The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-19
THE EVENING STORY
The Beggar Maid.
(By Annie Hinrichsen.)

81 adore cows and I intend to de-
vote my life to them
ITO cows?" He stared at her, his
understanding dulled by amazement.
COWS" she repeated. Thorough
breds shall open dairy at Heathe
Hall"
why, Edith. you can't. You must
not You"
ct can. I must and I shall. The
settlement of fathers estate has left
me nothing but Heathe Hall. 1t is
dilapidated old house with a few acres
of blue grass pasture. Cows, then,
shall be my career"
you'll marry me. I'll remodel the
hall and We'll use it as summer
home. A few thousands will make it
quite habitable."
| "Oh,'' she answered indifferently,
III don't care to marry you, not even
as means of support. I know that
you are the richest man in the coun-
ty. But as a business proposition I
prefer-cows. But, Perry" she add
ed, you may, if you like, be my at
torney, the attorney for the dairy.
Every thriving, successful business
needs an attorney"
your attorneys advice to you is
| to drop this nonsenSical talk and mar
ry him"
ct intend not to do it,
Several weeks later the proprietor
\ of the Heathe Hall dairy came to the
office of her attorney.
Its Joab Coates" she declared bit
terly HE has arranged to ruin my
business because my dairy is a great
deal better than his and Is getting his
trade. He wrote me. when beat him
| on the city hospital contract, that 1
should soon find myself without
dairy"
you beat Joab Coates on the hos
pital contract? How did you do it'll"
81 went before the hospital pur-
chasing board, which for years has
| bought large quantities of milk from
Joab Coates, and asked them to let
the contract by bids. They agreed and
| 1 won Now he is trying to ruin my
business"
"what Is he doing ~
HE is a heavy stockholder in the
Capital Electric Railway, and he has
convinced the company that its new
branch line must go through my
land, parallel my beautiful brook
where my darling thoroughbreds drink
and spoil my farm! If the line goes
away from me, I shall have nothing
left but my broken-down old house
and a herd of pastureless cows.
eff Joab Coates wants the line to
go through your land 1t Will CO. he
controls the company and he has SUI
; fcient influence with the courts to
have your land condemned and sold
The wisest thing for you to do is to
sell at a good price. I'll manage the
sale for you and get the highest pos
sible price out OF the company. In
sorry, little girl, for your disappo1nt-
ment and the failure of your enter
prise. But a woman cannot expect to
compete with"
"a woman can," she retorted. "She
can do anything man can and TINS
woman will You'll not manage the
sale for me. There will be no sale. L
shall continue to run my dairy and run
| it without any mans assistance.
| The board of directors of the Capt.
tai Electric Company was in session.
Joab Coates had contemplated
lengthy explanation of excellent rea-
sons for building the new branch
Through the Heathe Hall farm. Perry
Mcclure, in defiance Of the commands
of the owner of the Heathe Hall dairy
to let her affairs alone, had risen to
argue the rights of his unappreciat1ve
client.
| The door opened and young wom-
an entered. For a moment she Stooo'
hesitating near the door. She was
very pretty and she looked frlgnteneoI;
Mr.. Chairman she asked, may L
speak in this meeting? am Ed1th
Ellston, owner of the Heathe Hail
dairy
| The chairman, a white haired man
of sixty, smiled assuringly. certainly
you may speak in this meeting, ne
decreed "Come up here and sit down
with US and tell us why you don |,
want the company to buy your land
AS she walked up the room Joab
| Coates's eyes followed her wonder
lingly.
| She sat down near the chairman
land smiled with frank embarrassment
at the directors. She did not glance
at Perry McCune. In the big leather
chair she looked very small and very
lyoung.
"Mr. Chairman" Joab Coates was
on his feet. He was middle-aged
and merry eyes. Before Miss Ellston
speaks / want to say something more:
Inn ready to change nv mind ABOUT
lsplittin' up the Heathe Hall farm. L
don't make no fight on little, curry
headed, pretty girl who's try1n' 70
make her Twin out of cows thougnt
she was a cross-tempered. sour, ugly
old maid, judgin' her that way just
because she beat me on contract. II
she wants to keep her land and run
1.-THE best dairy in the county, I m ready
Ito help her. Our line viii take some
Ibody else's land
The board broke into cheer OF
laughter and applause. For the first
time Edith Ellston looked at Perry
McCune He was neither smiling nor
lappIauding.. In his eyes was a look
THAT made her own soften and brought
to her lips. sudden, new gentleness.
"Mr. Coates" she said when she
could be. heard, 81 came here to fight
for my dairy. But-but now-now 1,
too, have changed my mind. 1 am
willing to sell my land to the com
Ipany and my thoroughbreds to you, If
lyou want them. have decided to go
Tout of business. The Hall 1 shall re-
ImodeI and use for a summer home"
i You made a good bargain with the
company for your land and with