The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-21
EVENING STORY
The Twins.
<By Fanny Gray.)


before him. His wife, Mary. had driv-
en- over to the next town to stay day
or two and help settle up the affairs
of a cousin who had died the week
before, leaving twin babies, six months
old. Her husband had always been a
shiftless man, and seemed, of course,
less resourceful in his hour of grief
than ever before. So Mary, being the
nearest relative, had taken charge OF /
affairs, and was to stay until she had
found a suitable person to do the |
housekeeping for the widower and |
take care of the babies.
Silas was not enjoying his supper. |
He and Mary were very fond of each |
other, and seldom had cause to be
separated, and he missed her. They |
had been married ten years and had
no children, which was a great disap- |
pontment to both of them Now that
it seemed likely that they would al
ways have to be denied the joys of
parenthood, they seldom spoke of it. |
1t was their household tragedy, for
both had wanted a family.
So, as Silas rose from the table, and
took his pipe out on the steps while
supper was being cleared away, he
was thinking a little bitterly of the
unkind fate that had bestowed twins
upon a couple who couldn't provide
and then took away the mother.
He wondered how Mary was MAX
ing out and he pictured her playing
mother to the babies. How he wished
he dared propose to her that they
adopt a child! He secretly had want
ed 1t for some time, but MAXWELL,
he fancied Mary wouldn't care much
about any child that wasn't her own.
Many time he had tried to talk
about it with her. but somehow the
words stuck in his throat. Now as
he sat alone, he summoned his cour-
age and told himself that when she
came home he would ask her-yery
gently, if course, not insistently
How little we sometimes know of
the thoughts and visions of those
nearest and dearest to US, While Silas
was sitting smoking his lonely pipe
that summer evening Mary was rock
ing the twins to sleep, one against
each arm, looking and feeling very
motherly and happy. AS the chair
swayed back and forth, and she sang
softly a little lullaby, she was think
ing of her own childlessness and tI,e
rift it was making in her life.
She reflected that undoubtedly Silas
dldnt care so much being a man."
ana that he didn't appreciate how she
longed for little baby to love and do
Tor 1t seemed to her she just couldn't
go on any longer without one IF he
| only would be willing for me to take
one and keep it," she thought But
then, suppose he couldn't enjoy hav-
own l can't blame him."
AS she rocked and sang and looked
at the sleeping babies, an idea popped
| INTO her head. so daring that it almost
made her heart stop beating. Suppose
| they were to adopt the twinst Poor
/ little things, They were good stock
! and related to them. and it would be
a mercy now the mother was gone
But twins! Silas would never consent,
Mary's idea took root, however and
/ IN 10, Oh Il;
continued her efforts to find house
keeper and waited for Silas who was
to drive over in the afternoon and see
II she was ready to go home. When
he came. she somewhat timidly sug-
gested that, as she had been unable
to find responsible person, they
should take the babies home with
them for a week or SO while she
| looked around at her leisure
Silas, somewhat astonished, and adj
miring her for her self-sacrifice
agreed to the proposition, only eau
| tionlng her not to fatigue herself And
his interest in the twins grew every
minute. He watched Mary tie on the
tiny caps and pin the blankets around
them, and on the way home he found
himself. more than once peering over
into their little faces.
AS the days passed Mary seemed
very busy in her home and SiIas OBJ
served that she was not exerting her
self to find the much talked-of house
/ keeper. He was secretly delighted,
for the babies were winding them
selves around his heart. Often and
often he watched Mary as she tended
/ them, and the same thoughts that
were in her mind grew up in his. He
would like to keep the twins! But
would Mary think?
| One evening, after the babies had
been put to bed, Silas and Mary We're
sitting on their porch. a little busy
body of neighbor ran in for a chat.
Naturally, the conversation turned on
the wonderful twins, their virtues and
shortcomings, their looks and DISPOSE
lions, and so on. Finally. the visitor,
who was nothing if not frank, sudden
ly chirped up: "'Spose you know
everybody says you're goin' to adopt
those young ones. 1 told my husband
I just didn't believe it, and when 1
came over here was goin to ask you
outright. 1t amt so, is it?''
There was silence for moment,
then Mary spoke, rather tremblingly
at first, but gathering courage as she
went on. Yes we've about decided
1 have wanted for a long time to take
a child. and this seems a special OPP
portunity, being relatives and all-if
the father is willing, and / guess he
amt likely to object Yes, it's about
decided. Folks are right, for once
She glanced timidly at her hus-
band, but she could scarcely see his
face in the gathering darkness What
/ would he say or do? Had she risked
too much? Her heart seemed to stand
still. At last he spoke.
Sure were going to keep them. We
intended that, right along, after their
mother died. But things like that
| can't be decided offhand. You couldn't
hire Mary here to give 'em up, and as
for Newell, Mary and 1 think alike
on most subjects. And. az IT happens,
there amt Il mite of difference in our
opinion in this matter.
! The gossipy neighbor hurried away
| to spread the news, and the husband
, and wife sat alone on the porch.
|, After a little, Silas rose and went
larnilnd to MarX,s chair and took her