The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-04
The EVENING STORY
Ruby and r. E. d.
(By w. F. Bryan.l

across the fields, the heat waves
shimmered like an invisible jelly"
as Dabney Ferbush put it to his sis
| ter.
Il wouldn't go to town with the
handsomest man in the postal SER
vice. he declared laughingly, as Ruby
nrmiy stamped tiny foot on the floor.
don't think you're fair to the poor
chap" he went on, more seriously.
| suppose he becomes so hopelessly III
| love that, at the end of the season
when you go back to town, he hnds
the Parkvale girls dull and uninter
esting? Perhaps he will commit sui
| cide.''
| Il wish you would keep quiet" SAID
| Ruby hotly. Ct have to go to coWn
to get some silks for that sofa prov
l am making for you. If Mr., vn,,
kins is so kind as to take me IN you
should be grateful to him..
IF it's for that class pillow you re
making for me, I'll go in after II Eiy
| self. offered Dabney. 1t WIN go 800
Perkins the trouble of hitching up ana
| driving back here again. 1hae NJ
part of his postal labors.
Ruby stamped her foot again
at think you are perfectly horrlo,
she declared. "Just as though you
could pick out the right colors.
"a man ought to know his own
class colors," Dabney defended. 1ou
say 1 never do anything for you, anu anu
then when 1 offer to take a noS eIip
to town and walk all the way Dach,
YOU call me horrid. Here comes Peter
Perkins now. 1 guess I'll slide INTO
the house. Great emotions always up
set me-
He lodged into one of the low WIN
dows before Ruby could reacn MN
with the cushion she had caught UP
from one of the chairs. and his mock
ing laugh rang out as the girl gave
little shake to her ruffled pluildse
and started down the shady walk 10
the gate. a =, tho
ruraI free delivery service was just
drawing up to the block ana she
climbed lightly to a place besioe the
stalwart young fellow, whose gao
smile showed all too plainly the plea
sure he felt.
"It was awfully good of you to come
hack this way for me-" she said, AFTER
her hand had fingered an instant IN
his muscular grip. DAB does MAKE
r,o1, q martyr Of himself when he does
ANYTHING for me, and Mr.. Slocum Will
not let US have the horses in the mar
vesting season. >,
II was only too glad to come back,
said Perkins, simply. on can |
blame Slocum about the horses. He
needs them all lust now. IF you come
to a real farm house to spend the sum-
mer you cannot expect a livery out
fit like those places where the plggest
crop they raise is summer boarders.
she said smilingly. 81 hate the rounu
of fashionable hotels. This has been
IDEAL
''Parkvale is pretty nice place"
he said refiectively. II don't know
when 1 ever spent more peasant
summer myself"
'You have done a very great deal
toward making things pleasant for
me-" said Ruby. 81 don't know when
I ever saw Dabney SO disobliging- II
it had not been for you, l don't Know
what 1 should have done.
1--WE are supposed to be polite" he
reminded; its in the regulations
Ruby wondered if the regulations
required him to hftch up 1resn Tlg
and drive her back to the farm after
her purchases were made, as he had
done score of times.
From the first she had been at
tracted to the handsome young driver
of the rural delivery. He was so I'M
shuddered at the name of Peter PER
kins It did not match his manner
nor his appearance, but she mad al
most forgotten his name except when
her brother leased her about IT, AL
first Ruby had simply utilized her in
herent f1irtations instinct, but later she
had come to realize that she loved the
mail driver and at times the knowledge
frightened her.
Peter broke the silence.
soon now, won't your" he asked. |
Ruby nodded.
new must visit an uncle from whom he
has expectations. and mother wants
me to come to her for few weeks.
She is in the mountains
"I'm glad that you're going" he
said abruptly.
"Glad!" Ruby turned in her seat
to face him. at don't think that you
r., cd
ct couldn't bear to think of your be-
ing here after I am gone" he ex-
claimed simply.
You are going? % she. asked. 81
thought you lived here"
''I was only here for the summer"
he explained. "I must go back home,
IT suppose you will carry pleasant
recollections of this delightful coun-
trv" she said "I know that 1 shall
ALWAYS remember this summer most |
81 want to take away something
else" he said slowly. Ruby turned her |
face away and let her gaze wander
wheat. at want to take with me your
promise that some day may come |
for you" he went on.
THAT some day 1 may come and |
claim you for my bride. May I, dear? %
CanfIv Ruby drew from his grasp !
The hand he had seized Her heart |
cried ives" but there came into her
mental vision the prospect of her am
bilious mother. Mrs. Forbush would |
never consent to their union, and Mrs. |
Forbush could make life very unpleas- |
ant when she elected. |
ct am sorry" she said softly, "but |
7 cannot answer you as you want me |
to. shall always remember most |
pleasantly this happy summer.
please do not ask more of me-
do "a he nd
ed bluntly.
81 do like you, she said. TT cam
not say more"
Peter hicked his horse with his whip