The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-02
The Eoenis,e Story

The Ecening Story
Cherries Ripes
lBy Clarissa Mackie.)
Della Gray sat In the cherry tree
and pondered the momentous Ques-.
ton.
There in the old farmhouse sat Aunt
Delight and Uncle Peter. worrying
gage which must be paid Off before
the first Of October. Lawyer Weems.
the mortgage, was not the cold
blooded skinflint of popular fiction.
but he was an old and trusted friend
money badly: 80 Uncle Peter and Aunt
Delight had decided that Sylvanus
Weems would have the money by
October 1. IL the place must be sold
off to satisfy the mortgage.
The old people sat in the house and
Della perched in the cherry tree.
''If I could teach music-or paint
ing-or even A B Cs to the children
I might earn some money" sighed
Della; "but / could never earn q thou
am I good for except to take care Of
my poor dears-cook and sweep and
pet them ?" She reached up q slim
sun-browned hand and picked a clus-
Ter OF LUSCIOUS req cherries.
Uncle Peter declares there never
was such a year for his cherries"
unused Della, as she ate the fruit; tits
odd, too, when all our neighbors are
con- planning that they have mono. Dear
me, there comes another one Of these
noisy motor carS!"
There was a warning toot, a flash
of glistening black and something
whizzed along the road under the long
branch on which she sat. White dust
arose and settled on the shining green
leaves of the trees.
The row OF cherry trees bordered
the ancient stone wall OF the Gray
farm and their heavily laden branches
extended over the road.
Wouldn't they be surprised II q
cherry-stained girl toppled off this
branch into one Of their magic cars?
/ would be Whirled away to the city
Of my dreams, and Della fell to
dreaming as was her habit when
alone.
Another car came along over the
bridge around the curve of road and
halted under the tree where the girl
sat.
A mans voice spoke enthusiastical-
ct say, Jack, look at the cherries"
by jove, Len, they are beauties.
I'll lay you q FLYER I'm up the tree
first!''
There was a laughing scramble
upon the wall and into the bending
branches OF the tree where Della sat.
Then two pairs Of surprised and en-
barrassed eyes gazed at her:
"Oh!' gasped Della In dtsmay as
she chung to her seat.
II beg pardon!" cried the motorists
in concert then Jack Lane added, as
with difficulty he removed his cap,
I'VE were after cherries-I suppose we
are trespassers."
well, really, it rather looks that
way said Della SO seriously that Jack
smiled and then Della smiled and Len
Dorrance, feeling rather out Of the
happy meeting, laughed outright. After
they had laughed in chorus Jack pre-
pared to descend from his perch with
murmured apologies for the intrusion.
You may as well have some cher
ries now that you are here" said
Della graciously; the birds seem to
eat most of them"
Cherries going to waste?" echoed
Jack blankly. why, there must be
bushels of cherries on these trees. and
they are worth Is cents stingy quart
in town.
I'VE are so far from town." EXPLAIN
'Lsuppose- So" murmured Jack
thoughtfully.
II don't suppose there is thousand
dollars worth of cherries here asked
,-e1,ns 49,, a., t,s.,- 80. wv
"a .hn.'s...a .io,,.,s s.. ,,..
.;.. .Eaa .uHo , wor =. ."s -
How many trees have your"
Inere are ~ altogether. ana each one
is laden with fruft-pefhaps busheI
to tree-oh. I am sure there il not
"Ard ,n,,st e he . thouaard9,. .~r.7
..:.L~,,
40 thu amount ~ t11A mort.
gage" said Della.
"a mortCage?' 90 unused Jack ct aee!
Tn, afraid even at the rnoat ,ntf,o;.ttc
cajcuIation that tha entire croy, ,uo,.1d
not hving move than hundr.a 49,