The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-25
THE EVENING STORY
when Margie Game to ia Rosa.
[By Ina Wright Hanson.I

When Margie Came to IA Rosa
by Ina Wright Hanson.1 Il
The mustard had welded California
plain to plain, binding them with its
golden bands, when Margie came to
FL Rosa.
You had better go after her.
mistress Of Ell Rosa you are the only
one of US who can talk with fingers to
the poor, afflicted child"
Having nothing to, do but idle away
my vacation. very gladly took the
ten-mile drive from e. Rosa in the
hills. to the little board station on the
track where I was TO meet Margie
coming out of the north. As drove
along, reviewed the Signs one uses
in the deaf and dumb language, glad
that had learned them on q certain
other idle vacation.
No child alighted from the long
train, but a young slender woman
with hair colored like the fields of
mustard through which had passed.
She came directly to me. somewhat
timidly, but with no indication of ner-
vousness. She caught up tiny book
Fastened to her chatelaine, and PEN
ciled rapidly:
Are you from Ell Rosa?"
Instantly my fingers went into COM
mission, and the lighting up of her
delicate face was well worth seeing.
II am not a very rapid talker," 1
said, when we were driving toward the
hills. Fortunately the horses were fat
and lazy, and needed no particular at
tention. "but with practice 1 shall do
better"
"You do beautifully she flashed
back. 81 am glad L do not have to
do the writing--it is so slow. I have
the proverbial woman's tongue, only
multiplied by ten. That's dreadful.
isn't it?''
answered mournfuily. or it would.
have been mournful if my fingers
could have shown expression. 81 won
der why I thought you were child.
supposed you would bring your
dollie with YOU
teddy bear. 1 suppose you thought I
was child by the way auntie talks
about me. 1 get lots Of petting every
where go. and honestly like it,
She was very attractive, this silent
Margie. Silent is not the word at all.
either, for she was anything but silent.
She was the embodiment of motion.
graceful. alluring motion. Her yellow
hair blew gently in little rings about
her delicate face. in which the color
came and went necessarily; her eyes
glowed and laughed and changed from
gray to almost black with her chang
though denied the power of speech,
could smile with q score of meanings;
and her huttering, slender fingers
spoke grace itself. By the time We had
driven through the mustard fields. and
wound around the sweet scented hills.
I was regarding this girl with strange
feelings, considering the fact that 1
was a confirmed celibate. or thought
I was.
How Margie loved f1owersl The
roses which gave the house its name.
the pinks, nasturtiums, the red geran-
iums which Californians are inclined
n drIh n MI N a n aep
them like golden butterfly. But bet
ter, think, did she love the wild things
of the hills. When we came in from
our horseback rides, fragrance of
Monardella, and southern wood, and
Good Medicine" mingled their sweet
ness, and foated from her garments
like incense from about some beautiful.
golden crowned -sunAgoddess.- a=as assass=s
We never saw that girl morbid, she
was like spirit from paradise with
its brightness still touching her. One
day I asked her how she could be so
when she had been so cruelty afflicted.
Nothing can work me damage ex-
cept myS elf" she answered. Some one
has said that the harm we sustain, we
carry about with US; and that we are
never real sufferers except by our own
fault
THAT doesn't prove up. Is it your
fault that you are deprived Of hearing
beautiful words, and making them ?"
Perhaps your idea of damage and
spelled. and her eyes were very ten
der. ct have SO much that other
wise I might have missed. I have
learned as much. I have learned to be
happy whether 1 am happy or not"
Here she laughed. "Oh, that can be
done; but do you know. 1 have a little
private theory that just around the
corner there is waiting for me so great
a happiness that I won't ever have
to pretend any more. 1t will be so
happiness will be impossible. It's
sure waiting just around the corner"
Another day we sat on the hillside
idly watching birds and butterflies and
creeping things at our feet.
Are you going to- stay here, as
your aunt wishes ?" I asked her. S
ooh, no." The answer came quick
ly. "In few days am going to
fer deaf and dumb at Salem
life would be pleasanter here for
you and safer" I objected.
What is life?" she spelled quantity,
but what am thinking OF all day i?
/ had best be thinking of helping
not to be just day-dreaming. You are
going into the world presently your
"That is different. I am a man, and |
You are only a dear little loving child |
Margie, and you should be protected. |
Let me take care of you -Margie. and |
let me begin now. VIII you be my |
wife, sweetheart? You know how I |
love you"
Margie shook her head regretfully, |
but with no show of yielding. .
eff were like other women. Frank,
I would put my arms around your |
neck, and say yes so happily--ofl; so |
but I should be a drawback |
to you always, boy. In after years,
you will thank me for hurting you
now"
1 pleaded, but pleading was no use
with Margie. Back of the gentleness