The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-28
The EVENING STORY
Her Motorcycle Man.
(By Harmony Weller

sent into a realm of thought.
What were her friends in New York
doing while she VS. sitting dreaming
among the hills of Scotland? Could
any of them appreciate, as she did, the
wonderful beauty of the lochs, and
would they have chosen, of their own
accord, to spend two months on a sheep
farm? Anne thought not.
She herself had had every intention
of going with her family to London,
Berlin, Paris-all the great cities that
TEEN with interest for the traveller. Yet,
as she had driven along the banks of
Loeb Lomond, and had seen the farIe
lying there on the very edge of the
loch, Anne had succumbed to natures
call and also to the certain knowledge
that her nerves were not in the best of
shape. Two months in the peace and
quiet of the bills, and Anne knew that
she could return to New York with
new set of nerves-perhaps a new out
look on life.
"City life is inclined to make one mar
row. she decided, and let her mental
being escape and roam at will over the
vast range of hills.
1t was during the course of her ether
cal pilgrimage over the banks and
braes of bonnie Scotland that Anne be-
came conscious of short, crisp invec-
tives being hurled across the silent gar
den that shid her from the roadside.
She peered cautiously through the
hedge of roses, lilies and wild fox
gloves and a curiously interested smile
flashed into her eyes.
A man, presumably a Scotchman,
from the sandiness of his coloring, was
tinkering with a motorcycle that evil
IDENTIFY refused all his efforts. Anne
hoped, with shameless fervor, that the
cycle would remain obdurate to all
Establishments and that the man would
be compelled to enter the farm gate.
She liked his breadth of shoulder and
the clean length of limb clothed in dis
reputa BILE motor garb.
Anne looked at her tiny watch and
realized that it was just tea time. She
too, had fallen ready victim to the
tea habit.
He will at least come in to ask a.
cup she unused, and darted into the
old whitewa shed kitchen. A smile of
pure joy played about her lips when
she realized that the maid was out. In
another moment Anne stood before the
kitchen mirror and admired herself
She had donned a spotess apron and
snowy cap. 81 rather like myself" she
unused and felt her heart flutter A
heavy step sounded on the gravel path
The sun was on the Scotchman's hair
but thundercloud in his eyes. The
motorcycle was being dragged like
lamb to the slaughter. Anne smiled
wickedly
She answered his knock at the door
and the smile still fingered in her eyes
The Scotchman glowered at her. then
suddenly the gray of his eyes light
ened and he looked long and steadily
at Anne
Her eyelids fluttered down. She was
not prepared for so swift an attraction.
He has no right to be so good
looking, she told herself by way of
had often stopped in to tea, lured by
the small sign Teas" in the window,
but never before had Anne served
them. Now, perhaps for very amuse-
tray:
When she returned from TIE kitchen
the Scotchman turned from the win
dow.
This will be a farm? ?" he ques-
toned
yes. SIR" said Anne There are
1000 sheep over the brow of the HILL
She was conscious while she arranged
his tea for him that his gray eyes wera
watching her and her fingers trem-
bled. 81 have just brought a plain
tea, sir" she told him: dread and
butter and home made Jam" After
that Anne fled from the room-why,
she knew not. Something had sud
denly turned her world topsy-turvy
and she seemed to be fleeing from
another world in which there was oniv
& sandy haired Scotchman and L
motorcycle.
Perfectly absurd" she admonished
herself.
He took an unusually long time over
his tea. Anne was tugged mentally
down to him, while physically she re-
manned in the little room that com
Inanded a view of the gate She fell
to wondering if, when he had passed
through that gate, he would ever re-
turn.
Anne smiled wistfuIly. sHe thinks
1 am the maid Surely he will not
come back-for a maid" Suddenly
she heard him ring the bell imperious-
ly. Because there happened to be no
one at home Anne was compelled to
answer his summons.
The Scotchman glowered at her as
she entered the room.
II might have wanted a dozen
things he said to her.
You could have rung the bell in
that case, sir" Anne retorted.
The Scotchman smiled.
81 will be coming here for tea every
afternoon he said with a peculiarly
straightforward meaning in his eyes.
Anne struggled with a blush and
only half succeeded. The mans eyes
went out to tinker with his motorcycle.
Now that the machine had played it's
role of Cupid it seemed more than
willing to move on In another second
Anne heard its noisy cnug-chug Of
farewell.
Anne realized with swift intuition
that her determination to remain
among the hills had had but one
meaning. She had been destined to
meet one sandy-haired Scotchman.
cap and apron was whimsical and d |
bit fearful She wondered whether to |
stay and meet it frankly. Anae
stayed.
He came the next day and the next
anG Anne always served his tea. She