The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-29
THE EVENING STORY
A Howling Swell.
(By Anna Phillips Seq

| (By Anna Phillips See.)
Mile Brown combed her long
bright hair by the light of the rising
sun. 1t was only four o'clock on a
summer morning, but farmers
daughter in the haying season must be
up and about betimes.
AS she braided her locks and pin
ned them up coronet-wise about her
pretty head. she thought of Ed Mar
ltln-b1g handsome Ed-Who loved her
she was sure. His every look said so.
And Ed was coming today to help her
father with the haying. Her heart
huttered at the thought of waiting on
Ed at mealtimes. After supper he
might perhaps join her on the porch.
IThen-maybe-
At her mothers hurried call, she
slipped into her prettiest Bingham
dress, a rose pink that matched her
cheeks. and fastened down the steep
Istairs.
The Brown farm was large and sew
eFal acres were given up to grass.
These acres were moved by hand by
Mr.. Brown and his neighbors. In hay
ing time the hamlet of Rhodes Valley
Twas a cooperative community.
By half-past five the men were
swinging their scythes through the
ldewy grass, Ed Martin among them.
Ed, however, did not lead the mowers.
A slender, wiry little man, by name
Sam Gay, set the pace.
Sam was as plain as Ed was hand
lsome, but he was the best mower in
the valley, and the quickest witted
man. His jestS and hearty laughter
kept the men in spirits through many
men, but in the presence of women
he was tonguetied. Mile, and every
one else, knew that he adored her,
but he never seemed to get beyond an
embarrassed greeting.
At 10 o'clock Mile carried pan
taf i'm in n n al
to the mowers resting in the shade.
Sam Gay jumped up and went to meet
her, taking the heavy jug from her
hand.
| Ed Martin remained comfortably
loutstretched on the grass. His abund-
ant flesh made exertion distasteful.
Millie thanked Sam casually, but her
brightest smile was for the big fellow
with the clustering curls. He was so
good to look upon that she overlooked
his laziness.
After the men had laughingly drunk
lher health in the spicy SWITCHED the
girl started back to the house. She
had gone a short distance when she
heard a commotion. She turned. The
men were beating the grass with sticks
and Ed Martin, very white, sat against
the stone wall. Sam Gay was bending
over him.
"what's the matter?" cried Mile,
running to Eds side.
| A
holding up his wrist. MY arm was
living in the grass and all of sudden I
felt a sharp main. Something rustled.
Then heard rafting noise. per-
! haps it was a rattlesnake. They say
that once in while one comes down
ooh, NONSENSE" broke in Sam Gay,
lcheerfulIy. mo rattlers have been
Iseen here for years. The fellows will
find your snake and prove that it was
harmless"
II hope So" moaned Ed. 'See, the
lbite's swelling already. 1t must be
poisonous
| Sam dropped ON his knees and be-
gan to suck the wound. Miss Mile"
he asked. has your father any
whisky? That would De gooo Tor Eo'
anyway
Mile started toward the house.
Fear for Ed winged her feet as she
Isped over the rough stupble, and IN
a few minutes she was telling her tale
to her mother.
| practical. went straight to the tele-
phone and summoned the doctor.
Meanwhile the men in the field had
put Ed Martin into the big hayrack
and sent him to the house with sam
Cav. Sam drove the rack carefully to
the door, On a mattress of hay lay
THE big man very pale and moaning at
intervals
When Ed had been made comfort
able on the parlor sofa, M1llie TOOK
Sam to one side. "Oh, did they ma
the snake?" she asked.
| mo, they didn't" he replied with
a puzzled expression, but no one be-
lieves for a minute that there are
any ratt1ers around here Yet we are
sort of worried about Ed. When he
tried to put his coat on he couldn't
even get his arm into the sleeve. As
Isoon as he thought he was swelling
all over he dropped in a faint can't
understand it. He doesn't look any
different-does he to you?"
mo, only paler," said Mile truth
fully. But he must be dreadfully
sick to groan so. Oh. I do wish the
doctor would come"
The doctor did come in a few min
tutes, driving his raw-boned horse at
lively rate. Every joint in the rusty
buggy creaked when it stopped at the
browns hitching post.
| The doctor looked unsympathetic-
Tally at his despairing patient. Guess
lyou dreamed snake bites. Looks to
me like a bee sting, but I'll cauterize
lit to ease your mind"
ooh, doctor, I'm afraid I'm going to
/ die" moaned Ed. I'm swollen ter
lribly 1 couldn't even get my arms
Into my coat sleeves.
| well. you don't look any fattern's
usual to me- the doctor remarked
dryly, but maybe you are I'll give
you dose thatH make you forget
Iyour woes, anyway.
When the opiate had Gained the
Terrified man into slumber, Mile and
her mother served the dinner to the
linen. Outwardly the girl was very
a turmoil She had seen Ed Martin as
The really was-a coward.
Il Several times during the meal Sam
Isprang to help her, his homely face