The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-26
The Evening Story
A Bushel OF Pears.
(By Martha McC. Williams-)

Only uAQ q Vu0kASA "a 8SNAOe
Just one bushel!" Flora moaned.
looking almost angrily at the big tree
a little way or the back piazza.
Commonly it was loaded with
fruit to the breaking point-this sea-
son a May frost had left It almost
wholly barren. Here or there an
abortive pear peeped out from the
thickest Of LEAKAGE. Flora shook q
tiny fist at the most obtrusive one,
running on: ITO think! You are
there tantalizing me-this year OF all
years!"
asked, looking up from the Medical
Journal" in which he had been bur-
led. She made q grimace at him
he did not see it-before answering:
why? You see-for cause. Moth
er's rich step-sister in the city has
suddenly remembered her existence
to the extent at least Of writing. re-
calling all the good things to eat we
ever had. Pears especially-not fresh
and ripe-but all done up in sugar
preserved with ginger-and dried aft
er preserving-chips are mighty good
and all but asking outright II we
wouldn't send her some. I'd love to
i-but-
"Pears may hit-next year." DIR.
Eden said. philosophically.
And rich aunts may change their
minds. their yearningsVforget all
about us by next year." Flora flung
back at him. "Then-it's goodby to
any hope Of an invitation to visit
her. Oh. wouldn't love 1t! Think
| of going to really truly theater. with
hy-by-night companies that are down
here in Jonesville.''
I've seen both-give me Jones'
ville." DIR. Eden commented. de-
pend upon 1t, Flo. an uncloyed appe-
tite flavors its own food. In the city
you get SO sated-"
"Shut up!" Flora cried. stamping,
already all the consultations for pow
erty."
Hope you value them-as they de-
serve" Eden retorted brislkly.
Flora went on, her chin in her
hand: I'm like the milkmaid in the
spelling book-a busbel Of pears
would, make two jars Of preserves, q
brandy fruit. Could any mortal rich
aunt pining for home cooking do less
than respond to them? And you
know as well as my great chance
must como that way-or not at all. -
| What chance?" Eden demanded,
smiling whimsically.
| Flora stared at him. flushed and
/
I-and-and-meet people-the right
people you know"
"H-m. People to be translated q
rich husband?" Eden asked, still
smiling, but with quickened breath.
Flora blushed hotly. you needn't
put it that way" she said. mot
badly. But-a girl can't marry well
any fit chances here?"
'Oh, several people seem to-Jones-
Vile averages pretty high matrimoni-
| ally. and way above par as to its baby
| crop" Eden laughed. Then he stuffed
the Medical Journal unexpectedly in
his pockets. walked over to her. put
his hand ON her shoulder and said
gayly with yet a tremor underneath:
IF the worst happens you can depend
on me. Certainly I won't see you an
old meid.''
go away, hateful!" Flora said sau-
cily. who cares for even a half pro-
posal that has to be drawn out with
a corkscrew? You'd starve II you
dared get marrfed-at least for 20 years
yet. I know women-they dread the
doctors wife as much as they adore
the doctor himself"
'I'll risk it, though-in the name OF
friendship, not to say Christian chari-
ty." Eden returned, bending over and
kissing her.
A0 Su0 SPI0u6 uP IbG xCAl O6Ck sup
pressing a whistle. for out through
the hall walked an imposing person
who put her glass, surveyed the pail
and said stolidly: II came to see my
sister. Mrs. Trainor. Has she moved
It seems impossible you can be hel
daughter!"
Aunt Margaret" Flora cried ready
to sink with shame.
Eden smiled family, bowed and sale
quietly: II hope. madam, you will le
me also say Aunt Margaret-it maj
} explain-what you saw
, TT does." the lady said, thawing visi
bly,.
} Flora fetched q fan for her, tool
: her bonnet, set her in the easies
chair. She sank into 1t meditatively
sat still a minute, then reused saying
"Oh, I'm forgetting-my son Henry i
waiting in the car-I told him woult
come in and ask
, I'll fetch him in," Eden said, fallin,
gracefully into his role of fiance.
Aunt Margaret, otherwise rich Mrs
Leasing. looked approvingly after him
"SO-yotlr market IL made she sai(
beaming at Flora. "Wen made 1t ap
pears. I am delfghted-to know yo,
are to marry in your own sphere"
, Henry proved to be mighty hand
some-the type young women eushingl,
term killing" He agreed with then
whole -heartedly. No woman he fel
. could really resist his charms. Becaus,
they were 50 susceptible. because ais
he had an anxiously critical mother
. holding the power Of the purse, b.
had come to almost 80. not merel,
single but unattached. Perhaps
through the antiseptic quality Of hi
conceit-loving himself 10 well, he has
: felt no need to love anybody else.
That 10 to say, until the dawninl
: Of Flora. All in q flash he got no
and cold by turns; wanted to rul
away; wanted to stay forever nea1
t her In short, had as bad q case o
: emotional insanity as ever near-bache
lor suffered. This In spite Of enight
. eminent by his mother ~ to Eden'
pretenafons The pretensions. indeed
added fnel to the 0ame. Too craft