The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-27
THE EVENING STORY
Miss Leonard,s Heather.
(By Kate Cleves.)

May Leonard's brother Robert met
her at Manila when the long ocean
voyage was ended and took her at once
to a hotel.
After you've had one good nights
rest ashore you will feel more like
tackling this cross-country ride to
Pambuan." said Robert as they ate
their dinner.
'It sounds fascinating" said May,
her bright eyes drinking in the strange
sights about her. els the country un-
protected? Is there any danger now %
mot a particle assured her broth
er. The route we are going is main
road, well travelled, and picketed along
it's length. It will only take us five
hours to ride down to my place, but
I knew you would be too weary to
start this afternoon. Now, tell me
all about the folks at home.'
May proceeded to do SO at such
length that it was very late when they
separated for the night and it seemed
that her head had scarcely touched its
get up and start on their ride before
the heat of the day.
The dewy freshness of the morning
awakened her to new life and the gal
lop along the fine road brought the
color to her cheeks. Behind them at
some remote distance there Jagged
bullock cart containing Mays trunks
and boxes.
Robert Leonard looked at his sisters
shining gray eyes and the WispS OF
brown hair blowing against her pink
cheeks and he felt thrill of pride in
her. Wait until his partner. Arthur
Scoville, saw her! The only trouble
was that Scoville might fall in love
with May and, marrying, might lose
all interest in the dyewoods industry
and go back to the states. Scoville was
interested in other ventures. and of
dr7Bf nj n live ont
there.
BY the time Robert had his sister
married to Arthur Scoville, May had
marveled at his long gloomy silence.
whats the matter, Bobby?" she
asked cheerily.
He frightened up at once, chiding
for spelling glorious ride by
fears. How is the par
son getting along?" he asked.
May Leonard blushed under his
scrutiny. The "parson" was the pastor
of the church in which May was an
earnest worker and the young divine
had devoted himself ardently to win
ming the heart of his fair parishioner,
so that everybody expected wedding
bells to chime when May returned
from this years visit to her brother.
"How's the parson ?" he repeated
teasingly. instantly Forgetting all about
'eVerv well," said May seriously.
"Oh. Robert. he came to see me the
night before I sailed and he impressed
it upon me that in coming out here to
this unenlightened country 1 was given
an unusual opportunity to do Gods
work He said he could see Gods
hand in it,
"How?'' asked Robert shortly.
"Oh-he said 1 must lose no oppor-
tunity to forward the great cause of
kristianity-and believe 1 promis-
fro III
promised him-not to marry him p
roared Robert
Dear me. nor cried May. 81 had
to tell him that long ago. We are
simply friends-and he is my pastor,
you know"
Robert nodded grimly. What did
he ask you to promise?''
THAT 1 would lose no opportunity
to push forward the good work That
1 would address every man, woman
and child that came my way and ask
them-if they were Christians and all
that-but som mellow I don't think he
really knew just how embarrassing it
might be, for some of the natives here
look so intelligent, and it's awfuliy
hard to tell them apart from the for
eigners
seThere are missions here" observed
Il know it. Mr.. Nash said could
have such fine opportunities going
down into a new country, away from
the missions. He said I could be a sort
of scout, and when I had found a suf-
ncient number of heather here could
notify the mission and they would send
some workers down.
He must have thought you were
out to work instead of play.
growled Robert.
Il suppose he thought I wanted to
help all I could-he is very good,
Robert, but I'm afraid I must be very
wicked, for I don't really want to ad-
dress strangers on such a personal
topic
In the distance Robert Leonard saw
his house against the dark back
ground of the forest, from which his
laborers were bringing out a fortune
in dye-woods. Close at hand was a
patch of sugar cane growing along
side the road and standing among the
green canes was a man with a curved
knife in his hand, cutting down sue
culent stalks
A white straw hat was pushed back
on his handsome dark hair; he had a
brown skin, flashing black eyes and
a strong brown throat where his white
shirt was open at the collar.
Nav pulled her horse to a stand
still and looked back at her brother,
who was tagging behind. Bobby, 1
believe I'll begin with him! she said,
pointing toward the man, who. appar-
emily unconscious of their approach,
was swinging away at the sugar cane,
as he worked.
ssFire ahead" said Bobby sitting a
laugh ''I'n wait in the shade Of this
tree. But why not confine yourself
to converting the women and children
and let the men alone ?"
She rode close beside him and ex-
planned Il told Mr.. Nash how re-
pugnant it would be for me and he
said that was all the more reason