The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-03-17
THE RED
MILK WAGON
Bx JESSIE LLEwELLYN
!Copyrie bted bv Daily Story Pub. Coz

lCODyF1EOteu
A NNIE BRADLEY trudged along the
n sandy road in the face of dry wind.
swinging her school books by a long
strap and tossing her pretty head def
antly as though enjoying her battle
with "he elemsnts.
Itw~s Ions walk from high school III
ahe center Of Clayville, a booming Kan
sas town. to her home in Logan's addi-
ton, which despite its citified appella-
ton was in reality but stretch Of farm
country.
The girl was too much occupied III
building soaring air castles to heed ia
tiSue. Swaying before the wind with
song on her lips and with rose-colored
dreams in her heart, in which shabby
gowns and bitter poverty played no part,
she at last came in sight of home. The
small farmhouse tliffusing a dim light
from one of the windows somehow
Awoke realities.
She stood for moment gazing ali.
atractedly through the window.
The yellow lamplight within seemed
20 accentuate the coarse food and coarser
crockery of the uncleared supper table.
Bradley. her father, had finished his
meal 0nd sat tilted back in his chair All
aorbeA in the columns of weekly news
paper.
Grooming a cherries tune, Mrs. Brad
ley, her face lined with little nervous
wrinkles went about her work while a
ANAL girl on the floor near the door was
drawing figures with one chubby finger
In the fine sand which the wind had
sifted through the chinks. Annie drew
a long breath and passed her hand over
her face with something of the gesture
OF an impersonator as he makes a rapid
change. Her fingers were moist, but
.herc was no trace of unhappiness on
nor face as she quickly opened the door
and entered the room.
Thought maybe that smart alecA
6pctord be carryin' you out in his buggy
again." said Bradley, presently.
He is coming out later this evening"
replied Annie, her lips tightening.
We'll, he needn't go to that trouble,
cause you won't see him; that man don t
mean you no good. with his fine airs and
his money spendin.'
Annie flushed consciously, but made
no reply. Dr. Heyward's words as the
two had driven together under the light
Of wonderful harvest moon came back
to her with new force IL shall always
love my little Kansas girl" he had said
tenderly "even though we should be for
ever separated, and after l am an old
man with grandchildren shall say she
was the brightest spot in my life
OF a sudden the JOY which his words
had inspired was gone The music in hel
heart which had made the days seem SO
bright and the walks from school sc
shCrt, suddenly ceased. She saw for the
first time the remoteness of his mean
ing. Her fathers rough words had shat
tered her romance. Bradley had always
demurred at the attentions of the hand.
some. well-dressed man of the world, buj
he had never before so openly declared
himself. Mrs. Bradley looked up with
secret sympathy at Annie, who abrupt
~ left the table. her supper untasted
and work-strained. but she was mother
and she understood.
Hiram" she said, as Annie left thu
room to see about the work of the kitch
en-, "haGn't we better wait until morn
ing to tell her about the milk wagon
She is awful hit with that doctor ant
what with all her pride, it looks Xix.
coming down on her pretty hard
Her pride will be her downfall,
Numbered the man. bringing his ifs
down with force on the table. 1T is only
right that she should drive the new mill
wagon and save the hirin' of new man
AS for that DOCTOR The sound O
wheels on the road before the house ar
rested him for moment
THAT jabbering DOCTOR" he ejacu
lated, starting for the door.
LET me go, Hiram. I'll tell him
THAT Annie can't see him; if he's s.
stuck on the family, III"
But Mrs. Bradley was out of the room
With homely grace she stated at tn
door that her daughter was indisposed
1t was the first Intentional lie of he
life. With many expressions of sym
pathy. she while suprpessing a compre
hendial smile, Dr.. Haywood lifted hi
hat, and made a graceful retreat.
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