The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-18
THE EVENING STORY
Cherry Ripe.

| ''It doesn't seem fair for me to take
the money and leave you mere on this
old good for nothing farm. Cherry;
but 1 want to go 50, you don't know
how much want to go. It means
everything to me, you know that,
don't you, Cherry?"
"Of course I do, you goose" Cherry
said happily, skimming the bubbling
/ rosy froth off her curran: jelly that
And you mustn't stop to worry ole
| bit over it, pet Take the money aid
go on. Climb the path of stars and
| win out. I never wanted stars, any
way. I'd a good deal rather stay here
| and fuss over my own stars in I'll e
garden. Think you can start next
week ?"
Petunia sat on the high wood box
heel idly, hugging one knee. The
| summer wind, sweet with fragrance
of wild clover and buckwheat. bent
the tall grass in waves like the sea,
head. Outside the window stood tie
old well. with its pretty pagoda
shaped roof and wild cucumber vines
over all.
shed stalI<ed Mahomet. the proud old
Rhode Island Red rooster. On the
hillside across the brook rambled the
grazing COWS, three of them, ana
half grown heifer she had raised hel-
self.
It was all mighty dear to Ter. Chez,
ry and she had both sent up heir first
protesting cry in the little front bed
room with the cherry trees outside.
Cherry. had come in July. Sometimes
she would laugh over their names
when there was still the little fragile
mother sitting on the side porch
Seems like you just tried to hunt
up funny names for us girls. mother"
s'I named you for the things love
best, dearie. 1t sort Of comforted
me-"
And that would stop argument. fer
the life at the farm had not been
productive of romance, ana Cherry
felt that any little CLEAN her mother
or Pet cherished should be respected
After her mothers death had come
the problem of dividing up. She was
with herself and then asked John his
opinion. The girls had boon asking
John his opinion for years on All
weighty matters Just half mile
shop. and across the road from It the
gray house where he had lived alone
for ten years. Cherry had slipped on
her cape and walked down the road !
TO ask John, and, after an hours talk, |
had returned. much encouraged
1.-The only safe way, Cherry. is to |
let her choose her own road 10 happI-
ness. It's a little path we have to |
find for ourselves. AZ" 'AASh AAOA0'
About two thousand"
'FWel, the farm won't bring any
more than that I'd give Pet the
cash for her share ana Keep tne
ssThat's what wanted to do, John"
said Cherry. her cheek flushing. But
it seemed selfish. I do love the old
place So"
ing his anvil and a freshly shaped shoe
cooling. while he stood beside her at
he wide arching front of the shop,
when the folks were alive, 1 wanted
n get away from here. Didn't know
hat, did you? Well DID: Tney
xnew it, too. I was about II. And
when I told dad he didn't say much.
lie took me out in the shop here, and
le trimmed me up good and plenty
That was my last whipping. Yes,
vas big enough to lick him, but that
rotting Cherry, and it always left
sort of vacant place inside of me,
ort of gone feeling in my heart, like
-ou get in the pit of your stomach
when it's dinner time. Id let Pet go
f I was YOU
81 will, john bless her. Motherd
ay so. too"
John glanced sideways at her tear
llled, happy gray eyes and smiled
Iuizzically.
guess she NOOid. oI1S OAOl 1 AdNC
nv better sense than you and me,
,herry, about such things. Your faith
r'd have something to remark, though,
wouldn't hep"
Then they had both laughed. re-
aembering Deacon Wilson and his
told orthodoxy in even home rela- /
ions. A man or woman was born in I
sort of life bondage to the acres of !
heir forefathers. he had preached;
ut Cherry put the thought away &
rom her. He had been able to hold I
own her mother for life and choke |
out every little rosy flicker of ro- {
nance in her, and now Cherry was s
onscious of g. feeling of relief that he
ras resting peacefully over in the old |
uriaI ground on the hill and beyond |
he power to stop PeI-s going forth tc
nd her rainbows end.
What are you figuring to do,
pecially, dearie?' she asked now, COM
lg across to the window.
Pet pushed back her curly brown :
air restlessly. :
See things, don't you understand,
berry? I'm sick and tired of look 9
* at these hills forever" n
you could go to Europe on two
thousand and still have a lot left a
ver.'' f
'tOh, dear, there are so many things O
lst don't know what to do" laughed h
ct why on earth is it that just b
} soon as you get a thing you don't
ant it,
That's just kink in disposition, U
v