The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-04
The EVENING STORY
Her Red Rabbit.
IBy Virginia Blair. ]

IrlunQHanrlJ.
That's NICE" said the weary woman
at the sewing machine. "Only don't
let him fall out
He'd fall and fall and fall if he did
wouldn't hep"
Yes, and you'd have to walk and
walk downstairs to get him.
And I'd have to walk and walk ur
again said the small girl. fascinated
by the repetition. "and walk and walk
and walk
She stopped her sing song. and leaned
out.
There's a man down there" she re-
marked, "a man in gray hat and he
comes every day.
Does hep Her mothers voice was
absent minded. She was so busy. The
sun shone on her bent bronze head
the little curls on her broad, white
forehead. The small girls mother was
very young, but her eyes were sad.
The small girl made the rabbit
prance back and forth and back and
forth, and still the man with the gray
hat stood on the corner idly.
Then suddenly a dreadful thing hap
rened. The red rabbit, being moved
too rapidly on his red cotton legs, lost
his balance and fell down the length of
tile tall tenement.
oh" the small girl shrieked. "he's
hit the man with the gray hat"
you'll have to go after him" said
her mother and come right back"
I'll walk and walk and walk sang
the small girl as she started.
On the lower landing she met the
man in the gray hat. He was big and
tall and the small girl thought that
his eyes were beautiful.
Il was coming up" he said.
"Well. you needn't now" the small
girl told him. land thank you for my
rabbit"
She held out Ter hand for it. Thank
you," she said gravely, when she had
II safely tucked under her arm.
She turned to make the long climb
upward, ard then, struck suddenly by
a thought, she asked HIM. What makes
you come and stand on the corner every
cay?'
He laughed. I'm locking for some
one," he said, ''some one who is mid
de in some of these big houses on
this big street-and can. find her.
ooh. is it fairy story?" asked the
email girl eagerly, and she sat down
On the step and spread out her small
short skirts SoLiably.
Yes; it's fairy story" he said,
and sat down beside her, land I am
for the castle where the prin-
cess is imprisoned, and I'm the poor
knight who has wandered and wan
dered and can't find her"
But some day you will find her."
comforted the small person, land
you'll give her a kiss and you'll
live happy ever after"
I'm not so sure" said the rueful
knight, that she'll let me kiss her."
why not?"
well. you see the princess and the
knight quarreled awfully, and the
princess ran away from him and said
she would never come back
different from any fairy tale I ever
heard"
yes; it is different
did the princes have golden hair 2" !
the small girl demanded, eager for
details.
mo, but it was brown with golden
lights, and with little curls on her
Like mothers" said the small
girl, happily.
and looked at her closely.
Then he put finger under her chin
and turned her little face UP to him.
Such a baby face-but with the firm
chin, the deep gray eyes, the broad
ow brow of the woman he had loved.
BABY he whispered, what is
your name?"
Lucille Dudley Morse"
my God He was crushing her
n his arms, red rabbit and all. until
she gave a little squeai of protest.
Then he said, beg pardon" and
yet her down.
Come" he took the small hand in
ais. 1--WE will go and see your mother"
But the small girl shook her head. |
You mustn't she said. Mother
10 busy. If she doesn't sew. we can't |
nave supper, you know. At least, |
mother can't-but just the red rabbit |
md me, and we only have bread. But |
When she sews hard all day we have |
CUP sometimes and meat, and ons |
Law We had IA
He stood looking down at her a |
What are you going to |
AVE tonight" he asked.
I'm not sure" said the small girl, |
but guess it's just bread"
You run along up TO your moth
r." he told her abstractedly. Good
"; I'll see you again.
HE said he'd see me again. the |
mall girl told her mother. who was |
Waiting anxiously at the top of the |
tairs.
''Who?"
'The man with the gray hat. He's
knight looking for a princess. and |
hey Quarre1ed and she ran away
nd he Rugged me when told him
ny name"
Her mother caught her breath
quickly. what did he look like 20
HE had nice eyes" said the small |
;irl meditatively. land he was big
oh" the little mothers face was
White, che mustn't come here-he
mustn't
But he did come. and behind him
colored waiter bore a tray loaded
With good things.
The little mother stared at him
Ike one who sees a ghost. 'Why
ave you Gomez" she asked.
flush He glanced at the man
7ho was setting the tray on the
able. let me give the child a feast.
nd after that. If you think best. I
yill CO."
The small girl clapped her hands.
Mother, mother" she cried. there's
hicken and everything
They ate and drank. the small girl
apturously stuffing herself and the
ed rabbit the other two with little