The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-17
Epening Story
A Question of Proverbs.
N8Y H. LOUIS RkYBOLD.


friends and neighbors. There was yet
an hour before Mrs. Jordan's husband
would return from Slocum and pick
up his wife, whom he had left to visit
Mrs. Pettigrew. Meanwhile, there was
nothing else to do but fall back on
personalities-or remain silent. And
-neither lady was one to remain silent
long.
'.How's John?" asked Mrs. Jordan,
shipping her thread with her teeth.
"He's fine!" and Mrs. Pettigrew's
face beamed Her entire interest and
pride conferred in her one son, who, ac-
cording to her had reached his twenty
eight years unmarried simply because
he had never found a girl like his
mother"
They do say" warily insinuated
Mrs. Jordan, viewing the other out of
the corner of one eye to see how she
took it, that he's interested in Emma
Scobie's cousin that's a-Visiting her."
The ideal" flashed Johns mother
THE ideal" Then, perhaps because
she felt an acquaintance of forty odd
years did not deserve to be treated
casually, perhaps because she yearned
for confidant. she burst out' ex-
citedly: "Mebbe he is a mite-but
she's no girl for him-that flighty
creature! 1 hear tell she dances the
y
act'ally has her nails tended to in the
city-and look at her clothes!"
The other nodded assent II don't
know anyhow what the times is COM
ing to. It's awful different than when
we was girls,"
Il know Johns been going to call
on her Off and on" continued Mrs
Pettigrew. and I don't suppose he'd
like it II 1 put my foot down about his
doin' it" And her intuition was &C
curate, for John, used as he was to/his
mothers domination in small things,
would of a certainty have rebeIlel at
any attempt to control his comings
and goings, at his age. There ought
to be some way to put a stop to it
without his catching on
Whereupon the two elderly ladies'
put their graying heads together and
plotted for the well-doing of John
Martha Jordan even suggested her
daughter as counter-attra ction, but
hter friend could not bring herself
to see in lanky, freckled, sandy-hair-
ed Bessie Jordan a suitable foil to the
dancing, manicured siren at the
Scobies'.
''say-leok here, Eila." and Martha
fairly dubbed over. with excitement,
cant you send John away? By the
time he got back, the girl would be
gone, and you know the old proverb
out of sight is out of mind!'"
Ella looked thoughtful. 1t certainly
was an idea. ft-wouldn't occur to
John to go off himself, just at haying
time, but she knew he was often
wishing for a Chance to "see a little
life" and that, urged on by her, he
would probably go. L guess you've
hit on scheme, Marthy," she said.
Presently Mr.. Jordan arrived, and
Marthy drove away with him, inward
~ content at having assisted her
friend out of her dilemma.
That night across the red-covered
supper table, Johns mother preached
her project You're looking sort of
peakin,' John. How'd you like to go
over to Taylor City and visit your
uncle's folks for a SPELL"
Taylor City deserved its pretentious
name only when compared with Cen
terville and Slocum. But, John, good
looking. in spite of a certain restless
ness of his eyes and discontented.
downward curve of his mouth, looked
at her, pleased Lord, how he hated
the dreary round of life in Center
vile. Evelyn Thatcher had mitigated
his lot for while, but after Thurs
day that pleasure would end with her
departure for home.
Very willingly he fell in with his
mothers plans. Twenty-eight years
with that woman who prided herself
on calling a spade a spade" and do
ing everything open and above
OOdlo I1du IenQeTeQ MN utterly I'M
suspicious of any subtleties or con-
cealments on her part.
Mrs. Pettigrew herself had some
anxious moments, while John spent
the evening before his departure at the
Scobies', and the old grandfather's
clock licked away several long hours
She was worried for fear John had
0Ommitted himself to an engagement
with this flyaway girl. Then she con-
soled herself by the thought that it
had taken Johns father four years to
get to the point of a partial proposal,
and John had known this person only
a month.
The time after John left passed very
quietly, helped out by a neighbours son
called in to assist the hired man.
Martha Jordan dropped in once or
twice and the two women congratu-
lated themselves on Saving John"
Even when Martha brought the news
that Evelyn had ended her visit unex-
pectedly soon (for John had neglected
to mention the fact that Evelyn was
leaving on Thursday, their COM
placency was not disturbed. They
figured she had doubtless found
Centerville suddenly duiIN without
John around to flirt with.
One letter came from that youth
postmarked Taylor City'-then one
stamped Austin Junction"
Proba ply run up to see his fathers
cousin" remarked his mother. Very
thoughtful of him.
The next letter did not mention his
faith er's> cousin, but gave the time of
his return In preparation his mother
got up supper fit for the gods
and even for her son. Waffles with
golden syrup, feathery biscuits, jellied
chicken lemon pie with flaky fluted
crust; crispy, fried potatoes-a collec-
ton of all Johns favorite dishes
whether customarily served at the tea
taoIe or not. And because she felt she
owed a debt she could never renav q,
Martha Jordan, she invited her IA
come.
When the whistle of Johns ira in
| blew for the stop at CenterviIle the
two ladies' were rocking p1acidIy on
the shady porch. Supper only wait
ed Johns arrival. They heard the