The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-07
Eoening Story
A Special Providence.
BY MARTHA M'CULLOCH-
WILLIAMS.


on folly already quite sufficient" his
sister Prue answered stormily, but
with a glimmer of fun breaking thru
the storm. I've wondered all along
why you didn't ask her to adopt you
as an older son instead of to marry
you. Ever so much more suitable
shut up. will you'll" Jessup cried
tensely. He was hard put to il to
keep from swearing. Prue, his twin,
his pal from cradle days, was in most
things wholly privileged. But not in
all. She must not blaspheme his
grand passion for a goddess of whom
no man could be quite worthy any
more than he could be quite insensi-
Bile to her charm.
The years between? What did they
matter? Love laughed at Time even
more than at locksmiths. Her soul
was vernal as the first flowers OF
spring in spite of a loutfsh lad some
thing taller than Jessup himself and
three daughters all in the stage. of gig
gle and squeal! Kipling's Venue Ammo
domini over again, he thought pas
sionately-only she had not frittered
away her widowed years in endless
fIirtations.
Instead she had been a model
mother, a close student of deep things,
and as such the inspiration OF sundry
uplift movements upon the part of
three rectors who had come under her
influence. Then, as lightning from
a clear sky had come the Gurley mil
lions-given in#fee. because. said the
testator, he knew they would be put
to good use.
Since she had never known pinching
poverty the money had not gone to
her head. Rather to her feet-she
admitted openly that she loved dane
ing even better than good works ana
now that she was rich enough to in
dulge her whims. took her fill of it
when and how she chose.
Thus Jessup had come in-she had
found him "a divine partner" and had
not hesitated to dance with him the
newest measures privilege refused
to all others. The dearest fellow. So
handsome, so gallant. with-well, I
don't know how to call it better than
such a way" she cooed to disapprov-
ing dowagers. To the girls she eclipsed
she said blandly here was a Knight of
the Round Table, born out of time and
to be priced and used accordingly.
That made Prue foam at the mouth.
Metaphorically, of course-she was too
well bred 10 say, even to look, what she
felt. The joint birthday to the con-
trary Notwithstanding, she was years
beyond her brother in world-wisdom:
further, she had the intuitive feminine
comprehension of another woman.
Mrs. Vane was giving rein now to
youthful eXuberances, suppr essed by
an early marriage, crowding children,
and the -areful economies made neces-
sary by, their needs. To speak COL
loquially, she was having her fling
having it good and plenty. Prue had
been unwise enough to voice her I'M
Outstanding of the fact to Jessup, say
ing loftily: She has had always to
stay outside the - shop windows, so
1t is not strange now when she is
up front inside, s. : rather greedy
mol Generous-in everything"
Jessup had interrupted. Prue had
nodded: That's so! Then wonder
ris she collecting articles of bigotry and
virtue, such as young men, to parcel
out later among her girls?''
Then Jessup mad actually sworn out
loud and flung away to stay on er the
week end. Mrs. Vane had asked him
to spend it at Brook Burn. He went
thither in CHpid's rosiest airship. with
all the doves of We nus circling above.
he came away leadenly, accompanied
by gloom IN such legions ha they been
ponderable he would have been heavily
mulcted for excess baggage.
TheX weighed only upon his spirit,
but We're plainly visible to sisterly eyes
Mercifully she had waited for the
period of the after-dinner cigar to let
him know she knew-and that by a
look, not words.
Something in it melted his hard re-
solve of silence. Brokenly, now and
then gulping, he had told her of his
discontinue. His goddess was still a
the awful shadow of another, q man
almost elderly, fat, plump even
pudgy. who chucked the gigglers each
under their chins, and spoke to Jessup
unctuously as son: The wedding was
set for next month.
Mrs Van6 smiling and
beautifully, had asked Jessup to be
chief usher. adding that he was the
very firht among her friends to hear
the news. DO it?~ OF, course-if it
killed him: That is to say. if he man
aged to live so long. Then he had
broken into the plant for wasted time,
which had set. off Prue's temper like
a spin wheel.
She looked at him narrowIy-he
was shaking like a leaf. Something
must be done-and at once. Before
she could fix upon the something.
fate took hand-in the unromantic
guise of a stubborn COW. The imme-
date result Of her stubbornness was
the Eruption of a slim girl with tan
gled hair and muddy boots, who said
plaintively: please. please, will any
body help me drive Susan home? Soon
as I get her headed right, she balks
when start her up. she runs ba ok
ward, the wrong way. And If 1 leave
her till I can get Farmer Brown to
come for her, you will not have a
sweet pea left-she loves them so
almost believe she broke out to get at
them"
"a clear case of OK in the ditch
or worse" Prue said cordially: "Of
course, wen help you. John, get your
golf stfcks-it will make me so glad to
see them for once really useful
81 forgot my manners-please, I'm
Rose Mayberry. just come to be your
net neishbor." the girl broke in,
dimpling and blushinE beautifully. sud
denly conscious of her DISAGREEMENT
and that her killed skirt had a long
sidewise tear.
But-the blush was her sole apology
in the driving later she showed her.
self nimble of foot and of witt also that
she was fearless. graceful and good to