The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-13
THE EVENING STORY
The Bandbox Lady.

the man in the Dig red motor saw
nothing except the tired droop of the
shoulders under the coat. They day
was hot. the road dusty.
He STOPPED his motor. IF you will
pardon informally" he said, "Pn take
you into town
The girl looked up at him. She had
blue eyes-tired blue eyes. They seem
ed to weigh and then to accept his
trustworthiness.
yes" she agreed, "Tm-Pm not very
well, and it's farther than I thought"
He put her into the wide back seat,
Tito which she nestled with a weary
sigh. Then he drove toward town in
silence, holding himself all the time
a tired fellow creature a lift, although
with the thought of the blue eyes it
was not easy.
At the edge Of the town she said
t;n1idly, Twill you let me out here?'
AS there was on each side of them
only barren stretches of waste land,
with three great oaks in the fore-
ground, Robson turned and looked at
her in establishment
1T can just as well take you the rest
of the way
His eyes swept the landscape. But
where DO you hve?"
She blushed, then laughed little.
In my bandbox." she said.
He stopped his machine and turned
on her sQuarely.
"Can you wave your wand anu
change your box into a house?"
mo, but I can make you. cup OF
tea in exchange for my ride"
Good" he said, and drove the ma
chine into tho shade of the oaks.
The Little lady alighted and look on
her hat and coat. revealing thus in the
Sunlight the red gold of her hair, the
snowy whiteness of her blouse.
Choosing a cleared space unoer the
trees. she set down the bandbox, open
q alcohol
teapot, two cups. sugar and a niue
crap box of tea. Then closing the band
box she made a table of 1t.
He sat down and watched her as
che MT the kettle on to boil Child"
he said suddenly. tell me how 1t nap
Her head went up and she caught saa
her breath quickly: Then she s saio'
You mean that L nVe-tnls way
~Did YOU ever know" she asked,
"Nhat 1t is to work all Gay in a stuny
room sewing on heavy garments, with
fired neople all about you sewing, 100
10 crow wear and heartsick and at
last to lose your placer
Robscn's heart went out to her; she
was so little and frail and helpless,
and she was good, any one could tell
that from tn. purity of her eyes, the
Grm curve of her mouth. He nad
known so many women whose hpS
were not firm, and whose eyes :,
she told him. ST lost my place ana
when they paid me off I went into the
nark and sat on a bench and wondered
what I would 90. And on announcer
bench was tramp ne nao eo tlns a .
from the country and there was
daisy in his buttonhole. And all al
| cree I knew 1 wanted to go 10 tne
country. too. 1 wanted to De ira ~
"a respectable one" She snlleo d ~
tle $50 I packed everything in TINS
hsndbox. 1t isn't as heavy as nag.
had a little money, and that pays TOT
nv lodgings ct night in the farm
houses, and during the day L cooA niS
own meals by the roadside. o5
The tea. was ready and she poured
If. and when she handed ROBSON MS
| cup he asked: ..,;,
| sHow Iorg have you done II IT. =
"A month" she said. and this Is
the end OF my journey. 1oiiloiio"
so"Sn nv soul" Robinsin was think
ing of the roll Of bills in his pocket
- life IF isn't fair" she agreed. But
am better and stronger than L was
| think now that 1 can race the Will
ter" ala ro+
49, bar 70 face it alone. He had met
! noanv women. but none that had. IN an
! ho1r crept so completely into ms
| heart. ,, NAV
| he MANNED to have it now.
lie R p- her next words destroyed his
| castle of dreams. chm
sSThere was another reason, sne
said, and blushed, why ran ~ a y
There was man-"no vance,
| ry me-" 1000 oAnd VOL, ?''
| he questioned. ,,d
IT wanted to marry him. she ss'U a.
"3rt his pay is small and most OF II
must be sent west to his old parenIs.
He Is ambitious and If he married ne
couldn't get ahead He begged me u
marry him, but I wouldn't; knew
that marriage would hold him BACK,
and knew that for his sake must
Robson began to see dimly the
| tragedy that was here.
"And you will work. Ootn VI '0"'
"t There came into her face white
radiance I'VE have love-" she WINS
nered. che and l." And then suddenly
| she started to her feet
! Far in the distance Robson heard the
| sound of some one whistiing-a cleai i,
! trilling sound. The gtris race "as
he under the oaks" she said. He Is
Then am in the way?" Robson
asked.
.eYou have helped me; he Will be gao.
| But Robson. knowing the Thoughts VI
men, was not so sure ,,,
perhaps he'd rather find you
mo: stay" she pleaded. and few
down the road to meet the broad-snoul-
dered young fellow who came Swinging
| along toward them.
| Robson knew what the men or ms
own world would have thought, ne
suspicion that would have cloudcd
their faces, but in this mans race wss
infinite trust In his eyes, at least
the queen could do no wrong
| IiiS go -. that Won gave her