The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-24

basket Do you suppose she intends
to steal the full of II? GraysOn Lang
don, you go down there this minute
and order her off the placed"
Pardon me, mother. won't do
aoh, very well. I'll tell her myself.
It seems that college isn't teaching
you much spunk." Mrs. Langdon.
arms akimbo. started for the patch.
Here. mother, come back. I'll CO."
Mrs. Lacgdon looked relieved.
GraysOn pulled his hat down over
his eyes, stuck his hands deep down
in his pockets and advanced upon the
enemy.
Dear knows what mother would
say to her., he unused, looking Curl
ously toward the bobbing sunbonnet
among the berry bushes wonder II
she is pretty! II she IL. how under the
canopy am I going to break the news
to her that she's got to git Women
are funny! Here mother and dad are
having a whole summers vacation and
all the stuff on the blooming place for
nothing, just because the owner hap
pens to be rich and hiking off to Eu-
rope, and would like to feel that the
old homestead Is in good careful hands
while she's gone. And yet mother.
bless her heart"
the midst Ct the bushes Interrupted
his philosophical revery. With a
bound he was over the fence and tear
ing his way through the briars toward
ror from something upon the ground.
He saw what 1t was instantly, a
harmless garter snake whose siesta
In the cool shade OF the bushes had
been rudely disturbed. Grayson
caught a glimpse Of its tail as it wrig-
gled away to safety under a dense
mass of bushes in the opposite direc-
ton taken by the girl.
He also noticed the girls face un-
der the bonnet, as she stood too ter
as she clutched at the bushes for sup
port. She was surprisingly beautiful.
Tim caught FAST" she managed
to whisper with dry lips. please.
help me to get away"
Don't be frightened" he tried to
assure her. The snake escaped be-
fore I could kill it: but really it's
very harmless kind. 1 believe it's as
oa9ly scared ESQ., -s.
know I'm coward. But I've always
had a horror of snakes. Ugh! I
think I'll go, if you'll please"
oh, I beg your pardon. I forgot
that you cannot move. This beastly
branch has briars as long as.
There, I'm afraid tore your dress!"
That doesn't matter. Thank you
so much! I guess I won't risk a Sec
ond snake. SO I'll go back to the
lOuSC. w AcIc are my OcFT1eS.
They are over here, but I'm afraid
when you jumped you kicked over
your afternoons work. The baskets
upset and the berries are on the
ground
"oh. dear!" ruefully. "And mother
into wine for her! Well, I can't help
it. 1 won't pick them up. The snake
might come back"
IF you will tell me where you live,
I may be Of service If you'll let me.
I love to gather berries. and-and II
yO udOn't mind, I'll gather a basket
full and take them over.''
She smiled bewitchingly THAT
would be very nice and kind, and
am sure mother will appreciate it.
We are staying at the Pelton farm.
the first house you come to If you
mile. My name is Marie storm. Bv
the way. went up to your house, be-.
fore started to pick berries, but
there was no one around. I was CO..
ing to ask permission. But there are
millions of berries. and 1 didn't sup.
pose your mother would mind IL L
didn't watt
Il guess father and mother were.
out in the garden. 1 came out from
town few minutes ago. on the two
ten. The next time you call won't
you please wait until 1 get home" he
ventured.
She laughed prettily. 81 didn't
know there was a you." she returned.
GraysOn picked berries until sun
down. after the fair trespasser ha I,
gone. His mother took the basket
when he reached the porch. He.
watched her set it on a high shelf 70
keep until morning.
Had a hard time getting rid Of
her. didn't you?''
Yes, dreadful"
Wanted to argue, didn't she?"
"Oh, not SO much!"
Find out her name?'
Yes. Her names Storm. She's
staying at the Pelton's with her
mother"
Storm! Storm! That's the name
OF the people who own this farm.
Maybe some relation. Everybody in
the county is related
The next morning the berries were
gone. Mrs. Langdon's rage knew no
bounds The man and hts wife who
did the farm work knew nothing
about them. Grayson's face was as
impenetrable as the ssphynx. No one
Ions of berries were gone!
Never mind, mother. There's mill
lions of them. I'll pick the whole
shooting match for you today. To-
morrow I'm going to quit the country
for good. Think you and dad can
manage alone?"
Now, Grayson Langdon, what's the
matter next? Here you are away at
school all year and 1 think you might
stay with us now
cigarette for minute. He was going
over some very precious minutes. spent
the night before with a cerfain girl
who had chestnut curls and laughing
gray eyes.
Well. mother, it's this way. Tn.
or IN OH NJ n q