The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-22
TIE EVENING STORY

2 = . = , 2
eBy Edith M. Doane.) J

10y E4O1Ln 0DduG-4
Everybody IN Windsor Falls was
'shayin' it,
And because the sun is tickle mis-
tress-first brooding over the hay fields
capriciously hiding herself behind the
heavy clouds of sudden shower-and
also because it is well known that
haydn weather" waits for no man, the
farmers toiled in the hay fields early
and late, pressing their families into
service and laying eager hands on all
the outside laborers they could ind,
It was at this time that Jim Holden |
floated into town from no one knew !
where and hired out by the day He |
was tail and lank and the gol derndest |
worker / ever see,' drawled Hiram |
Sears admiringly as he stopped for
moments rest in the shade Of spread
| ing oak.
Miss lowering, s.the Searses' summer
boarder," slowly lifted her eyes from
her book and glanced lazily over the
hay field to where long, lean ngure
skilfully pitched masses OF fragrant
| hay on to q waiting wagon She nod
ded indinerently and went back to her
reading. When she looked up again
the wagon had disappeared IN the d.
recttOn of the big, red barn ana inc
tall, tireless figure, eblivious OF her
presence, industriously tossed the re-
naming hay as he advanced steadily in
her direction.
So far the summer had been a dis
/ appointment to Miss Leyering- She
had come to the little New England
village, fresh from college, and with
the most ardent intentions Of studying
nature and the natives-real human
people, not mere society manikins-at
first hand. Incidentally she proposed to
Introduce hitherto unknown breadth
and beauty Into their starved lives 10
/ a noneyed and spoiled young woman
defeat comes hard, and Miss LeVerlng
did not yet admit that the types had
| proved fatty tiresome and seemed per-
fectly satisfied with their lives as they
"Ah!'' she said softly as the tall
figure doomed nearer. What possibil-
ties might Turk under that wlry ex-
terror! She leaned forward.
Il beg your pardon, my good man,
she called in clear, penetrating tones
.but it must be very warm in the sun
Wouldn't you like to rest a while IN
the shade?'' Then, dismayed by her
| own hardwood, Miss lowering blusheQ.
The man gasped and dropped his
fork. For a second he stared blankly
at the vision under the oak tree;
| dainty vision in cool muslin. all rose
bloom on a creamy ground. Then he
hastily pulled his hat from his head
and approached her, cycling her with
an expression between admiration and
apprehension as the meaning of her
words filtered through his brain.
THANK you, miss" he said respect
fully dropping in a warm, disjointed
heap under the spreading branches
There was a twinkle in his eyes at
variance with the gravity of his long,
thin face It was not customary for
the young ladies of Windsor Falls to
address the help as my good man"
Miss Levering felt distinctly cheer
full. 'Haying is hard work., she be-
gan alphabetically.
1T is. he admitted. Hard of
itself and hard because it leads to
nothing beyond itself" he added with
a CLEAN of inspiration.
Miss 1evering's eyes rewarded him
/ for his discrimination. She wondered
vaguely If he vas not rather above the
average type. Not that he was good
lookingZlis face was too long and
thin for that-but he seemed receptive
} and he certainly wore his coarse
clothes with an ease a city bred man
might have ~enyied. It was a pity that
name evidently fitted for better things
should 60 to waste in this little village.
He needed a wider horizon=as broader
outlook Well, she would see what she
could do for him.
So the couple sat together under the
oak tree very often, or wandered
through the shaded country lanes ana
ne listened, always intent and respect
1uL while she expounded her hopes and
aims for humanity in general and for
him in particular.
7 know I've no right" she said earn
estly, but you will forgive ne-won'L
you? Your life seems so petty-so mar
row want you to feel the stress of
life as men in the city feel it. The
struggle-the endeavor-the thrill of ac-
And Holden agreed with her and
smiled upon her with a look behind
the twinkle in his eyes that made her
come near to forgetting her station in
life and her altruistic aims generally.
Inc sun was near the western hills
one day before the stage came, bearing
its quota of daily mail. That she n1fght
not miss the glory of the sunset, Miss
LeVer1ng took her letters and magazines
and turned up the road to where. from
her vantage seat on a rock she could
see the splendOr of the hills outlined
against the flaming sky
Her letters were soon disposed Of and
she opened a magazine and idly turned
| the leaves; then suddenly sat rigid
spenbound-while the letters on the
page before her burned themselves into
her consciousness.
THE critics''=so ran the ma ga zine
place J. Holden Morse's Under New
England Skies among the six greatest
books of the year. It is in its fifth
| large edition. Mr.. Morse is at present
| in New England, where he is SAL to
be collecting material for another
novel" etc, etc, and underneath was
the authors Photograph long. lean
face with humorous twinkle in the
smiling eyes.
This then explained the vague re-
sem blance she had always felt but
coulo never denne. And she had tried
to broaden his outlook-to teach
him
All oblivious to the yellow spIendor
of the glowing sunset. Miss lowering
dropped her head upon her arms and
cried.
She did not hear him till he dropped
on the rock beside her and picked up
the open book.
DON'T Please don'ti'' he pleaded
contritely. Forgive mel never
/ n r7ca7
to have types for a new work I'm
doing. could get what I wanted so
much better this way. Surely you IN
derstand2