The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-11
The EVENING STORY
The Road to Already.
(By Temple Bailey.)

(By Temple Bailey.)
"How very extraordinary" said
Christopher Kent. He sat up and sur
! veyed the red covered cart drawn by
a very plump pony that had stopped
/ by the side of the road.
| A girl in a smart costume of tan CO.
vert climbed down from the front seat,
| and led the pony out of the shafts.
/ tied him with a long tether, SO that he
/ might crop the juicy sod, and then
| returning once more to the cart.
helped a somewhat fragile but smiling
| lady to descend.
'iweII of all things!" said Christie
pher, heIplessly.
: But words failed him as he watched
the further proceedings of the girl in
| tan.
From the depths of the cart she
| brought forth a little folding table
which she proceeded to set up in a
! place screened from the gaze of
| passing folk by a hedge Of wild honey
/ suckle.
On the table the girl set shining
/ copper kettle. two cups. two plates, g.
i small teapot and various tin boxes and
| little glass jars. whose gay labels pro-
| claimed the deliciousness within.
TITS a picnic" the young man de-
cided; and, as the older lady lighted
| the alcohol flame and 1t burned be-
meath the copper kettle, Christopher
| sighed.
| In ten minutes he was due at the
| Sunset inn for his supper. He would
| eat it with the rest of the surveying
| party of which he was the head. They
| would have fried ham and boiled po-
tatoes and pie, and the only woman
would be the girl who waited on tho
| table, and who was big and frowsy
| and stupid.
And here, within stones throw OF
where he lay under the great oak.
were two ladies making tea as daintily
as if they were in their drawing room.
He laid down his book. Its a ro-
mantle situation" he reflected, "and
far be it from me to evade it." With
that he stepped jauntily into the open.
He saw the girl lift her head and
look at him, and as he went toward
her she rose and came forward.
ct am so glad" she said, "to see
a place near here where I can get
oats for my pony. I gave him the last
this morning"
81 was just coming" Christopher
replied gravely, ito find if there was
anything I could do for you. 1t is
an unusual circumstance, might say
a great treat, to see ladies up here.
I felt that must offer you the hos
pitality of the mountain road-the
keys of our city, as it were"
The girl gave him a quick glance,
noting the strength of the tall figure
I and his air of good breeding. ct am
kind, and now if you will tell me your
. name I will present you to my moth
, err, Mrs Ames.''
The older lady acknowledged the in
PRODUCTION genially.
"You must stay and have tea with
u.s." she said. 81 am AFRAID we can't
offer you much but timed things. But
they are really good, and Eleanor
was able to get some eggs and some
lettuce this morning, so she is going
to have salad and make an omelet
in the chatting dish"
''Then your picnic has been an all
day affair % was Christopher's ques-
ton.
ct has been an affair of two
months Mrs. Ames said, with a smile,
1--WE live in the cart. -.
you live-?" words failed the
young man as he looked at the two
graceful women, each with the indie
Unable something that proclaims the
sheltered woman.
1t seemed incredible that they
should trust themselves alone in the
mountain wilds alone with their pony
and their frail little cart.
But the daughter was explaining
smilingly. I'VE lost everything" she
said, ain the panic last fall. And
mothers health failed at the same
time. The doctor said that she must
have the mountain air, and we had
the pony-he was a pet from my little
girl days-so we bought the cart and
started on a trip of adventure.
1--WE have been on the road two
months and haven't had a single I'M
comfortable experience. Mother has
gained ten pounds and we have had
a lovely time
But isn't it bit dangerous" Kent
asked.
1--WE were a little scared at first"
Eleanor admitted, especially at night
there was always an owl to boot or
a dog to howl or frog to croak, but
after we got used to it we slept like
babies"
Kent shook his head. There's a
pretty tough class among the miners
up here. It's different lower down,
where you come in touch only with
agricultural communities. But some
of these men are very ignorant and
very rough"
please" the girl cautioned. "please
don't tell US about them. We want
to reach the top of the mountain and
I am not a bit afraid"
She was making the ome1et as she
talked, turning it expertly with a thin
knife and taking it up when it was
puffy and brown.
at is food fit for the gods" Kent
commented when she had served it
with the salad and cream cheese and
crackers
eff you only knew" he continued,
chow good it seems to eat once more
of the food of civilization. You should
see the cooking we have at the Sun
set inn
'"This is the food of Already"
Eleanor told him. Mother and call
this the perfect land. And tomor-
row we shall reach the heightsI"
The way she said 1t thrilled Kent
with a new emotion. How beautiful
she was with the dreams in her eyes!
"You must let me watch over you
while you are here he said after |
silence "I am afraid some of these
haIf-savage foreigners may make it |
unpleasant when they know you are
unprotected"
But Eleanor would not hear of It,
Indeed, we are safe" she protested, |
"every one we meet has treated us
with such courtesy"