The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-27
THE EVENING STORY
winner OF the Race.
(By Virginia Blair. J

BLUM, where they stood looking over.
Down the road below them, driven
pell-mell by youth in hunting pink.
came team OF razor-backed hogs
Around their necks were wreaths of
huge yellow chrysanthemums and the
long yellow ribbons with which their
driver tried Intellectually to guide them
were of shining yellow satin.
Behind them quartette of stampeding
sheep. violet-wreathed and harnessed
with violet satin. dragged after them a
laughing, romping youth, also in hunt
ing pink.
The two contestants in the strange
race were followed by a shouting, ex-
cited crowd. A little woman in scarlet,
Joining hands with two stout gentlemen,
brought up the rear. and they all disap-
peared around the curve together.
We'll, Jock" said Hugh Macdonald,
its poor way to treat the pigs, and
you could take better care of the sheep
than that
The collie wagged responsive tail,
but his eyes were still fastened on the
road.
Hugh. following their direction, said,
Oh" quickly, as a girl limped into
sight
She looked UP and waved her hand at
the minister.
I'm comingY' he shouted, and Jock
led the way down the winding path.
When they reached the road they
found the girl sitting on big stone.
Il have hurt my ankle" she said. 81
made them go on without me-"
Were you following that?" The min
ister jerked his head in the direction of
the motley procession.
Yes" Her cheeks famed. ut must
seem awfully silly to you.''
Its cruel. the minister condemned.
Jock could take better care of the
sheep
Il don't believe they thought of
that
DO they ever thinl1?" he questioned
her..
I'm not sure,'' she confded, but
they're awfully good fun
think it was just as good fun when
you and I used to pick wild flowers and
row in my little boat on the lake. Those
were nice, simple times, Ellie, before
these society people came up here to
make fools of the country folk, and your
father made his money selling land to
them.
'Oh, you don't know Them" she ex-
cused, they are very good-hearted. One
of them gave a lot of money to the
poor-and we're going to have tableaux
for the old people of the parish
MY old people are well taken care
Of" he said sternly.
Her face fell.
But we want to have the tableaux.
am going to be Juliet
ITO whose Romeo?"
Freddie Fairfaxs.'
THE pig driver?"
How unpleasantIy you put it," she
said. He is awfully nice"
There was silence for q moment, and
then he said: DO you love him, Ellie %
Everybody calls me Eleanor now
she remarked irrelevantly.
do you love him?' he insisted
"Oh, no, 1 don't love any one
His dark face was very tender as he
said, And yet I once had the great
happiness of believing that you loved
that We weres to be married
and that you were to live in the par
sonage with me, and we were to min
lister to my people, and grow old to-
gether in a beautiful union"
She gave little cry. MY ankle
hurts" was her explanation, but her
eyes were full of tears.
He knelt beside her.
LET me take off your Shoe" he said,
81 can bandage it with my handker-
chief
In silence he united the pretty low
boot, and drew it OFF gently. In silence.
too. he wrapped his handkerchief
about her slim ankle
There he saids and looked up at
her as he knelt. Does it hurt now,
dear hearth"
Don't" she said, and her lips trem-
bled, don't call me that
81 shall always call you that in my
heart he said
Then he squared his shoulders and
stood up.
''I'n help you to get home"
His arm went around her and she
chung to him. I'm afraid can't walk
1T hurts awfully."
protested, "Oh. no. they are coming
back"
The pigs were rampant now. and
squealing on the homestretch. The
sheep were so frightened that their
eyes were wild. and they stumbled
over the rough road.
"Oh. poor things, poor things"
Eleanor said as she saw them.
The minister caught the violet rib
wooIly steeds up with a jerk.
"Unharness them he said to the
man in pink.
The little woman in scarlet.
Miss Lester was to award the win
1er," explained one of the stout gen.
.lemen.
But the minister was pulling of the
violet wreaths.
.sTake them home, Jock" he said to
he collie, and the protesting crowd.
They happen to be my sheep, and
,an't have them killed in this way
Freddie Fairfax came back with the
1--WE would pay you for them" he
said, insolently.
In a flash the minister faced him,
Who cried, Indignantly, do you think
le cares about the money, Freddie?''
She drew close to Macdonald as she |
aid it. and the minister thanked her |
With his eyes. Then, as he noticed her !
Ieadly paleness. he cried: I'VE must |
ret you home at once" in in explana-
ion to the others, Her ankle is in |
pretty bad shape"
Freddie Fairfax dropped the lines, |
nd the pigs made a break for free
om. Gee" he calculated, "I'n bring /
ny motor car"
No Eleanor refused, and waved !
i'm away. Run after your pigs, little
10Y. They're in the clover"
With one excuse and another. she got
id of all of them, then she held out
er hands to Macdonald.
did you care, Hugh" she asked, |
ristfully, when he spoke that way
hnI1t giving Won money 2''