Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08

In a blue print gown. and with her hair
glowing with a thousand brilliant hghts'
Fvylna crossed the road, crept beneath the
pasture bars and walked slowly toward the
willows which bordered the brook.
Tall was Evylina, with the slender dig
nifty and erectness of lonely young pine
The ugly calico gown could neither mar
nor hide the strength and grace of her
square shoulders nor her easy swinging
stride. Nor C1uld the mass of red-brown
hair. coiled low. conceal the slender neck
which supported the fine head as if proud
of its task.
Old Perry Reeves and his nephew slowed
up their team and watched the girl from
the road.
'Doggone itr' said old Perry. "ain't It
shame that girl with a face and keer-
i6ge like that should be so blame tall that
man has to stand on a cheer to speak to
herr"
Uncle Perry's nephew looked after the
girl reiiCctively. 'Gads," he replied. Il
don't see where the shame comes in. Wom-
en- should be strong and tall. They need
II as much as men. Who is she. Uncle
Perry?"
Uncle Perry thrust his tobacco to the
other side of his mouth.
Shouldn't think you'd n forgot her. even
lift you hain't been here for six years.
''What-little long-legged, red-headed Eva
Shortridge! Uncle Perry, are you turning
irto a joker? 1 never thought 1t of you.
Why. the last time | saw little Eva she
waS-she was"
The voice of Uncle Perry's nephew sud-
denly ceased. Certain memories of little
Eva-forgOtten memories that he discov-
cred were too dear to him to share with
Uncle Perry-came flooding back. Again
he looked across the pasture, where there
was now but a receding dash of blue and
bronze, close to the willows
He shook his head slowly. NO he
9aid, lit can't be she, Uncle Perry; you're
hreaming,'
The older man smiled a toothless, tobac-
co-staired smile. 1t was worth a smile to
have produced sensation in this college
bred nephew of his.
Fact" he said. Don't it beat cat fight
ing? Her ia Their and mother died of ma
lary-why. ii must have been right after
you was here last time. She was such a
spunky brat, wouldn't live 18th no one, nor
take no help. Father left her enough
money to last her two or three years-got
a few chickens en- a COW, en- little gar
den en- she's lived along by herself. en-
growed like a weed all the time. That's
what made her so tall reckon: wor<in' In
her garden and chasin' round at a man
work It's too bad. 18th a face like that,
that she's so blame tall. Don't have much
to do 18th folks. Get up, Katy. we won't
reach the store for a week..
Uncle Perrys nephew brushed the dust
ed a bulldog pipe. on whose bowl class
year was carved aggressively. This ac-
complished. he looked down the village
street with its dusty, weed-grown yards,
then up at the summer sky.
We'll I'll be hanged" he said.
Uncle Perry brought the team up with
flourish in front of the general store and
post office.
"Hirim." he called out, ANY mail?"
AS no answer came from the store, he pre-
pared to descend while his nephew tied the
team.
Now I'll be trading fer hour or two.
Jack" he said. viii you come In er
amuse yourself?''
'Oh. I'll stroll round, guess" answered
the young man, and as his uncle disap-
peared into the store he started slowly
back down the dusty road.
''Geer' he said aloud, ITS all just the
same-the yellow dock and the mullen by
the road. And there's Zeb Hunters yellow
hound. The sky Is just blue. and there
are Just as many crickets. That snake
fence hasn't been mended yet, and that's
mint I'll bet a dollar!' He stopped and
plucked a bit of green from the roadside,
and shifted at 1t, delightedly. "Um," he