The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-31
The EVENING STORY
A strawberry Man..
(By Mary W. Mount.)

Auo tram tnat nad brought her to
annie. In the heart Of Louisiana, drew
away from the small wooden station.
Win Its disappearance there fell upon
Mlllicent Bayliss a feeling of unutter-
able loneliness and remoteness from
everything that had made up her life. |
She had left city swept by gusts of
snow She found herself looking down
the widest avenue she had ever beheld, |
an avenue bordered by squat frame |
shops of an ugliness new to- her in
architecture, and shaded by towering
water oaks. Even as she gazed, the
spell of vivid skies, of warm airs; the |
pungents odor of young foliage and a.
fragrance of violets and sweet olive
wrought upon her senses. Mellow in
tonatlons of voices in 1aggard speech
struck unfamiliarly upon her ear The
level unloveliness of Antics CONNER
cial thoroughfare became less harsh in
It's development Of sweet sounds and
doors; Its perspective of empowering
green.
No insistent cab driver thrust his
nano and shouted into Mi1,icent's face.
She looked about forlornly
musical voice suggested that per-
maps she was stranger and needed
guidance. In another moment she was
walking along the uneven brick side
walk beside her new acquaintance.
This is the hotel" announced the
dwelling that had lacked paint for
many year. I'm afraid it may be
full of strawberry men, but I'm sure
mrs; Blossom will make room for you.''
me strawberry men have taken
everything" explained the landIady
But ones goin' tomorrow and I'll clear
his room for you this minute He can
crowd In with some of the others. You
could Sit in the parlor till dinner-we
have dinner at noon-while make YOUR
room ready"
Gould one get to the Cypress Grove
Plantation today?" asked the girl.
Weii-l-i-seems to me wouldn't risk
1t today. It's most twelve now, and
strawberry men have taken all the
teams. They amt one to be had in the
town But you could speak for one to
take you out tomorrow. It's a good
twenty miles from here"
In the room to which MiIlicent Raw
HISS was ushered long usage had worn
upholstery and carpets into a mono-
tone Of dfngy brown. The girl leaned
back In her deep chair and wondered
whether, after all, she could find in this
dreary spot distraction from sorrow
what was there here to make her for
get That ceaSeleSs cry of her heart1
Why had Allan Strong abandoned her?
Her mind retraced the passion of her
ne Wnen this man had been all but
declared lover; when she had known
that he loved her and-ah, the pang of
II! He had known that she loved him.
mere had been no words of confession
out she had never doubted that one day
Sne would wear for him the golden fet
tiers of wifehood Her heart throbhed
painfully as memory held UP with cruel
d1st1nctness the vision Of her wooirg
and then-without sign of warning
ner abandonment. Allan Strong. with
pressure of his hand, had gone ,ltterIv
out Of her life
At first she thought the death of his
grandfather, whose heir he was, had
9elalneo him. Days went by and won
der grew to wounded pride that sought
to dull its pain by constant change of
scene. Allan Strong had given IN So
c1al life that winter. This, Millicentl
reasoned, was natural. But he had
remained in the city and never once
attempted to see her. She tried to
nate him: she tried to forget him.
seeking forgerfulness, it occurred to
ner TO visit southern plantation that
mad been bequeathed her, and person
ally send to their owners gifts left in
her charge for them Now she re-
GREETED her impulse. She regretted 1t
the more as man strolled into the room
where she sat and two or three at
tempted TO engage her in conversation
Ihese M1lllcent realized, were the
strawberry me1l, whom she had SUD-
posed to be growers of berries They
were, she discovered, buyers of berry
crops. who came in March from Chi
cago. ST. Louis and thereabout to pur-
chase and shii whole acres of berries
to various houses
Her pulses beat quickly at the sound
scarcely believe the evidence of her
eyes when Allan Strong entered the
room. Immediately Mrs. Blossom call
ed him to the hall.
A wave of relief swept over Mill
cent Bayliss. With self possession
came the determination to treat him
with rigid 0ol1tenesS unless she should
ma an opportunity to ignore him as
completely as he had ignored her
Allan Strong at once became the
subject of gossip that bewildered her.
Too bad" remarked one, that old
man Strong never LEFT a cent to his
grandson. Everybody thought he was
his heir. The boy had to come right
down to brass tacks.''
wonder why he was cut off %
odd man married his housekeeper
during his last illness, and left her
everything
"The boy had grit, anyway. He's
forged ahead up to strawberry buyer
for his house. At that rate he'll be in
the firm some day.
Tumu1tuouS emotions possessed Mill
licent- Perhaps Allan had not voIun-
tarily abandoned her. He was not the
man to come TO her a beggar. Mrs.
Blossom addressed her:
Mr.. Strong says of course YOU can
have his room. He's got his luggage
out. Won't you go up and take off
your hat? I got to serve dinner right
away"
She hurried into the dining room.
The strawberry men trooped after her.
Millicent stood looking up into Allan
Strong's eyes and insisting that on no
account would she deprive him of his
room. She must go to Cypress Grove
plantation that afternoon.
Her old lover seemed to experience
difficulty in gaming composure.
What brought you here ?' he de-
manded impulsively.
of fho !
to distribute came to Mil1icent's aid
ST came on business she faltered
"On business! YOU" he cried
ST beg pardon, Miss Bayliss," he |
80