The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-14
EDcning Story
The Fifteenth Guest.
~ MARIE IA RoQUE.

lily over the moldlng board of the spa-
cious, low-ceilinged kitchen of the
Melbourne house. There was a deli
cious fragrance of browning pumpkin
and mince pies in the oven. Vegetables
and fruit sent late in the afternoon
were piled high on a table in one cor
ner of the room and thru the open
door that led to the dining room you
might have caught the aroma of pine
and spruce that Nellie Melbourne was
weaving into garlands and hanging
about the old wainscoted room.
Get everything you possibly can
done tonight Nellie called to Miss
Samson, the housekeeper; "our COM
pany is coming early
"Our company" said Polly. Samson
with a little gruffness that could not
have offended any one who knew the
good heart that lay beneath the some
what blunt. exterior of Polly. you
can't call it our company when you
won't even tell a body who is coming.
Must be an army from the dinner you
have ordered"
Nellie Melbourne's laugh sounded
high and clear from the dining room.
That's my little secret Polly Sam
son, so you needn't be so snappy about
it. You'll know soon enough"
Then Nellie went into the rooms
beyond to continue her work of deck
ing the old house with greens. The
wind that was driving drifts of snow
in the darkness outside kept up
racket. but Polly pricked her ears
when she thought she heard footsteps
on the walk beside the kitchen. She
opened the back door and peered out.
ION, it's you, is ?" she called
rather softly BLESS my soul, but
you're a sight"
ST only thought I saw a light out
g 7 n 1nnIr 9rnnnd nnn't
usually keep working in the kitchen so
late.''
1t was Mr. Robinson, the old
Waterman, who answered. and before
he knew it Polly Samson had got him
in the kitchen, having first brushed off
the snow in the entry way. She told
him he was cold and pretty nearly
exhausted which he did not deny.
Moreover, she told him that, watch
man or no Waterman, he had no right
to spend the night outdoors on a night
like that. He sat down, at first re-
luctantly, while Polly busted herself
making fresh coffee for him and
cutting a wedge from one of the many
pies that had already come from the
oven. 1t was but natural that Mr..
Robinson asked Polly for whom the
feast was being prepared, and looked
surprised when she told him that she
did not know.
1T can't be for any relatives, for
she hasn't got any" said Polly. when
her father died eight months ago he
was the last leaf on the tree, except
Nellie, of course. 1 didn't think shea
stay on here in the old house. Plenty
of money, not thirty These remarks
were uttered crisply between vigorous
applications of the rolling pin. But
she knows her own mind, ana OF
course I'm glad she's staying Don't
know what I'd do away from this
old house,
Funny she hasn't ever married.
said the Waterman, a man of sixty,
who bore more of the sembIance of a
genial college professor or country
doctor than Waterman.
Polly leaned heavily on the rolling
pin toward Mr.. Robinson. people
don't know Nellie when they say she,
has no heart" she whispered "Of'
course there is lots that have wanted
her, but that's not her fault She's
the kind that only loves once, [ guess.
there was young fellow she
went with in the college here; 1 guess
they were engaged-know they were
in fact. Well, her folks objected. He
was fixing to be lawyer, he was. So
they did what parents. sometimes think
they have right to do-maybe they
meddled with the letters. 1 don't
know. All I know is that he never
came back and that NelIie's never
married and it isn't cause she hasn't
had some grand offers''
The whispering stopped suddenly
as Nellie Melbourne came thru the
door.
Hello there. Mr.. Robinson" she
cried with obvious pleasure, Il
thought Polly must be talking to her
self out here. You're just the man
I've been looking for" She fastened O
little spring OF holly in the lapel of
his coat and then stood off to admire
1t. What you going to do for Christ
mas dinner? 1 thought you'd be going
nome" She pasued, wishing that
she had not spoken the word, for Nell
lie, like the rest of the people for
whom Mr.. Robinson acted as watch
man, knew very little about him. He
had dropped into the little town of
Thatcher seemingly from nowhere.
vouched for only by an old resident
who had never said anything about
the old mans personal affairs.
Mr.. Robinson looked confused only
for moment. why, I haven't made
very definite plans yet" he said with
a smile. you see, haven't any fam
lily exactly, only He paused and it
was clear that he did not wish to con-
tinue.
''Fine, then" said Nellie. "Then
Christmas turkey. There were just
thirteen ans you make the four
teenth.'
Polly looked at first horrifed. then
a. blush, of pleasure spread over her
face, for Polly had a rather tender
spot in her heart for the watchman.
whom Miss Melbourne sometimes re-
ferred to as her beau" The first
shock had come because she had about
made up her mind that Nellie had in
yited a crowd of old friends from the
city-rich people who. thought Polly. |
would be loath to rub elbows with a
man who made his living watching
peoples houses at night.
At IL O'Clock on Christmas day. as
Polly was busy in the kitchen making |
final Preparations for the turkey that
was presently to go into the oven,
Nellie Melbourne came bounding into |
the room.
''They are heret They're herei |
Eleven of themt You go on in and |
stay with them and III take charge
here"
poli- 5;d &c 49, ,,o- 4o15 Che