The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-13
THE EVENING STORY
Her Hill-BiIly.
(By Henderson WelSh.)

! home in the beautiful Ozark country
she loved the wide range of the Mills
and the breath of the pines; and, in the
winter months. she entered into her
school life with zest that brought into
eager subsection even the most OBJ
streperous pupils in the district-but
she did sometimes long to live in the
city where she could meet the great
people, hear the wonderful music and
have the many things so attractive to
a girl of intelligence and refined taste.
Their new lodger was from the city.
Would he bring some of it's atmosphere
to the lonely girl. She hoped he would
| be a good comrade during the few
weeks of his stay, for there would be
! opportunity for such good times to-
| gether after he returned from his long
, hunting and fishing jaunts. Would he
/ be a Prince Charming or would he De
| of a different sort?
He was not of the different Sort
She had to admit that the first day.
Yet he was a disappointment. He be-
gan by making love to her the first
| thing. At least she feared he was. 1t
was not what he said, but his manner.
She caught him continually watching
| her when he thought himself unobserv-
ed. Instead of going on the long Jaunts
! that she expected, he seemed more con-
| tent just to be where she was.
1t was all very fattering, If he only
| meant it; but how could he do that?
He lived in the great city where the
girls had so much better opportunities
than she had had. He was rich and
prosperous. Why should he be inter-
ested in her except to help while away
the summer days?
She resented it and stayed away from
him all she could. That, however, was
difficult, for he was continually on the
lookout for her, and deep in her heart
she was always hoping she couldn't
stay away from him.
nT,n dow + s7o6 I1n7- 70
ing with him on the river which flowed
past the farm.
Look here, Miss Laura, why can't
see more of you? You are always
making excuses to keep out of my way.
Don't deny tit is too evident"
Laura laughed with merriment she
was far from feeling.
THAT is too bad, isn't it! Today
you have only seen me when I was
picking the flowers for the breakfast
table, and then while at breakfast. and
then while I washed the dishes and you
sat on the porch by the window and
talked through at me all the time, and
then while hulled the peas
There, therer' he said, laughing.
'You needn't enumerate further; but
just the same. you could not help your
self all that time and I was pig enough
to take advantage of you. What I mean
is, why can't 1 see more of you when
you can help yourself and without my
having to force myself where 1 am not
wanted ?"
Laura was serious now ''I thought
you came down here to rest and hunt
and fish. Why should 1 tag around all
the time and be in the way?"
Tag aroundl That's good! Tag
around, indeed; and me violating all the
laws of politeness just to keep within
seeing distance"
He grinned at her, while with long,
steady strokes he sent the boat against
the current. Suddenly his face clouded
and he abruptly stopped rowing.
"Oh, 1 see. You meant that word
'tagY as a gentle hint to me- I am the
one who has been doing the tagging
Well, don't worry. My time is up tomor- !
row. anyway"
NO. she said; IT did not mean
that
mo matter I did tag. I admit it;
and I wish I could keep on tagging, /
If it were not that you dislike me
So"
'T didn't s~y disliked you"
Yes you did; not in words, per-
haps, but" He looked at her closely,
and there was something in the flushed
face that made him lay his hand on
her slim one resting on the gunwaIe
Laura" he said softly, ct want
you"
She looked up at him pleadingly as
she shook her head.
mo you don't. You are a city man
and need city wife. You would not
want me there
rs that what you think? Is that why
you have tried to keep me from asking
you to marry me?" She did not answer.
but tears flooded her eyes. And then
he pleaded, but she was steadfast.
1T is for your own good, Keith. I
believe now that you honestly think
proud of me in your city home. You are
rich and used to the ways of the
fashionable circles. I am but a girl of
the hills. and have always been poor.
could not stand to have you marry
me and then grow tired of me-"
The following day Keith tried again.
but she persisted in what she thought
was right: so he left her, and she took j
up again the routine of life
A few weeks later her father re-
marked to Laura and her mother; you
remember that fellow, Keith Parry.
hat was here this summer? What do
you suppose he has done? Rented Viii
sons hill forty! He has started clear
ng and breaking some of the ground !
Don't know any more about farming
han a duck, but he sure is working I
some to make up for it. His hands look
ike they'd been through a meat chop
Der or something
Laura's eyes were so full Of tears
# them and tried to keep them from j
Dear old 0oyp' she kept excIairningI {
20 herself. &
1t was some time later when they t
net. His hands indeed were blistered
md cracked, and one had bled so that
t was bandaged. He seemed ashamed >
# them andtried to keep them from j
Ter sight, but she dragged them into t
new. Il
Whatever have you been doing to v
HEMP she demanded. 1
We'll. you see. since you refused to =
'e my wife, I Lad to become your hill r
lilly husband. I'm full-f1edged farm h
r now, and I'm going to ask you to r
marry me just soon as my hands" Il