The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-29

velvet lawn, out Of the open gate into
the road
II can go most as fast as a butter
fly said Joan. and I'll find Man Dad
dy at the nice place where Fido was
took when he was lost, where there was
such a heaps and heaps of dogs. I
know Man Daddy'n be there with a
gleefuI chuckle that brought the dim
pies laughing to her cheeks. Mother
never thought Of that. I b'lieve it was
the lilies that put the therink in my
inside"
Along the hot, dusty road, meeting
no one in this peaceful dinner hour,
she trotted her sunbopneJ dragging be-
hind and her yellow hair rivaling the
glowing cornfelds on either side
In her desire to emulate the butterfly
she got over the ground at a surprising
pace. She put all her heart and soul
into her endeaVOr, as she always did
into eVeryt thing she undertook Life
to Joan was a deep and an earnest
thing. She hardly knew that her short
/ legs were aching. or that her curls We're
sticking to her damp little brow. BY
the time the village dinner hour was
over the village was left far behind by
JOan's determined legs She began to
meet people, and a few asked her
where she was going. JOan's beaming,
moist smile and her answer, Man
Daddy-jus' there, with grimy fore
finger pointing apparently to the end
OF llE IDdQ OF lc-lAEs vi llCAAs Sc+lASAANA
them. But presently Joan stopped to
talk to a great sunflOwer nodding its
golden head at her over the railing of
a little garden. 1t was when she caught
sight of its friendly face that she knew
how her legs ached-
you see.v she said. sitting down for
just one minute beneath the sunfiower
and gazing up at it wistfully, i m not
really a butterfly, and-my legs hurt
little"
The sunhower nodded encouragingly.
TITS a long way" said Joan. I've
run miles and miles. pretty, good lady
oh. miles and miies-miles ',-her voice
trailed off into a drOwsy murmur-
"1niIes," she said, with sudden jerk
and sitting upright. She gazed up at
the sunfower reproachfully- i mustn
20 to sleep" she said. I've got to ffnd
Man Daddy in the big place where rney
took Fido when he was lost It JUS.
there =" pointing down the road "GoOd
nv eood lady I must be quick, cause
Man Daddy viii be lonesome without
me and mother you see, and mother VIII
be lonesome. too.
She started at run, then looked back
over her shoulder at the sunfiower with
a troubled little laugh. My legs Won
work properly" she said. and struggled
on. The sun had gone behind great
( threatening clouds, but Joan TOOK no
heed. All her mind was centered on GET
ting on. She took no more rest TIL she
came suddenly upon a group Of peoples
growing in the grass at the wayside; by
them her legs stumbled and gave Way
and she sank down on the grass. She
whispered to them in little voice that nat
was breathless and full of tears.
want mother and Man Daddy" she said,
and then she lay still and set all her l5a
teeth together to keep the sobs back
But presently she sat up. sDeyss com
ing" she gasped. her grammar growing
weak in her extremity. A sudden gleam
lit her face
''Grown-up angels cry to give the
flowers water" she said, as great tear
rolled down. her cheek. and. kneelins,
she bent over the peoples and sobbed
her heart out While the tears splashed
onto the flowers. But other drops came
and mingled with. hers-great angry
drops from dark clouds overheard
drops that beat the poppies shudderins
to the earth. THE angels are cryine.
too murmured Joan. SleepIly, and
rolled over and lay stiu
The angels crying was long and
vehement. It woke loan several times.
bat she was dazed with WEAKNESS. Once
she murmured with smile: ITS
most cold bath stead of a teppy to-
dav. mother" and went to sleep again.