Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-03-19
A RASPBERRY ROMANCE.

the vender to make change, the rich, deli
cate aroma Of the fruit carried him back 10
barefooted boyhood. back TO the old
''rcokery," beyond the burnt land, .
where he and Kitty had scratched their
arms and torn their clothes, while they
had gathered their tin pals full Of the rich
fruit, tunbling sometimes or fallen trees
into The brambles and broken underwood,
spilling berries and patiently filling up
again, walking hand In hand over the long
stretches OF pasture on their way home
with stained, sunburned faces. untroubled,
50 that they had each other for company
The recollection came fresh and sweet
Into his world.weary spirit. so absorbing
his thought that he took his change,
walked 10 the door Of bs lodging house
with the basket in his hand. le' himself
in. and was lighting the gas in liis soom in
mechanical way before he realized that
he was the sober. rather cynical man Of
the world, and that the raspberry rookery
experience was more Than thirty years be.
hlnd him.
I've got the start Of Mrs. Buxton, but
she'll have them on the table tomorrow. q"
he thought when be spread his pocket
handkerchief upon his knee and
placed the little basket upon it, picnic
fashion. As he ate the berries, the sweet
memory Of those careless days and Kitty.
was little saddencd by contrast Then.
nll things were pnssible now possibilities
had shrunken. and, worse still, distrust
and worldliness had gathered about bis
heart.
Under the last layer Of berries he found
Q scrap Of folded paper red stained
with Juice. he unfolded II with some
curiosity.
II was a note in a neat school girl hand;
''Wo-mother and I--want a nice
boarder this summer, and am going 10
advertise in q new way. We have a nice
large chamber, over lovely garden, aud
berries and cream and vegetables, and
river and grove. Anyone who gets this
can come to Mrs. Horner's, P, n j.
susie"
Basil sat smiling over the peculiar
method Of advertising. "a schoolgirls
freak" be thought. Il wonder what
she's likef Wonder II the nice chamber
and cream and the rest aren't myths, and
the river a muddy little brookY
BE dried the stained little missive and
put It In his pocKetbook. He closed his
eyes and filled in that outline Of SUMMER
sweetness and beauty, then awoke from
his dream TO find twas midnight
''Pshawl How gullible / ami" he
thought. I'm go TO bed and forget it,
But be didn't forget. In his wanderings
through shadowy Astral land he came upon
delightful scene, n white cottage half
hidden In trees. crowning fair green up
land, broad. neandering river. and
gay flower garden. In connection with il
he caught a glimpse of the Old ''rookery'
e1,ae fa1
antbe was IN dim shadoEy room with
\ Nv f--<}eorfe Washipgton over tie
iaantei- piece showing Strangely distinct,
while girl, with aface like Kitty's, fitted
across his vision tantalizingly. Then out
OF spaces Of rich purple dimness he heard
voice. clear and distinct. as inac,ral life,
singing:
"cusha. Cusha Cusha, calling,
For the dew win soon be falling,
Leave your meadow grasses, melloS-Il mellow,
Come up Whitefoot, comenp Idabtfoot.
lefty 20 the nuktSg sked."
it kansasiS-Ybose olear s,rong notes so
,tnuch tortured ''Mikado" airs,
-s0tnuing in his ears, from the borderland,
he awoke.
The words haunted him. "Cusba, Cusha.
e1tha sailing" was still In his ears when
\ N<Ik lsfer be got of at the p. station,
ayd lnqu1ed the way to Mrs. Horper's.
The widow Horners? Yes. Nearly q
nile up the road. through the woods
White house on a hill"
The station master watched the stranger
out Of sight Looks like he might be a
boarder," he commented invardly. won.
der II the widows been advertisin' she
never said nothiu' about itf'
1ieSnNh Ne. "a " paa reached The house,
80 il. .btsh admitied sby 4 mild faced
ifftls woman Of middle age, who proved
70 b the widow Hofntr She was both
surprised and pleased. when she learned
that he wished 70 secure board for few
weeks. She conducted him 10 a pleasant
square chamber. A great elm threw a
grateful shadow over one window, while,
sure enough the other commanded view
OF garden.
81 did want to let the room" she nd
mitted conhdentially, when he had ex-
pressed himself well pleased and had given
her the advance money for a month. II
Ses thinking Of advertising hei kept put
ting It of. 4"
.'Susie did that for YOU" thought Basil
with the question, "Where Is Susief" on
me end Of his tongue.
Mrs. Horner seemed about 20 make some
comment when be gave her his name, but
checked herself, and hoping that she would
he able 70 suit him In everything, went
down stairs
Everything clean as a whistle, a mat
tless instead OF feathers. and George Wash
ington over The maniel-piece. by thunder.
Just as ! saw him In my dream. was
Basils running comment.
With much curiosity 10 see Susie. he
went down TO dinner. Mrs. Horner sat al
The head Of the table. As he took the seat
she indicated, a tall, slim young woman,
the tallest and slimmest he had ever seen,
walked In and took her seat at the foot Of
the table. She wore glasses also q corn
colored Mother Hubbard, barred and eros.
barred with black. and Basil, who had o
fund Of dry humor 10 him, got the impres
sion Of a Gagged Grain peerlng at him
through The lars Of It's prison.
He FELT sensation Of relief when the
widow said, my niece. Mrs. Buxton" II
was not Susie then. lie felt he could
scarcely have borne the disappointment
No Susie at the supper.table. no refer.
erence made 70 her; yet he had strange
faith In the presence and sweet singing
voice Of his dream; he. the skeptic and
eynic.
: he rose early the next morning, and
.Ndown upon the garden, he saw a
that .irl IN pink cambrlc. with basket
on hen arm, cutting flowers with pair OF
enfioi BY foger be said TO himself, as
h6 pfooeeded 70 bestow extraordinary
pAinl upon lis toilet wondering as llc
scanned fiiS faco In the mirror. II hc would
look awfully old 10 her girlish eyes.
he went down 10 breakfast 10 tnd the
liable decorated with flowers and button.
hole bouquet At ais plate, and Susie's face
beaining opposite.
When Mrs. Homer said. This Is my
Susie" the giIi answered Ills salulaiion
with half conscious glance Of clear mis-.
chleyous eyes, 10 which that stained note
in his vest pocket was the key.
y do wonder II be got Il. or II no only