The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-29
TIE EVENING STORY
Beans-and Hearts.

I
pulled it over her face.
A strong athletic young fellow
sprang out of the car and, cap in hand.
approached the porch.
| Good morning. he began cheerful
| ly. viii you be kind enough to sell
us some milk and bread? We left the
/ hotel at Kingston this morning for
run, expecting to get breakfast at Hell
lers inn. but we have lost the way and
now we are starving
Nobody has to starve in this coun-
try said Jeanette's Aunt Nan. II will
| be glad to give you breakfast just as
soon as Hannah can cook it. I am
Mrs Gerding,' beamed the genial
woman. ASK your friends to come
in
| "I am Robert Mayfeld," said the
young fellow. Better known as Bob"
His eyes had quickly taken in the
modish gingham dress and shapely
hands of the girl stringing beans.
rs this your daughter he asked
boldly.
mo, my niece, Miss Jeanette Rath-
burne, Mr.. Mayheld." There was con-
scious pride in her voice when she
spoke of the girl.
In greeting him jeanette lifted her
head only for a second, but it was long
enough for Robert Mayfeld to see that
she was beautiful.
TAKE your party to the spring down
that path If you want milk right away.
will send glasses promised Mrs.
Gerding.
Won't you show us the way. Miss
Rathburne ?''
'I would like to but am pledged to
string these beans for Hannah
Tom called the newcomer from
the porch, take the girls down that
path to the spring Wen ring a bell
when breakfast is ready? Now for the
beans!" he laughed 81 am an expert
One Of the girls glanced back as
Il hnnnnf
tied down to work again.
"Godd gracious, Tom, look at the
country beauty. thought there must
be a pretty face under that bonnet
rustic beauty can be- Aunt Nan heard
her say as she and little black Mary
with tray of glasses overlook them.
Aunt Mans eyes snapped when she
came back to the house and called
Jeanette inside.
"Go Dress" she insisted. Put on
something fine. Those foolish girls
called you rustic beauty. Make them
look to their laurels, Jeanie.'
Jeanette laughed, excused herself to
young May1eId and hurried upstairs
There was nothing rustic about her
when she came down. From the tips
of her dainty slippers to her beautiful
head she looked as If she had just
stepped from a fashion plate.
''Ye gods!'' cried Mayfield. you are
Helen of Troy come back to earth to
drive men mad
''Can you keep a secret?'' She bent
toward him, her eyes dancing. "Your
city friends think that 1 am a rustic
beauty. Aunt Nan wants them disil-
lusioned."
you will more than succeed. Those
girls might have shown better breed
ing than to say such a thing when your
Aunt Nan has been so hospitable," he
said, his face darkening as the light
laughter of the girls coming up the
paths reached his ears.
Never mind laughed Jeanette. |
''They are ike good many people
grow in the country"
The sunbonnet girl was gone and
Mabel and Lenore Martin gasped at
the substitute.
Why how do you do?" they cooed
sweetly when Mayfeld introduced |,
them.
jeanette was cooIly polite but to |
Tom Sibley she was a model of gra-
cious loveliness. At table she readily |
showed her superiority over the other
girls Her quick wit and cleverness |
held the men like magic
II think said Aunt Nan when her |
guests were leaving, her sharp eyes
noting Mayfeld's efforts to find some |
excuse for returning, that perhaps |
some day you will get hungry for Han
nah's beans and want some. You help |
ed string the ones We expect to have |
for dinner tonight, so any evening con- |
slider yourself an invited guest here"
How hnei How splendid. Would /
tonight seem too soon 2'' he asked /
quickly and boyishly.
mot bit Of it. Glad to have you" |
"You can't come tonight. Bob"
pouted Lenore, who had overheard. |
ITS the big hop, you know, and we
can't get along without you" Her
smile failed TO win him.
He had seen that Aunt Nan was
comm ent, and since she had been 50 /
kind and considerate he did not hesi-
tate to answer:
s'You don't believe a hop could hold
me from here. do you, Lenore? More
over, a fellow viii go after rustic |
beauty you know. It is such a re-
lief from the painted saams of real
beauty we find in town
He smiled at Aunt Nan when he
said it and asked If she did not agree
with them
"Of course, am for the country girl
since I live here most of the year"
you know we thought that you and
Miss Rathburne were really country
people this morning when we came.
Wasn't that funny"
VERY" said Aunt Nan. dryly. and
turned to Mayield- what time shall
we look for you?"
feWlI it be objectionable to come as
early as 52''
NO. indeed. Wen be glad to have
him. won't we, Jeanie?''
When dinner was over that evening
and jeanette and young Mayfield were
sitting together on the great porch
fragrant with the breath Of moon