The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-04

friend The woman showed her a cot
and place to wash In ten minutes
she was sleeping like a child.
Three or four days passed and she
worked more easily and began to laugh
with her neighbors, to catch the spirit
of the country, to wander off In the
evening for fresh flowers, to watch and
know the birds, to play with the year
OLD babe of one Of the pickers. She
knew these people in a week as well
as she would have done in year OF
town life. She could see that she was
putting on flesh, was straighter and
happier, but she also knew that never
for a moment did she forget Jim.
The berry season at best lasted only
three weeks. counting different and re-
curing varieties of fruit. AS the Sec
ond week ended Mamie began asking
herself what she should do when 1t
closed. She was rapid picker and
calculated that she would have nearly
$50. Would she have to find work in
the city? 1t gave her a shudder to
think of the streets, the stores, the I'M
inspired toll, the fall and the coming
winter with it's spurious gayeties of
cheap theatres and cheap dances for
the only amusement-and without Jim.
She could not help asking herself why
he had gone away; whether he did not
love, had not loved her it was a visit
full, self-humiliating questioning, and 1T
seemed to bring no answer.
It was in the middle of the third week
that the unbelievable thing happened.
In the evening, hot and sweet and
green, Mamie had sauntered to the viii
lage for a few supplies. She was not
toe tired now to wash after work and
put on a fresh dress from her scanty
store of clothes-it was a faded, light
blue thing. but chung prettily to her
rounded, slender form. She thrust Il
red clover into her bright hair and
went humming along the road on her
80 -sv1e- To Fnaa1 n q or
and alone.
Dusk was falling as she returned, and
as she came to a cross read she saw
man coming toward her and hurried
little not to meet him at the exact
meeting of the paths. AS she FASTENED
her step she glanced up quickly and
then stopped, still and white and wait
ing
"MamieH' Jim said, stepping quickly
to her. putting his hands on her Shout
ders; Mamie, what are you doin' out
here2" His voice had the same hunger
in it that gnawed her heart day and
night, and for all her bravery she
could yet find no words, but stood look
ing straight at him.
Mamie" he said. 81 said to myself
that 1 would be man enough not to tell
you I loved you when I had nothing
for you. But seeing you is too much
for me. You know-how 1 feel-you
must know"
She nodded. Alas didn't she know?
''I don't know how you got out here"
he continued. Did you come to pick
berries?''
Again she had only a movement Of
the head, because she was fighting back
tears of relief and utter joy. The boy
took his hands from her shoulders and
drawing her arm through his, walked
on beside her.
Listen, Mamie" he said, ct quit
the city and jest ran for my life. I was
a piece of a machine, and beginning 70
run down at that. Even my health was
goin' back on me. On the whole it
seemed worse to tell you how I wanted
you than not to tell you. So I came
out here. 1 got job on a farm and
made good, then I picked berries
He paused happily. Mamie. before
I tell you any more, tell me that you
do care about me?" He turned and
saw that she was crying quietly, not
trying to hide the tears. He murmured
inconsequential words of love and COM
fort and presently she was herself again
and told him all that she had done
He took up tire tale.
"And the best of it." he finished
that Mr.. Farr likes me and says he
has to have man to look after his
country place, sort of foreman, and he'll
try me out. There's a little house.
only three rooms, but furnished, and
some chickens and a garden-not much
calling a living in town-it's life
though the work is hard. Will you try
1t with me, Mamie? I was coming back
to ask you. Will you?"
The girl pulled her arm back a lit
tie so that he could the more easily
clasp her hand.
"Td-love to-come" she answered
simply you know I couldn't stand
it anywhere without you, Jim"
Dusk came. but even in the dusk life
had no dimness for them. Everything
seemed warm and fragrant and alive.
And the world was readjusted-it was
all two-by-two and arm-in-arm and no.
body counted out.-(Copyrigh 1912
by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)