The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-13
THE EVENING STORY
Pearls for Her Ears.
(By Virginia Blair. }

L
don't care about 1ove-I want to be
rich"
That's your French blood" said
the old grandmother, calmly. Your
grandfather came from grand
family, but was made poor by the
revolution. He was never contented.
But I was born poor, and I lived in
the Maine woods. On Sundays we
had chicken, but the rest of the
week we lived on salt meat"
Cosette drummed on the window
/ pane. 81 hate the woods"
ut isn't we'll to hate anything. I'll
| bake griddle cakes for supper, and
you can have them with butter and
sugar"
"Oh, do you never think of any
| thing but eating?" the girls face was
| aflame as she turned away from the
window. 81 want something besides
food want lovely gowns, and roses
and orchids, and pearls for my ears,
and rings for my fingers"
| You want the impossible said the
old grandmother. mo man that you
will meet can give you rings for your
fingers and pearls for your ears
| Then 1 shall never marry
The grandmother went on with her
knock at the door, she said, Its John
| Mead, I know his step. He can have
some of my cakes"
! But Cosette flew up the stairs. Il
can't see him in this old Dress" she
cried.
The grandmother smiled wisely
and welcomed John. The chiId's
upstairs. Sit down and I'll bake
some cakes for YOU
Let me bake them,' John insist
ed, while you rest
You belong to the woods said
the old woman, as she watched him,
where the wind sings you to sleep
| at night and the trees keep time to
here"
He faced her, wildly. I'm going to
get away from it. My grandfathers
were pioneer settlers. And 1 meas
ure cloth across a counter
THE child will have to get away
is killing her.
The young man set the plate of
steaming cakes on the table, and his
voice was hoarse as he spoke. You
mean, she isn't well?'
81 mean that she is learning
things from the other girls-to long
for rings on her fingers and pearls
in her ears"
He defended Cosette. .Girls love
pretty things"
more than they love love-" said the
wise old woman, then they need the
woods"
IF she would only marry me-" said
lhe young man, we would all go to-
gether.'
The old woman shook her head.
she will not she said, until the |
woods have taught her to forget the |
things which do not count"
CoSette came down.
I'VE were talking about the woods"
said the grandmother. John thinks it |
would be wise for us to go back. |
There's my little house, and I could |
cook for the lumbermen, and you |
could grow strong and WE'LL
Cosette laughed. Il won't 60" she
But if you would marry me I
would go there to take care of you
Il beg you to marry me, Cosette,"
was the mans appeal
She flung up her head NO" she
said, Il won't be poor"
DO you love me?'
Her eyes fell before the fame in his.
IF you were rich" she faItered.
Il am not RICH" he said. and his
face was very white land shall
never ask you again to marry me ,1n-l
til you come to me and say, L love
you"
81 shall never say it."
A week later, in spite of the girls
rebellion, the little grandmother had
her way. 1.-The city is not the place
for a pretty girl like Cosette." she in
sisted.
Yet it was in the woods that Co
SClIG IIleL TIE IHdn VINO wanted to give
her rings for her fingers and pearls
for her ears. He was a little man,
and fat, and he owned a hunting
lodge near the lumber camp, and he
owned, too, country house and a
city home and yacht and four motor
cars.
Il love you,'' he said, the third time
that he saw Cosette. "If you will
marry me you shall be wrapped in
silks and satins and wear diamond
CROWN
Cosette shivered. please go away"
she begged; 81 am sure you mean to
be kind-but please go away"
And when he had gone she went
upstairs and threw herself on her
knees beside her grandm other's chair.
"He-he tried to kiss me- she said,
land, oh, grandmm other-I love thel
things he offers me-but I wouldn't
,et him-kiss me-
The grandmother murmured COM
to John. Mead.
When John Mead came swinging
through the wood a week later, he
heard woman's screams. II
Running hard, he came upon CO..
settle and the little fat man, and the t
fat man was saying blazing things of t
anger and disappointment. "
You shall marry mel he shouted,
eff 1 have to carry you off, q
John Mead caught him by the col
lar. "Get OUT he said tensely, 'be- Y
fore 1 drop you over the falls &
The little man cast one glance to- a
ward the roaring whirlpool of the c
stream, and skunk away. /
Cosette chung to John.
"Oh, dear, John. dear john" she v
you've come to me at v
asti'
1t seemed to him that she must /
near his heart beating, but he stood r
away from her and said calmly, C
Let's go home and have the grand r
mother bake us some cakes. I've had i
/ long journey and I'm hungry II
"Oh," she flashed out, you are like
grandmother. YOU think only of what I