The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-31
The Eoer,i,,s Story


Where the Heart Ii.
(By Jean Dickerson.)
The Widow How'd was ed-haired,
brown-eyed. with a complexion like
Strawberries and cream and a be-
wildering smile.
Doctor James Cole noted all these
charms in a casual sort of way while
he dickered over the purchase Of the
widows horse. Peter.
He is the dearest old thing" con-
fided the widow as she patted Peters
fat sides. mot so dreadfully old.
cutest tricks! If you carry lump of
sugar in your pocket Peter will put
his nose right in and steal it-oh.
Peter-you naughty pony!" she chided
as Peters black muzzle emerged from
the doctors coat pocket.
Hes full OF tricks, all right" agreed
| the doctor.
please don't be cruel to him." pro-
| tested Adella How'd. ''Why, 1 couldn't
sell Peter if thought you would be
| unkind to him."
I've never ill-treated a horse in my
life," said the doctor ironically. while
| I cannot have Peter in the house with
| me I shall make him quite comfort
| able in my new stable. but I shall not
| braid red ribbons in his NAME"
I'm quite sure you will not" re-
torted FRS. How'd, her smile vanishing
| in a flash of resentment. IF you have
quite decided upon buying Peter. you
might conclude the transaction now.
I cannot afford to keep him. I rarely
| use him and he eats SO much"
The transaction was soon ended.
| and Mrs. How'd tucked q check away
in her cash-box, while Doctor Cole
harnessed Peter to the smart runabout
| which he had also purchased and pre-
pared to drive away to Peters new
home.
Goodbye. Peter. DEAR" whispered
Adella in Peters ear. And forgive me
tbear!'
DR.. Cole whipped off his hat in fare
well, and drove away from Mrs
Howd's cottage. Adella locked the big
Peters empty quarters. Then she went
into the house and had a good cry for
she had been fond of Peter.
Adella How'd was a very busy little
woman. She wrote sage advice for the
kitchen column of a small rural weekly
and she baked the most delicious
viands for the woman's exchange in
the village. The new doctor, the one
who had bought Adella's horse. traded
I Regularly at the exchange and always
l dmeanded Adella's bread and pies and
cakes
i On this evening when she had parted
with Peter. Adella had her household
column to write. SO she quite forgot
about the empty stable, and at 10
o'clock went up to bed.
She was just dropping OF to sleep
when there came the sound of pound
ing hOofs rom the road outside, q
pause and a heavy thud in the yard.
then the familiar trot. trot OF Peters
Adella went to the window and
looked. Sure enough, there was Peter.
!standing before the barn door.
She donned some clothin~ and went
down into the yard. Just them DR..
Cole arrived. painting and disheveled.
and quite irascible at the occurrence.
Its going to be a nuisance. Mrs.
How'd" he said. frowningly.
I'm very sorry. DOCTOR soothed the
little widow. but Peter was homesick
land I'm sure he will not repeat the
offense''
So Peter was led home by the doc
tor, who quite forgot his evaporation
in the train of thought that pursued
him even after he had returned to his
pillow.
IF women knew how becoming it il
to wear the hair loose and flowing like
'l-er-" the doctor went to sleep.
Adella's hair had been loose and
flowing glorious aureole Of rudy
locks.
The following night Peter repeated
the offense. He leaped he fence sur
rounding the doctors pasture, trotted
down to his old home, scaled the gate
and whinnied for admittance to the
stable.
away, and again Adella apologized,
but this time her hair was decorously
braided in two great ropes that swung
over her shoulders in girlish way.
That night the doctor decided that
II women only knew how becoming ii
l - 1S- l.
: why-er-
Four times within a fortnight did
Peter break away from his halter or
his tether rope and come back to his
old home. Then, he decided to make
the best Of q bad business and tried to
} make himself happy at DIR. Coles.
There were times when the doctors
| ownership OF Peter became very In
I convenient and extremely embarrass-
ing. Once was when he was taking
Miss Angela Petty to ride.
When Peter reached the Widow
Howd's gate he planted his feet in the
sand and, deaf to all entreaties, re-
> fused to bulge.
Adella heard the disturbance and
came out int the moonlit evening" hel
lovely hair rufiled by the breeze and
her face breaking into dimplinx smiles
you naughty Peter-horse." she
: scolded as she petted Peter into actor
, once more. II hope you are forgivina
: him all his sins, DOCTOR
I'm trying to-" said the doctor
} grimly.
Angela Petty Uttered, "Peter seem,
( well-trained." she insinuated, but Il
I must be inconvenient for the doctor tc
have to stop here every time he goes
driving!"
II Scarlet no. ded Adella's face, but
her usually ready tongue found nc
answer to the taunt- She stepped
z quickly inside the gate and disap.
peared within the house.
, AS the door closed. Peter, bowling tt
the inevitable. moved forward. Blu,
: Angela Petty did not enjoy that ride {
q e.S< m Hnl 49, -