The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-04
EVENING STORY
ssArtie.n
~ DORA MoLLAN.


When Sarah Molthrope married Ar
thur Allen. she changed the style of
doing her hair. Grandmother Mol
thrope disapproved. Sarah" she said
in her precise, mild way, your hair
was very becoming parted in the mid
die as you have always worn it. Now
that you have changed the parting so
far to one side it gives you very I'M
balanced appearance. And 1 have no.
ticed in my long 1ife." she added
whimsically, that exterior looks exert
a pronounced influence on ones men
tai processes" To which Sarah an
swered one word. Nonsense
Two months later Grandma Mol
thrope again spoke to her favorite
grandchild on the same subject:
Sarah" she said gently, but decided
ly, you are giving too much time to
your house and not enough to Arthur.
Part your hair in the middle again,
child. 1t will give you a more bal
anced set of values" Sarah shut her
month tight on some words she would
have spoken had this repeated advice
come from any one but her beloved
grannie.
1t was directly after supper that
night that Arthur proposed to his wife
that she accompany him over TO the
Sykes house next door. II hate to miss
a day. dear. The poor fellow looks
forward so much to my visits. It's no
TT
months, you know. and I've made so
many excuses to Mrs. Sykes on your
account, he pleaded; do come along
this time"
It's not necessary for you to make
any at ALL" Sarah answered You
know what I think of that woman
what every one around here thinks
She's altogether too free and easy in
her manner and in her dress. Any
way, it's impossible for me to go now
7 M 1a1V Il
know
That this last was a thinly yelled &C.
cusation of Mrs. Sykes's housekeeping
methods Arthur knew. Yes, know
you never leave anything you may
want to do on my account" With
these words Sarah's husband slammed
the kitchen door behind him.
For a moment Sarah felt stunned 1t
was the first time Arthur had ever
spoken Grossly to her Then she
next door neighbor. who had only re-
Gently moved into the village. A mar
rled woman who wore her hair bobbed
and went on the street dressed as Mrs.
Sykes did was capable of anything,
Sarah decided. Could Grandma Mol
thrope's words have carried a hidden
meaning? Were they intended as a
yelled warning? Was the invalid the
only attraction next door? In spite of
her queer dress. Mrs. Sykes was pretty.
Here Sarah's thoughts were interrupt
ed by the sharp ringing of the tele-
phone bell.
1t was an out-of-town call. Mr.. AL
len was wanted. Sarah ran out to the
edge of her lawn and called. There
was no answer. She went farther-to
the foot of the Sykes front steps-and
was about to repeat her call from
there. But she didn't. And this is
why: Thru the screen door came the
soft, contralto voice of Mrs. Sykes%
"Oh, Artie deari You don't know how
heavenly it is just to sit in your lap
a while and feel your comforting
arms
1t was enough Sarah paused to lis
ten no longer. Even ignoring the re-
ceiver left off the hook, she ran
straight down the street to Grandma
Molthrope. That wise old lady lis
tened silently. stroking the one-sided
my dear" Grandma Molthrope
spoke in her usual gentle voice, you
stay right here. I will go and see
what all this is about" Sarah didn't
demonstrate, just buried her head
little deeper in the soft cushion and
waited. All her life she had gone to
Grandma Molthrope when in trouble,
and she had never failed her yet
1t seemed hours since grandma
cane had tapped down the front walk,
but in reality only a short time had
elapsed, when Sarah again heard the
familiar sound. When the old lady
entered the room, her expression was
noncommital.
Now child" she said. Ego upstairs
and comb your hair over. Part it
straight in the middle. Then I will
have something to tell you" Won
dering, but knowing well that when
her grandmother used that tone she
expected to be obeyed, Sarah went.
Grandma looked appraisingly at
Sarah when the latter returned. Its
much more becoming that way, child.