The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-09
EVENING STORY
~Acting In"
By LINCOLN RoTHBLUM

IS. Mirandy Jenkins folded her checked
gingham apron triangle fashion and.
tucking the corner in at the belt, |
rested her arms on the fence railing. |
1t was summer time in the outly- |
ing farm districts of the town OF Car
rollton and the air was redolent with |
the green odor of alfalfa Mirandy
distended her nostrils to get the diff
fusing fra GRANGE. On the crest Of the
hill, topping the road which lei past
the house, appeared q none too strong
horse. 1t dragged with tagging feet
a rig of doubtful origin. 1t would
have been difficult to tell the occu-
patton of the driver who sat beneath
the ragged and sagging top il not for
the sack which lay ct his feet la
beled in letters of warBfng size, u
s. Mail" AS the outfit started down
grade the man raised his crushed hat
and made an effort to brush the up
! standing hairs into place. A ribbon"
tie was next adjusted and to Its al
ready numerous stains were added q
| few more from the dusty hands. When
these offices had been performed. he
shifted the reins from his right to
| left hand and waved in recognition of
Mirandy's fiuttering handkerchief.
| "Mornin' Mandy" was his greet
ing, as he drew up before the gate
| "Mornin,' Seth. Any mail for me?"
"Nothin', 'cept the county newspa-
per. Hows y'r grandpaw?"
Poorly. poorly, Seth. The doc says,
| he won't last much longer"
Then we'll get married, Mandy, and
no putin it off again. Eh?''
Mirandy blushed as IL this were the
first time the subject had been breach
ed to her. La. Seth. how you do
but it just seems like we'll never get
there. First it was grandmaw who
| kept US from getting married. what
with being so sick and cantankerous.
and then you lost y'r 1ob--and OF
course We couldn't get married til you
was appointed this route. and now
it be my grandpaw sick and ailin' and
eatin' up the revenue"
Seth spat out a generous Quid Of
tobacco and after replacing X with a
fresh supply, shook his head resigned
ly. Well. I'll be round tomorrow,
Mandy-so long"
$50 long, Seth, I'll be expectin' you
Il >And' Mirandy's workworn figure
dropped as her eyes followed the de-
parting buggy. Sentenced to the hard,
manual drudgery of a badly managed
farm before securing even such ele-
mental education as the village Of
fered; saddled with aged grandparents
/ who fought off every innovation which
might have lightened her labors, and
: forced by eternally present financial
| straits to forego any pleasure which
involved the expenditure of money,
: Mirandy's youth had slipped away al
{ most without her knowledge. until she
found herself we'll on the road to forty
l with vapid complexion and toll
1 hardened hands as her only assets.
/ But in this sacrificing and unher-
1 aided martyrdom, to which she had
= given herself with neither complaint
1 nor hope for reward. there were two
pinnacles Of joy. One was Seth, tc
whose everlasting credit it must be
e said that none of the obstacles which
t had delayed his wedding to Mirandy
) had lessened his fidelity. Not ever
: the arguments on Socialism to which
: he lent, the dignity of his presence
y every Saturday night on the stoopt o,
: Anniston's general store. held such
It appeal as discussion with his sweet
e heart of twenty years standing rela
|. tive to their prospective marriage.
n That other thing to which Mirand,
g turned every night before retiring t.
: the bed which induced early rising b.
: which bore on its bristleboard cove
e the announcement, Middleton
County bank--savings account OF Mir
8 andy Jenkins And on its page
r ruled and cross-ruied with financia
5. precision, were entered in numerica
y amounts one dollar on the fifteenth
e and thirtieth of each and every montl
n "a dollar as money value Is con
strued, but millions IL considered Il
.e the language by which it was saved
f one hundred pennies every two week
= eaked from an income squeezed mig
IS to strangulation. 49,.
s. Mirandy crept into bed, where .des
s. pite the straw tick, she soon fe
d morning sun. scarcely awake, but sus
l. gested another round Of toilsom
is tasks. Perhaps every morning it wa
N the thought of Seth which hastene
is the always rapid dressing and tn
n chores were ,wel1~completed as sh
lg retreated to her bedromm to fuss up
r. before waiting at the fence.
in But this morning Seth was destine
8. to walt himself into impatience, for n
&c aproned figure leaned against the gal
is cernedly to conceal his vexing disaI
Of pointment. he walked leisurely up tt
LII path bordered by pansies. making
IN valiant effort to v(ithstand its SAND
ne dust. The sound of voices from II
r. "parlor" directed-his steps to tn,
1t. especial occasions, where he found Il
of neighboring farmers in sympathet
Sc. congress assembled about the body
r. "OI'' Jenkins" Mirandy sat in a +;
au corner of the room alone.
to Mandy" Seth called.
mt Seth came the grateful respo1s
The talk engendered~by the funer
gave way to the announcement of Il
on wedding soon to take place. Under
;e- excitement Mirandy was blossomiI
IL ont with due allowance TO the yea
ms already spent, while Seth, not to me
ne ton the discontinued use Of Tobacco
ew had given up the Saturday night co
lat ferences about Anniston's gener
OF store that he might be with h
he nron,ised bride
eo And then came the letter. 1t W
us such a beautiful morning.
no ''Mornin'. = Mandy"
eo "Mornin' Seth. Any mail for me
IN "Nothin' 'cept the county newspaps
: But got q letter, an SEEM as y,
"a might as well get used to openin' n
p. mail now, I brought it to you
n Mirandy smiled at the subtle COZ
"a, "a, pliment in style Seth dubb
- "pritty."
on ,s;rsrd,, sScIsiy,ed a. shs toot the