The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-02
THE EVENING STORY
In LdttIe SPRINGS Canyon.
(By Addison Howard Gibson.)


took in great breaths Of the ozone of
the Arizona foothills.
This is living!" she cried, throwing
out her arms THE folks back home
would not know me. These three months
spent in this wonderful climate have
made me strong and young again. And
this weather! Back in New Hamp-
shire they are having snow, while out
here 1T is golden sunshine all day long
My heart is full of the day-ThankSgfv
ing! When I write back home that
spent my Thanksgiving out in the foot
hills, all alone, the folks won't believe
me. THEY'LL simply say I'm learning
western ways fast-to manufacture
some big ones to boom the country"
The last of August, Ivy Norris, pale,
thin, and thirty, had arrived from the
east to teach the Lone Mesa school.
The cowboys on Mr.. Towers ranch.
the coming Of the cultivated little wom-
an as great joke. Her skirts, top
boots, and the handsome little revolver
and cartridge belt furnished them ma
terial for comment for weeks. Even
Warde Hughes, the foreman, was
amused at her first attempts to mount
and ride Pilot, the gentlest pony on the
ranch. But he equally enjoyed the
pluck with which she persisted in learn
ing to ride and the use of the little re-
volver that looked so comically danger
Gus in her small white hand.
On this Thanksgiving morning, the
handsome foreman had refined in his
cow-pony behind thicket of mesquite
trees, and was watching faithful old
Pilot carefully bear his fair rider up
the trail of Little Springs cayon. All at
once he became aware of the fact that
few months had wrought a great
transformation in the school teacher of
Lone Mesa. The thin form had round
ed out into graceful curves; the pale
face had become plump and rosy; her
awkwardness in the saddle had given
place to an easy manner that could no
longer be ascribed to a novice.
She's like a girl of twenty" he solilo-
quized. by Joe! She's the neatest edi-
ton Of her species that ever struck
these foothills. 1 wonder If she knows
where she is going? She's good ten
miles from the ranch-house now and
still going on. Well, she's a pretty in
teresting stray and I'm going to see
that she doesn't get entirely lost"
With this thought Warde Hughes
entered another trail, then cautiously
made a detour coming back to the
concealed back of some manzanita
bushes. he watched Ivy Norris come
on up the rugged trail. She was
singing a stanza of an old school song
that he remembered. and the notes
foated W to him on the warm No
vember air. sweet and clear as an
angels song. Suddenly she ceased and
she glanced quickly up the slope.
Then catching Up her revolver she
sent shot whizing off into the
out Of sight down the ravine.
"Ah," exclaimed the foreman ad-
miringly." she made Mr.. Coyote hit
the dirt as well as a soldier could
have done it,
Guiding the pony to the springs,
Ivy dismountea. While Pilot drank
in long, satisfying quaffs from one of
the little springs. the young woman
looked about her, noting the steep
granite walls that surrounded her, the
deep azure Of the sky and, the golden
glow of the sunshine enveloping every
thing like O loving mother keeping a.
winters chill at bay. Then she saw
Ward Hughes approaching from an
opposite direction.
MAY I join you, Miss Norris7" he
asked.
Certainly. Mr.. Hughes" she an
swered. SIT is noon, isn't it?" giving
an odd little scuint at the sun as If
she were already enough Of plains
woman to estimate the time by its
elevation.
at is about $780," said Hughes, |
with the old-timer's accuracy.
Then it is time for my lunch, and
I'm as hungry as that wretched coyote
1 shot at. 1t is Thanksgiving day, Mr.. |
Hughes. have beef sandwiches, |
olives. cheese, crackers and some fig |
waters, in my saddle-bags. With New
England hospitality. 1 ask you to help |
me eat them"
cattlemen to take lunch at noon." he
returned, looking into the bright eyes
of the little woman before him, st am |
glad to break the custom on this occa- |
SIGN by accepting your invitation"
Under a live oak they spread the |
paper napkins which Ivy had brought, !
and arranged the lunch upon them. |
Hughes soon caught the happy spirit |
of his companion, and throwing his |
mask of conscious restraint aside. he
talked and laughed with her with the |
pleasure of a boy. |
1.-THE spring must furnish US tea"
she said. handing Hughes her pretty |
silver folding cup. He quickly filled |
it from the spring near by. Then he
passed the cup to her. 'I did not |
think of having company" she said. |
apologetically, touching the rim
daintily with her pretty lips. ct wish
I had another"
I'm glad you haven't" protested
Hughes heartily. ct like this one BEST"
taking the cup from her hands and
drinking.
For a minute Ivy made no reply. Then
she looked at the man sitting opposite
her as If in doubt of his meaning. The |
next instant she smiled frankly, and
said:
''well, I think do, too
The half-serious simplicity of her
speech amused duSneS, ana throwing
back his head he laughed in real en-
Ioyment.
I'm sure We'll get on all right" he
said, still laughing.
Hughes declared there never was
such a lunch! The greatest Thanksgiv-
ing feast in the land was nothing COM
pared with this. The cold, pure water
which they slipped in such good COM
from the one cup he was sure
outrivaled the nectar of all the gods.
All too soon it was finished, and they
sat back under the live oak silent, but |
happy. Suddenly Ivy realized 1T was
hn hod To