story went on to the effect that ow-
ing to his misfortunes he had soured
on the whole world and intended to
commit suicide the day the reservoir
other things that could be brought up
for discussion when the above had
been threshed out, and taken alto
gether Mr.. Bennett was a valuable as
set to the town Of Hillsdale.
And not one single female, wife,
widow, old maid or maiden, made one
single effort to find out the truth or
falsity of these reports. OF course not.
A woman can weave romance
around even reservoir. and this
crowd continued to weave. There
were fifty men who could have knock
ed that romance into a cooked hat.
but they were not appealed to.
Mr.. Bennett had HIS office near the
river that was to be tapped. and
boarded with a farmer, and thus gave
the society of the town no opportunity
to get acquainted with him. He had
about society matters. The first
inkling he had as to the gossip about
him was in a street car. 1t was gossip
between two young ladies' He had his
notebook out and was making figures
and puxzling over iniets, outlets.
valves and siphons wnen the voice OF
one of the girls reached his ears.
NO" answered the other, but they
say he's quite good looking.
"And both deaf and dumb
| YES"
isn't it too bad?"
1T certainly is.''
81 wish some one that knew him
would introduce U.S..
You might invite him to call. but
would he? And if he did. how could
he talk with any of your
IT hadn't ought to say SO. but can't
help but see the humorous side to it.
! Suppose he was counting q girl, and
each had to have pencil and a pad. In
stead OF talking, he writes and she
writes"
IA proposal in writing would look
rather funny"
1T would that"
Mr.. Bennett stole a furtive look al
both, but was most impressed by the
4 last speaker. He had carried an idea
for two or three years, and here II
was. They were talking about him
but was he the man? He wasn't deal
and dumb. and he didn't boast Of hi.
good looks. He felt sure that the tall
couldn't be about him, but was uneasy
about 1t. Two hours later a resfden
of the town came into his office t.
make some inquiries.
DO you know that you are q rea
blessing to the gossip OF Hillsdale?"
I'm what respect ?"
'"They have it that you are deaf ant
dumb"
But I'm talking all day to a hun
bred men,"
Sure you are"
"And I'm hearing you very plainl,
now. How could they start such ,
! yarn?"
"Oh, every town must have its 70
nance. It's your keeping to yoursel
|
stories. You shouldn't let 1t bottle
you"
In making a short cut to town from
the site of the reservoir, one had t.
: pass the residence of Judge Brewster
) and one day as he made the trip tn
young engineer had seen a young lad
ensconced among the plants and vine
, of the veranda. He had not stare
: at her. but he had caught the fac
well enough to wonder II he hadn'
: met it on a street car. It would be tn
3 one that said she saw humor in tn
, situation. So did Mr.. Bennett-afte
thinking things over.
l. At o'clock one afternoon Mis-
Oracle Brewster sat on the verand
reading a book. She was SO interest
ed that the first thing she knew Of
. strangers presence was his step on tn
gravel. He had pencil and pad in hi
\ hand and. after lifting his hat. h
handed them up to her. On the pa
y was written:
Il am deaf and dumb. Is this plac
for sa1e?'
The girl received the pad an
II haven't heard father say any
thing about selling"
4 Then he wrote:
. How long since the last earth
quake here?'
) ''Why. we never had one here.
a wrote the girl as she turned AVA
her head to smile.
n II am somewhat Of a naturalis
t and may 1 be SO bold as to ask |
you ever saw any nine-legged grass
3 hoppers around here?"
: This time the girl smiled before sh
could turn her head, and what sh
y wrote was:
d 81 never counted the number {
legs a grasshopper has"
: ''Sorry-very sorry the penc
q made him say. "A nine-legged gras,
hopper il worth 5000 to any mt
q scum of natural history. PerhaI
d you may have noticed a red robin 20
q mo, SIR" was the reply.
"S0rry-very sorry. King Peter
d Servia has the only one ever seen thu
a far and he values 1t at 5000