The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-06
TIE EVENING STORY
Miss HarrilI's Quest.
(By Virginia Blair.)

| IIC SAAPlSI OF 1V1nB. ana,
above all, she liked to watch Mary
Dean get dinner in the old farmhouse
kitchen, where the sun made a square
of golden light on the stone floor be-
meath the west window, and where the
/ fragrance of delectable things came
from the pots boiling and bubbling on
the wide stove.
And Mary liked to have Miss Har-
rill in the big chair by the west win
dow, an incongruous figure in her
dressed hair. But Miss Harrill had a
| way of getting at the heart of things,
and Mary, who had lived so long with
the two old people that her youth
seemed dropping from her, felt that
| through the keen eyes of Miss HarrilI
| earth.
do you believe in dreams?'' was
Mary's question as she rolled out the
| crust for a chicken pie.
| In some Dreams" said Miss Har-
rill with her quick smile. which
| kind do you mean, Mary? Waking
ones or sleeping ones?"
II dreamed last night" said Mary
slowly, that a man 1 cared for came
4 to me in a phantom ship without a
crew. And as I watched the ship
| rose from the waves and scared in
the air, and the face of the man 1
care for looked down at me from the
sky"
for what she knew would come.
DO you think it means that-he-
| is dead?"
The older woman shook her head.
II am afraid I can't tell you what it
means. But you can tell me how
| long it is since you cared"
Mary flushed. 81 don't mind" she
said. 1--WE were engaged. He was
the son of the old people here. I had
worked for them since my mothers
nj rrYHa p fo11 IN,
me thought it would be perfect to
stay here-as a daughter.
But the old man didn't think So"
she went on, without bitterness. "He
looked higher for his son. And when
the boy went away, because I would
not marry him unless his people were
willing, L was sent away, too. But
they couldn't get along without me,
and So came back. But Jim was
gone. He couldn't forgive me be-
cause 1 wouldn't marry him without
their consent, and the old man would
not forgive him because he would
not marry the daughter of a neigh
Dor who had been selected for him.
I've lived here SINCE" Mary went
on gently, and have hoped that lie
would come back. The old people are
good to me, and owe them a great
deal for their kindness to me when 1
was an orphan child
But you have paid your debt" said
Miss Harrill decidedly. IF Jim comes
back, you can get married and live
happy ever after"
Mary shook her head. st couldn't !
marry Jim unless his father said YES !"
Miss Harrin rose and shook out the |
folds of her gown IF Jim comes you |
shall marry him. Don't be silly, MARY |
You have done more for the cid folks |
than they have done for you. You have |
your own life to live
Wouldn't it be SELFISH, Mary ask |
ed.
''Self1sh?" Miss Harrill laughed de-
lightedly. MY dear child, do you |
know what wonder you are in this I
workaday world? In the cities men |
fight for happiness. and out here you /
let it slip by you without a struggle"
IF Jim would only come back" said
Mary wistfully, IT wouldn't need any
thing else to make me happy"
Miss Harrill, bordering on that state
ment, felt herself moved to play Fate
in the life of this pretty girl, who was
losing youth and joy because of the
selfish whim of an old man. She re-
solved that she would hunt Jim and
find him for Mary.
She located him at last far up the
coast. He was working in a yacht
yard.
Miss Harrill made a quick journey
and arrived at the yard one sunsfliny
day n October. On the pretense Of
around, she made her wav to
Of aluminium and light wire and can
vas, which looked lick a gigantic dragon
fly.
What is it?" she inquired. |,
IAN airship," said the man. ITS a
water ship, too. Swims the water like
a duck and rises like a gull II
Miss Rarrill, thinking of Mary,s
dream, asked an eager question, Have
you ever been up in it?''
YES" said the man. Once, and 1
was nearly killed. 1 wasn't used to
the mechanism, and I landed upside
down in the water"
Did you think of any one as you
came DOWN."
The man looked up quickly. What ,
makes you ask that?'' he demanded.
Well Miss Harrill said, slowly, '
I know a girl who dreamed that :
nan came to her over the-water in . .
4 flying ship, and as she watched, it :
-ose in the air, and his eyes looked :
iown at her..
The man leaned forward and spoke
lame?"
1.-The girls name,' said Miss Har-
ill, softly. was Mary-Mary Dean
She saw the softened look that came
,ver the grim face.
Tell me- she said eagerly, ARE
you married, Jim Babcock?'
NO" he said, there's only one wo-
nan in the world for me. and that's
Nary Dean
Then go to her and tell her."
she doesn't love me-, he said. Then f
le stopped, and looked at the stylish il
woman before him.
who are your he asked, almost t
oughIy. Have you any message for t
ne from Mary Dean?'
mo, she said gently, but I know t
er. Every summer I have been att i