The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-21
EVENING STORY
The Newcomer.
BY LINCOLN ROTHBLUM.


ing to see all that was to be seen as
the brawny teamsters unloaded the
newcomers household belongings.
Moving to Maple Square, it must be
understood, was an event. with the
exception of the Sankey's, who had
left as mysteriously and precipitately
as they had come land the talk about
which had not yet subsidized, tho 1t was
two years past), goings and comings
were rarities. In fact, the absence OF
For Rent" signs had become source
of great pride to all the householders
on the square, and 1t is little TO De
wondered that the slim girl VINO STOOD
SO resolutely on the bottom step OF the
former Santley home should cause
such agitated interest. Mrs. Gregory.
wrapper-clad. was already regretting
that some married couple with two
or three children and likely to remain
permanently were not taking the
premises.
As the piano was laboriously I'M
loaded, each watcher came to the con-
clusion the newcomer was piano
teacher, come to turn Maple Square
into a workshop The girl, uncon-
scious of the hostile sentiment aroused
as If by single connecting circuit
entered the house and could be seen
thru the large bay window making
some effort to create order out OF the
chaotic tumble of chaiFs, boxes and
boys mounted the steps, a dozen
housewives decided their larders need
ed replenishing, and Grocer Mccain,
knowing his trade, did a half hours
rushing business. his tongue only slow
ing up when he made change.
Yes. Mrs. Gregory" he went on.
weighing out niggardly pound of dry
limas. "she walks in here around
eleven this morning (seems as if she
must've got in on the ten-fifty) and
-
have it delivered. I was for marking
the bill c. o. D. but she up and pays
me. That's what I'd call business
woman.
Shall I wrap up some of them
prunes for you, Mrs. Gregory" he
broke off as he caught that unfor-
tunate lady in the act of sampling one.
Il just opened the box
Mrs. Gregory nodded unwillingly.
And are your two boys helping our
new neighbour" she asked.
The grocer walked over to the coun-
cheeses. Raising the glass cover. he
waited, knife in midair. Yes he
finally answered. as the knife descend
ed with answering accuracy on fif-
teen cents worth. she asked me If I
knew couple of fellows who'd help
her set up the beds and get things
sort of Strengthened out"
He paused to wipe the knife on his
apron. 'She offered to pay well; n
Ed an Ben IL be needin' the extra
money with school startin', SO 1 sent
them over. She's a right smart wo-
man, and knows a deal about grocer
ies-more as a great many of married
folks
Mrs. Gregory tried to look haughtily
offended. Cupping the bags of limas,
prunes and cheese in the crook of her
left arm, and gathering her skirts to-
gether with her right, she swept GU
of McCann's Cash Grocery. secretly
vowing never to set foot in there
again; only on his special Tuesday
sales. when it must be admitted. he
sold without any qualms of conscience.
nineteen cent cans of peaches marked
down to twenty-nine.
The weekly meeting of the Maple
Square Ladies' club had an unusually
large attendance. compelling Mrs
Gregory at whose home the club con-
vened that week, hastily to dispatch
her small daughter via the back door
for the loan of additional china with
which to accommodate her guests.
Mrs. Chandler, president. and very
conscious of her new green silk dress,
raped for order. Mrs. Chandler liked
to rap for order. She. felt the gavel
lent her dignity. The gavel had been
donated by Mr.. Chandler on his wife's
installation into office. Thrice elected
president of the Main Street Business
Mems association, he understood par
liamentary law and how such things
should be conducted.
But today. neither gave1 nor green
| silk dress could hush the buZzing
| voices and shortly a very ruffled Mrs.
Chandler announced the meeting adj
| journed- Mrs. Gregory. emerging from
| the kitchen with the china hastily gar
nered, commenced to distribute her
stock supply of cream-cheese-and-
nut-sandwiches. 80 satisfying and easy
| to prepare" as she once confided in
an unguarded moment
1t was Miss Tucker, richer in dol
| lars than in sense, who fired the first
shot I'VE all forgot to suggest our
new neighbor for membership; a COM
niittee ought to be appointed to call
! on her"
| Mrs. Chandler did not like the
spinster-she had not liked her, in
| fact, ever since that lady had looked
with too favorable eyes upon her only
son Walter You live next door to
our. new neighbour she commented.
| glancing UP, have you called on
herr"
| Miss Tucker wagged her head with
Negative emphasis. Since that SAINT
ley episode" and she paused dra-
| matically.
/ 'I must agree with YOU" Mrs.
| averse to unattached females at all
times. Waits last letter was all about
some vampire who has him in her
| clutches"
Miss Tucker. forgetting she was in
Guided in the category of unattached
| females" Joined in the general laugh.
All knew Mrs. Chambers husky son
| and his doting mothers war on Turing
| vampires.
The cuckoo's four o'clock warning
sent the Maple Square Ladies club
| scurrying to their respective homes.
where SouDS and StewS boiled and
s.ewed to a rapid demise.
Mrs. Chandler, obliged to pass the
newcomers home. had decided to
| walk past head UP. She would have
Providence had endowed her with a
/ plebeian nose, persistently downcast.
!, Out of the corner of her eye she could
see the unwelcomed neighbor rock