The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-06
EVENING STORY
The Exception.

The black dog reared his bear-like
bulk and parked deeply az man came
tagging up the slope toward the house
"a lank man with mild blue eyes and
r. kind mouth.
Aunt Marindy-" the man faltered.
For PHYS sake, Tink Wiihite." ex-
claimed Marindy Hart. "Whatever's
the matter? Sit down"
Her visitor occupied a char by a
gradual relaxation of his joints
''Tavy's left mel" he announced
, briefly.
The woman looked at him. She~was
sympathetic soul and neighborhood
troubles gravitated 20 her as the
/ weather vane swings to the wind.
''Tavy's left you, EN-? Where is
she?"
lover home" The mans voice was
dead.
And you're here Looks like you
NO, she was going to town to look
for job answered the man, "but l
couldn't let her take Thad so far away.
and it coming summer, so told her to
stay there, and if SO be she wouldn't
live with me to go away myself"
II alwa. thought. Tink White"
she shook her finger inpressively,
that you were throw'd away as a man.
You'd orto been woman. Think
| what a satisfyin' wife you'd make for
an overbearing man. Whose fault
was itc''
''Tavy says it's mine. You see, I
loaned Cousin Jeb, down at Halfway,
/ $50 that time the river rose and he
| broke his lSg trying to save his hogs.
Tavy said ia no right to help my kin;
| that ia orto give the money to her II
| I didn't need it. Lord knows I needed
| it, but Jeb and me've been like broth
ers. and I jest had to help him."
well. amt one to raiEe ructions in
| ia miles, nor to set man against wife;
| but 1 do say that if you loaned Jeb
Wilhite $50, you was doing a Christian
act. and he'll pay it back. for he's
straight. Besides. didn't you have to
pay a fine to keep Tavy's worthless
brother out of jail last winter?
guess she's never counted that Wel'
what do you want me to do?"
That's what I come for, Aunt Ma
rindy," the man replied helplessly. 81
| lowed you'd tell me-"
Lord" calculated the woman. 81
don't want the job OF handling Tavy
wflhite, especially when I'm backing
such a poor bet as You are. A man
that's cruel to his wife orto be shot.
But it's every mans Highland some
times his necessity-to stamp around,
puff out his chest and talk about be-
ing master in his own house. He may
eat out of her hand for twenty-nine
days. but he'd better put up big
bluff on the thirtieth. But I might
put the words in your mouth. and
you you'd get limp, drop your chin
and put on that aggravating humble
| look of yours. and then, of course, any
woman'd tramp on you-let alone
Tavy."
II reckon you're right, Aunt Ma
rindy," assented Tink, with an air of
dependency. I'm a poor critter.
compared to Tavy. But couldn't you
reason with her little? '
"Bosh, Tink White. Did you ever
| try to reason with a balky mule? I
have, and a bauky man or woman is
about the same Why. Tsvy is put
! ting in full working hours right now.
] thinking up arguments against the
The best way for you to cure her tam
trums would be to stamp your foot
and roar that you are the boss. but
you're too GRUMPY for that, go you'd
better stay here a few days and let
| her get good and lonesome, SO shed
help on the north eighty, anyway, so
that'll make it all right with the
neighbors."
Tink could sink no further in his
chair, but he gave the impression of
one whose skeleton no longer upheld
/ his flesh.
"Tavy'l1 never do that!" he groaned.
We'll. I've advised a lot of folks"
she began again, but / heard once
that aman and wife are like pair of
shears-cutting at each other all the
| time, and hitting everything that
comes between. 1 believe it, and I be-
| lieve, too, that the reason I have SO
many friends is that I have kept out
of married folks rows. But I'll dc
+. this-if you stay here a couple of
days. keeping close to the hired mans
shack. SO no one gets wind you're here,
Tavy'll be ready. say about Thursday
| evening, for me to have a little talk
with her.
| The mans flesh seemed suddenly, to
possess skeleton. One of the many
wells of gloom which shrouded his
features was lifted.
| THANK you. Aunt Marindy." His
voice was humbly grateful. II haven't
much hope, but you can fetch heE if
any one can"
Wen, it's an exception to my rule.
and wouldn't make it except for you
me remembering how you helped
| me when you were only a boy, and /
YVES a stranger here, with himself sick