The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-10
TIE EVENING STORY
Thrust Upon Him.
lBy Otho 3. senga. }

squire Hart looked the young Iel-
low over keenly.
Mini giving his >pudgy hand to
the clasp of the long, thin one extend
ed in greeting, Ralph Reed. Ell? And
what do you do? Football. 1 suppose,
ike the rest of these donkeysi"
Reed laughed good humoredly.
No, Mr. Hart, 1 wouldn't stand the
ghost of a chance in rush. I'm on
the track team
Hes the champion sprinter, papa"
interposed Elsie, eagerly. He won five
points for the blue in the intercol-
Her father frowned at her en-
thusism and Reeds thin, brown face
colored.
You ought to run" grumbled the
squire, continuing his examination of
the young fellow; you're built like a
greyhound. or grasshopper."
Reed, outwardly at ease, hinched in
wardly under the squire's keen
scrutiny. His compact with the pretty
Elsie would be null and void without
ner fathers consent, and he felt that
ms athletic career was a detriment in
the eyes of the older man. He was
not at all encouraged by the remarks
that followed.
7 don't believe in it" irascibiy.
Boys go to college to study-or ought
to; and they make a business of some
KIND or foolish play. If those football
reHows," pointing to the three other
young men who were his daughters
guests for the spring vacation, had to
work one-half as hard saving wood or
ploughing, they'd think they were ter
ribly abused"
Some one called Elsie and she hur-
l leu away giving pleading glance at
ner ioVer which he interpreted as
counseiling him to patience
And as for running" continued the
squire with increasing choler for he.
100 mad seen the pleading glance. ssas
Tor running, why should a man Of or
olnary courage care to excel as a run
n ne. Turning is an accomplishment
The blood rushed to the dark face.
put Reed spoke quietly and courteous
There are things to run for as well
as tnl4gs TO run from, Mr.. Hart, and 1
courage came TO me-"
It was a merry party that roamed
over the fields and through the Woods
searching for the earliest spring flow
ers; that rode and drove and sang and
Young Reed and his fair hostess car
RED heavy hearts that made gavety
an effort and laughter a mockery The
squire had refused to sanction their
engagement, to listen to any sugges-
future A0A 'iiS
I'm watt he said grinly. until you
nave shown that you can do something
besides run!''
Apparently obnvious to the sports Of
me me guests at Harris Holm, the squire
hao kept keen eye on them all. He
ratner admired the logged pertinacity
With which Reed took his daily RIM Of
three or four miles over the country
roads He smiled grimly when he saw
the young fellow start out as if for a
walk wearing a long raincoat over his
running toys.
Doesn't mean to give any unneces-
safy ofIense to the 'creweI PARENT. Z"
chuckled the squire, appreciativeIy, but
same"
'It,n be rather quiet and lonely at
the nome tomorrow" soltloouized the
squire as he drove along, smiling the
Iresh. clear air of the bright spring
morning. The lads and lassies all go
today l wish I hadn't been quite so
sharp with Elsie and that young fellow
ne seems a fine, manly chap But what
on earth does he want to run for ?" end
ING irrltably. Hello, Bartlett, what's
the matter with your horse?"
He had reached the top of q long
steep hill, and overtaken a neighbor
with heavy load of rock.
stepped on stone that rolled, and
gone as lame as a lazy mans excuses. -
Bartlett answered characteristicallv
the load down for you" suggested the
squire, its all level after we pass my
mouse You can lead yours down sit
still, Betty Bartlett, and hold on tight -
playfully addressing the little girl
perched on the seat NV horses are
risky. you know"
Bartlett had locked the wagon wheels.
preparatory to making the descent. but
as the squire lifted the tongue for the
other horses to be hitched in the lock
chain snapped and broke. and the heav-
lily loaded wagon started down the hill
He shouted to Bartlett. WHO. ham
pered by the four horses, lost his head
and only bawled, Whoa Hark whoa1"
Hart held on the tongue and braced
back with all his strength, but despite
his efforts the wagon went flying down
the hill like an engine on down grade
Hold on tight. Betty" the squire
managed to scream.
He knew that il he dropped the tongue
the wagon would be tipped over in
stantly and that there would be small
chance indeed for the life of the, child:
so he. too, held on tight" and ran as
If fleeing from death
GO on. horsey," cried Betty, in great
glee, Ego fasterl''
The squire couldn't spare breath now,
even to groan. The heavy wagon with
a ton of rock behind him. crashed and
roared, bounced over the rough places
IN the road, struck fire from cut stones.
and the man ran till his legs seemed
merely rags fiuttering in a fierce wind
Almost at the footI If only he could
hold out q. few seconds more! And then
he tried to close his eyes-for there
crossing the road, directly in the path
from which he dared not diverge. was
a little scarlet-clad figure drawing a
child's cart!
Bobby-his own little Bobby
He tried to pray=he tried again to
close his eyes-and then q. streak of
blue dashed by him. the scarlet spot
was caught up and rushed to safety.
He jumped instinctively when he
reached the little cart and it was
crushed to pieces under the laundering
wheels
He had reached the level. he could
feel the sIackening of the terrific speed,
but he still ran on, miles It seemed to
him now, before he could stop the
demon that was forcing him onward
GO on horsey, giddup!" cried the
a. IL