The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-24
THE EVENING STORY
Love and the Mails.
(By Franklin Tremper. }

| Everybody said she would either
| give out or give up before the end
| of the year. 1t was hard work for an
able-bodied man, and Madge was only
| a slim young girl, so frail that, ac-
| cording to Miss Winter, she looked as
| if a breath could blow her away. Her
| father had no business to let her do
it.
| Madge thought she knew her father
| and herself better than her neighbors
| did or possibly could. She listened
| when they advised, but she said moth
| ing. Duty and necessity had laid out
| a certain way for her and she must
| travel in it.
Her father had never been strong
| in health or successful in business
\ but that was no fault of his. After
her mothers long illness and death
he had found himself possessed of
only $100, an old wagon and Pinto.
Pinto was mustang, clean
limbed, wiry and tough as knot.
| Drive him fifteen miles a day and he
| was tractable as a sheep; let him
stand in a week and walls and ropes
were not able to restrain him. He
was not worth 500 to sell, but he was
worth ten times that to Madge, who
| loved him.
She and her father talked over
| their affairs seriously. Westmore did
| not offer. a variety of paying employ
ments.
There's the rural free delivery
| routes" Madge said at last when she
had thought of everything else.
Pinto would be a dandy for making
time. Dad. why don't you try
'sWhy, 1 Will" cried her father,
| Frightening. "I'n put in my bid this
very day.
good and Pinto could do his share in
earning it. All the summer Mr.. Hill
rode faithfully. His pale face grew
brown and he began to cough less
and eat more.
Late that fall something happened.
1t was at the time of the settled rains
which ought to have been snow and
the roads were hub deep In mud
wherever wheels went. Madge's s
father came home one night wet and
shivering. Next morning he was sick
and doctor had to be called.
"a bad cold,' he said. you must
MT stir out of the house again until I
tell you to-"
Don't worry about the route. dad"
Madge said when the old doctor had
gone. "I'll go in your place. You
know I'm perfectly capable"
She would listen to no protest. She
made up good fire and put fuel with
in her fathers reach. And she would
try to return on time so that he need
not worry about her.
This was the beginning of Madge's
winter work. Her father did not i'm
prove. Each day she and Pinto went
bravely to their task The work was
the only work at her hand to do and
she must do it.
One day three miles out of West
more, on the return of the old wagon,
which had been valiantly laboring
through the mud at Pinto's unwearied
heels, 1t Sagged and sunk suddenly at
one corner. Madge gave little cry as
she saw the rear axle was broken.
What should she do? There was no
house near and it was bitter cold.
As she pondered she hear the sound
of a team approaching behind her.
Presently there came in sight a buggy
drawn by a pair of lively bay horses,
which young man in a light fur over
coat drove.
"HaIlo! What's the matter there?"
he called. Then as he saw Madge's
worried girls face under the mans
cap he lifted his hat. "I beg our par
don," he said.
In an instant he was out of the bug
gy and beside Madge, bending to ex-
said, shaking his head. "It's goner.
Are you the carrier?"
AS Madge nodded in a discouraged
way he added brightly: Now, I'll tell
your rig on behind mine and unload
your traps. That will make your wag-
on lighter and it may travel to town
all right. I'll drive you there and help
you what I can with the rest of your
delivering
Madge could scarcely thank him for
gratitude. She had never seen the
man before, but she thought she rec
ognized the team as one that occa-
sionally careered at full speed through
the Westmore streets. She helped him
transfer her traps and get Pinto in
place. Then she climbed into his bug
gy and let him tuck her up under his
fur robe.
Pretty cold?" he said peeping into
her face. ''WelI. I'm going to get you
home as quick as can. BY the way, I
haven't introduced myself yet. My
"And mine is Madge HILL said
Madge. She was beginning to feel
warm and reassured.
In spite of the delay it was only a |
few moments past 6 when Don drew
his bays to a halt at Madge's own door. |
I'VE made excellent time" he said. |
NOW. Miss Madge, If you are willing, |
Wick's shop and leave it to be repaired. |
don't think Tom has gone home yet"
."Oh, you're so good! You've taken SO
much trouble" Madge .breathed. II
can't thank you enough
Her father sighed with relief she
entered the house. He had a good fire,
the table set and was frying meat and
potatoes for supper you dear. brave
was only half man"
Now. dad, you shan't say that"
Madge cried. Then she laughed softly.
1--WE had such an adventure" And she
told him what had happened, adding:
'Fwho is Don Cary, dad?'
why, he must be one of the Carys
up Northfeld way" her father said,
and could tell her nothing more.
Next day when Madge went to get
her wagon she found it not only re-
paired. but, paid for. After that she
often found something for herself in the
large box at the junction of the West
more and Mortified roads-a box of
candy. a new book or a pretty basket
of figs or dates. There was no sign to
tell whence they came. but Madge