The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-10
EDening Story
The End of a Feud.
By MARTHA McC. WILLIAM

ibreathlessly: Must be some truth in
this talk of the world coming to an
end. Actually Liza Brown came to
church last night with a beau-and
who should the beau be but Prof. Nc
Goodinl"
MOI Mrs Nanny cried. Don't
ask me to believe that. Why. she'd
run If a man more than said .Howdy'
to her-and as for hin-why. Brother
Ben says he never recognizes the ex-
istence of anything in less than six
sylIables."
Il know. but L saw them-plain.
Be sure they made one stir in church.
Don't believe ten people heard the
! text, much less the sermon" said Miss
/ Sue. 1T was funny after dismissal
Everybody standing stock still a min
ute, as tho waiting for bride and
groom to go down the aisle. And how
/ they stared-out of eye-corners you
may say. No telling how long they
would have kept it up, hadn't been
for Jeff-Davfs Perry. He may be wild,
but he knows what to do in a pinch,
SO here he steps out, beckons the other
| boys just the least bit-and there they
had the whole congregation moving
Liza and the professor were beet-red
knowing what it all meant-but when
| they had melted into the crowd they
seemed not to mind. How I know is
walked home right behind EN-
What did they talk about?" Mrs.
Nanny broke in.
Miss Sue giggled. Stars, and the
Chaldees, and the Babe in the
! Manger." she said. "Oh, he's got
words a plenty. when he has the mind
for 'em. Then stars really belonged
last night-they were so big and
| bright, and looked to be just above
the treetops."
II do wonder-wiIl that be a be?"
Mrs. Nanny answered reflectively.
Nothing to hinder. Liza has got a
uice property, besides her home. And
he has money in the Building an Loan
with bugs and smells and things at
the laboratory"
Mrs Farley Pindar knows all that
-better'n we do. 1 reckon said Miss
Sue. She's nosey anyway-then him
boarding in the house SO Longevity,
she's Jerry the-spot."
She always is-about other peoples
business" Mrs Nanny commented
acidly. But did you ever hear how
she spoke to him down town one day
and had to tell him who she was?'
Miss Sue nodded, saying: 81 call
that rich. She can't have her claws
on him very deep. But, mark my
word, she'll hold to him like grim
death. Somebody ought to tell Liza
she's so shy and housekeeping. I
doubt if she has ever heard a word"
Multiply this conversation by near
Hall the houses III 1111lSlQ6"IeSuII,
H1lfside's stunned amaze over the
churchgoing. Before next Sunday bets
were laid on the event-covertly, be-
cause Jeff-Dayis Perry took it upon
himself to discountehance vigorously
any making of the nascent romance
sporting event. His word carried
weight, socially and financially, albeit
he was under thirty, and given to
minding his own business. Somehow
standing up for those who could not
stand up for themselves appeared to
him a vital part of his business. Men
ought to fight their own battles
therefore McGoodin did not count. But
Miss Liza, a faded, pretty thing, close
upon forty withered in the shadow OF
a stern paralytic mother until the time
of love and mating was past, appealed
to his manhood. She had nobody near
er than a banker-cousin who thought
the whole duty of a kinsman was
keeping Liza from wasting her sub
stance in charity and asking her to
dinner at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
She always declined the Invitations
what she did then was something be-
tween her and sundry pensioners. Nep
and Jim, the loyal black pair, who
served her as they had done her moth
er, could have told fine tales. but they
held to the silence they felt due the
queer doingS of quality white folks.
Jeff-Davis was the more bound to
her service by the ancient feud be-
tween their grandfathers. It had been
bitter enough, bloody enough, in the
old time to divide a church and dis
rupt a political campaign. AS a very
small boy Jeff-Davis had been taught
to hate the name of Jones. AS a man
he laughed at that old raDcor. How
ever, Miss Liza might feel her name
should not be mandied about by light
tongues.
She came to church Sunday night as
usual-but alone. And Jeff-Davis took
it upon him Ito walk home with her.
He had his reward, for seated on the
steps was a beautiful, forlorn some
thing which cried plaintively: IF
you're Cousin Liza do please let me
in! I've knocked till my knuckles are
sore and nobody comes"
'Nep sleeps like the dead" Miss
Liza interrupted, Jeff-Davis the mean
while busy with her key, but not busy
enough to keep from hearing the
strange girl run onk You don't know
me but you know my name-Fm
Jones-Sarah Southly-and I've run
away to you BECAUSE
There she stopped abruptly-the
hall light, left burning, flooded the
she saw Jeff-Davis plain-as he also
saw the creature of his dreams The
dream creature held out a hand to
him, saying: "Of all thingsl To find
you this wayi' Then to Miss Liza:
'"You look kind enough to help us. I'm
here because Aunt Penny vows I'll de-
serve death unless give up Jeffy-all
on account of some foolishness so long
back everybody ought to have for
gotten it,
"But-but Cousin Penny is your
legal guardian. I don't know what to
do Miss Liza gasped out, except
this-to take you in and give you some
supper. then put you to bed. You
look fit to DROP
Carried unanimously-with three
cheerS's Jeff-Davis said before the girl
could speak-the part about the rous-
ing cheers was quite underbreath. He
took both the girls trembling hands
and half carried her inside. But when
he would have explained to Miss Liza
she was not there. Very shortly she
came back, led them to the dining
room, stately with its dark mahogany
and old silver. A table richly spread
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