The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-08
The EVENING STORY
The Little Red House.
(By Jerome Sprague.

Brady, whizzing along Riverside lin
his big automobile, was a lonely man.
Before he had made his money he
had lived on a farm, and in his trips
back and forth from town there had
been the greetings of good neighbors
and the welcome of the farm hands;
and at home the sociability of the
meals at the great table, where maids
and men gathered with the family.
There was no sociability in New
York. For days he had wandered into
the theaters and through the hotels,
avoiding instinctively the men who
would have cultivated him merely for
what they could get out of him, but
finding no friends -.e-.-
At last, in desperation, he had
learned to drive an automobile. and
spent his days in making long trips
into the country, hobnobbing with the
rails to talk to him and leaving them
wistfully when they returned to their
toll.
Today as he sped down the drive,
with it's rows OF cliff-like buildings, he
yearned for some CHEEKY spot where
he might eat and drink with friend.
And it was at this moment that his
eye was caught by sign in the wine
dow of the little red house.
The little red house was set at the
very shabby neighbor to the stately
white apartment house that fanked
1t on the left. 1t had a sloping roof,
few vines chung to the porch, and
had attracted Brady's notice, and the
sign read:
FRESH CHERRY PIES"
Brady swept up to the curb and
form filled the low doorway. and shut
out the sunlight, 80 that, at first, he
could not see clearly the figure be-
hind the counter.
81 came in to ask about the cherry
pies" he said. "Can I eat one here?
Or must carry it away with me?''
There was a ripple of laughter, ana
Brady moved to one side and saw tnat
the person IN charge was a girl, 1resn
faced, pretty and trim.
you can eat it here" she said, tax
ing a pie out of the case. people
usually take them away, but there is
little table and a chair, and L could
make you a cup of coffee"
"Could you?" Brady's tone was
eager. I'm awfully hungry, and 1t is
so pleasant here"
She was cutting the pie but she look
ed up as he said that. "Oh. do you
like it," she asked. II hope every one
will I am just beginning business,
and I want to make a fortune
Brady, who had made his fortune in
oil, was much interested in THIS more
picturesque method
do you sell many?" he asked.
Twenty yesterday" she conhded.
ST worked at night to get them ready.
But it seemed as if every one wanted
cherry pies The people in the apart |
ment house came, and 1 have sold out |
everything today except this one pie"
1t was beautiful pie-with dell
cate brown crust overlaid with pow
dered sugar, and all rosy ana Juicy
and delicious within.
'I don't wonder that people came"
commented Brady, as he SAT down at
the little table which she had spread
with a spotless cloth.
She was like a child in her delight
at his compliment.
cit was the only thing in the world
that I knew how to do" she said. and
tie income that my father had left me,
decided to bake for living"
She was sitting opposite him, ana he
liked the Inconsistencies with which
she gave him her confidence.
ct lived in the country when I was
a little girl, and my mother taught me
to cook" o,.r too, praav
said.
''I thought So" she said, with
wise nod 81 think that is why 1 could
tell you things. One can't always be
sure of city men,
Don't you hate the city," Brady
asked.
She shook her head. NO" she
said. "It would be beautiful if one
had friends or any one to care"
well. that's what I mean" Brady
said. TITS so dead lonesome
He had finished his pie, and he got
I'D reluctantly. I'm sorry" he said.
but 1 guess I'd better CO." Il
She went to the door with him
what a beautiful automobile" she
said, when she saw it.
Eyes, it's pretty nice" Brady
agreed, "but it isn't much fun driving
around by myself"
'.No, 1 suppose not" sympathetic
;ally.
There was a moments silence; then
Brady spoke his thought boldly.
Let me drive you out into the
She hesitated. 81 don't believe I
ought" she said.
Brady looked down at her. Cant
rou trust me?" he asked.
Her eyes met his steady blue ones.
Yes, she said, simply. and went to !
put on her hat.
wept along between the green fields.
IF / sell twenty pies a day at twenty ,
i've cents, that will be five dollars
lay I ought to clear 500 month" !
md she leaned back with a sigh of
content ,
Brady, whose income was 800 or !
more a day, asked with interest, ,
what are you going to do with all )
hat money!"
'Save it and buy a cottage In the :
with a fireplace and a cat
nd dog and GOVT"
Brady's soul was stirred by this pic
ure of domesticity, and he asked, en-
iously:
Twill you bake cherry pies?''
eyes" she planned. "I am going /
o have a cherry tree and an apple
ree You have never tasted such ap- y
lie tarts as can make"
Brady turned in his seat and looked at ,
er. "I am going to taste them" he
lformed her. ST am going to come and
80 Won in YOUR cottage"