The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-15
WTNTERGREEN.

days when two-young lawyers, Albyn and
Wilmot, sat in their office, the former
lazily reclining, as was his custom, and
the other industriously working, as was
his custom. Suddenly a tiny rap was
heart upon the door, followed by the en-
trance of pretty child, about 2 years old,
with basket of apples upon one arm and
another filled with tiny crimson berries on
the other. Her dress was of worn and
faded calico, and little scarlet wooden
hood surrounded her face, tied on one side
in picturesque knot.
Buy some wintergreen berries this
morning, sir?''
She came forward as she spoke throw.
ing the hair back with a single impatient
movement of her head.
Ct don't want 'em for anything under
the sum- observed Allyn philosophically,
'fbut 1 suppose 1 shall have to buy 'em
nevertheless, little one, if you will give me
credit for cents
IT would rather not, sir, - said the child
gravely, her wide open black eyes fixed
full upon his face.
mop said the somewhat disconnected
questioner, still searching his pockets for
the necessary coin. "And why not, pray?
Areyou afraid should become insolvent?''
81 don't know what you mean, sir, -
said the child looking little bewildered
at the sound of the long word. II should
not be afraid you would not pay me,
though, for ] have sold you apples great
many times, but 1 could not carry the
money home to my mother, and she could
not pay the man who brought our wood
yesterday
stWen?''
Sand he has got sick wife who cannot
work, and maybe if she did not have
medicine she would die
SO my cent piece goes to buy medi-
cine for the wood merchants sick wife,
eh?' said Albyn thoughtfully.
IA slight Illustration, )" remarked Will
mot, F'of the curious way in which the
links of humanity depend on one another -
Here, Wintergreen," said Albyn, II
can't find the smaller coin, but here is
quarter. Never mind the change, and I'll
think over that anticredit theory of yours
at leisure. ;"
! The little girl thanked him with ra-
diant smile and glided away under her
wrappings like a second edition Of Little
Red Riding Hood. Charles Albyn sat in
| thoughtful silence for several minutes. At
| length he spoke.
''Wilmot,' said he gravely, "Winter-
| green Berries has taught me lesson. A
man has no right to EN- barrass others by
! his debts, however .trifing. intend to go
| to work in serious earnest and be a man.
| Don't look incredulous. Only wait ten
|
shall keep up my resolves and remind me
of their force
But little Wintergreen never came again.
The ten years of trial, as Allyn laugh
ingly phrased it, had passed by, and the
young firm of Albyn & Wilmot occupied a
spacious suit of rooms instead of the mar
row office they had at first. They had be-
/ come rich and popular. Albyn had kept
his resolution, and all things had prospered
| l, SC
The partners were sitting together, just
as they had on the stormy March day ten
years before, talking quietly in the fire
light, while the dark shadows of evening
crept through the rooms.
''And when are you to be married,
Charley?'
''In about three weeks, believe. Mind
Wilmot, you are to officiate as grooms-
man, and that reminds me that Evelyn is
quite offended because her lovers dearest
friend don't even pay her the compliment
of call. Will you go with me tonight"
''If you desire it, > said Wilmot, with an
air of resignation, 'but you know am
not much of ladies' man.
81 particularly wish you to do SO, said
Allyn, because I think perhaps you may
be able to explain a curious sensation that
always passes across my brain in Evelyn S
presence-the certainty that I have some
where seen her years ago.
''That is impossible returned his
friend, because you yourself say that you
were first introduced to her on her return
from Europe at the house of her uncle,
Mr.. Lernier.''
| 1.-The very ilnpossibility of the thing
adds to its mystery. Sometimes I think
that have seen her in a dream
The superb apartment in which Miss
Lernier received her guests was family il
Illuminated by single light glowing
through a shade of frosted glass. AS the
young lady came forward to welcome Mr..
Albyn and his friend, Wilmot involunta-
rily started
'Where have I seen that girl before?'' he
mentally exclaimed.
Evelyn Lernier was a charming bru-
nette, with black hair and melting tropical
eyes-a little foreign in her manners, but
most fascinating withaI. She chatted
away with iveliest gayety to her visitors
for awhile, but at length turned abruptly
to Mr.. Wilmot.
"Why do you look at me so earnest1y?''
she demanded, with little piquant pet
tishness.
pardon me, Miss Lernier," said viii
mot, ooloring, but to tell you the truth
find it impossible to divest myself of the
idea that, improbable as it may appear,
have seen you at some previous time
''Do you really share in Charles singu-
lar fancy?'' said she: laughing and blush
ing. "Wen, 1 believe 1 must solve the
riddle, or you will dream out the solution
for yourselves In order to do so I must
tell you story"
"Speak on, enchantress," said Albyr
gayly taking her jeweled hand in his.
'There was once little girl, - she be
gan, gazing abstractedly downward. But
stopping suddenly, she took from the ia
BILE box of pearl and gold, and opening il
disclosed an exquisitely clear little cabinet
. painting on ivory, saying, Perhaps this
win aid your memory"
The picture represented q child scarcely
! IL years of age dressed in a worn brown
CLOAK, with a hood tied loosely round hel
dark, lovely face. and basket of crimson
, berries on her arm.
All at once, with Evelyn Lernier's large