The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-30

| glad to learn something of the ways of
| this spirited young fellow, who had
| looked at her perhaps rather vigorous
| ly, but not in a way to call for any
| other defense than she always had
| about her?
When things are managed in this
mastery way. the malice of onlookers
! is stifed at birth. 1t is weakness that
| invites troublesome comment. The
strong may lead their affairs through
| the crowd without molestation. The
| smiles that followed this progressive
! pair were rather of approval than of
derision.
Some days later the new girl happen
ed to reach the packing house in a few
minutes earlier than the general arrival.
Then she heard quick steps, and the
grader man stood before her
your clock fast?" he said, sweeping
his eyes over the several approaches,
and finding that the nearest corners
were some minutes distant.
Il don't know-I didn't look at it. I
just came when 1 felt ready. Maybe
twas the splendid morning that hurried
me-"
TT is a splendid morning. isn't it?'
said he; and there was something in his
less than usual. Il felt a little in a
hurry myself" he went on, noting the
freshness of the morning light on her
inquiring face. and astonished a little
at his own audacity. How much can
1 say before those girls get here?'
Il don't know" laughed the girl, but
her cheeks flushed a little; Il nave
never heard you try"
Il can say this, anyway want you
to say you like me, and that l can walk
home with you sometimes, and that
you'll go to church with me next sun
day"
Not far was she tipped off her poise.
She answered proudly, still laughingly,
and a stray lock, escaped from her hat,
danced at him on the edge of her fore
head, as a light breeze whisked by.
You can say a good deal in a min
ute; but 1 think you are too much in
hurry. If you should walk home with
me this evening, you would have more
time Isn't it splendid morning." she
shouted to four girls who were coming
up the walk and who wondered at her
exhilaration as she whirled toward
them.
The grader man climbed to his perch
and watched a few angels among the
rafters as he waited in sublime patience
for the materials of his industry
A week or two after this the Missouri
girl came late and without her lunch
pail. Jim saw that her face was sad
and weary. She glanced at him, but
walked right past and spoke to the
manager, who looked regretful, but
consenting, and they went to the pay
desk together. Then she walked to the
door. There she hesitated a moment.
"Get on here" said Jim to one of the
bumpers, climbing down from his seat
and not stopping to see his orders
Obeyed. They walked slowly toward
the street, and the curious eyes that fol-
lowed them were sober-some Of them
sympathetic.
Her sister, for whose recovery she
had come to California, and for whom
she had been determinedly hopeful, had
just been pronounced to be in a sinking
condition, and desired to go back to
her mother. Beneath this grief the
brave girl was also hiding a foretaste
of the loss of this new friendship, and
it had suddenly become known to her
how deeply her life and hope was in
VolVed.
Jim came in with look on his face
that might have been borrowed from an
old Italian painting. AT noon he stop
ped the manager.
Gould you put someone in my place?
George Barnes would do all right. 1
want to go to Missouri in the morning.
The packing house ratified on merrily
through the season. It's output was
various and sundry. Jim, on his jour
ney, was attended by four words that
hummed forever through his head with
a reminiscent accompaniment of the
rolling noise of the grader.
Through joy and sorrow" they said,
and it seemed strange to him that the
sorrow, quite as much as the joy, was
serving the new glory of his days.