The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-09
The Evening Story
Her Cherry Pie.
Mankato, Kan.

hole at the top as if to give a hint of
the imprisoned rapture within.
Because it was her first really sue
cessful cherry pie, Betty was highly
elated as she placed it in the pantry
window to cool. 1t was to grace the
dinner table that night when her
father returned from the city, hot and
tired, after a long day in the office.
Later Betty changed her frock and
with a readable book went out to the
hammock swinging under the apple
trees.
She loved this tiny vine-wreathed
cottage which her father had hired
for the season from it's owner, Miss
Alicia Peck. She fairly yearned over
the polished mahogany furniture, the
fine old china and the pervading at
mosphere of a by-gone day that was
completed by Miss Alicia herself,
tiny little woman who chung to the
customs of her mothers time.
But now Miss Alicia had succumbed
to the pleading of a niece in another
state and was paying her long-prom-
ised visit thrifty renting her fur
nished home to Mr.. Thurston and his
daughter. Betty had stipulated that
there was to be no servant IN the
house. She rather prided herself on
her housewifely ability and it was de-
lightfully like play to keep house with
Miss Alicia's belongings. So, twice
week a colored woman came to wash
and iron and sweep, while Betty
played at housekeeping and concOct-
ing her fathers favorite dishes.
In the evenings she played on Miss
Alicias tinkling square piano, but the
days We're never long enough. Be
sides, Betty had been taking painting
lessons and Woodlawn was full of
beautiful scenes that she wanted to
transfer to canvas.
The cherry pie was to be a. delightful
surprise for Mr.. Thurston. so Betty,
secure in the knowledge that the re-
frigerator contained a juicy steak, and
that the dinner problem was solved
for that day, proceeded to indulge in
forty or more winks that finally ended
in sound sleep.
A breeze stirred through the apple
trees like hushing lullaby. Bees
doomed in and out of the hollyhocks;
birds sang drowsi1y in the shade, for
it was high noon and the sun was hot
At the foot of the orchard the river
flowed, dark green and cool under the
bending willows. '7A
There was no one to notice when a
peared from the direction of the river
and, crossing Miss Alicia's orchard,
swung into the path that led under
the grape arbor at the back door of
the cottage.
He tried the kitchen door. but the,
key was under Betty's pillow in the
hammock and all the other doors were
locked we'll, for Betty was a eau
tious little soul.
Then the intruder went around to
the pantry window, glanced specula-
lively at the removable screen-and
saw the cherry pie.
His eyes sparkled with anticipation
as he reached a long arm, pushed
aside the screen, removed the pie,
plate and all, replaced the screen and
turned to the river as silently as he
had appeared, without once seeing
Betty.
Suddenly Betty's eyes popped wide
open, just in time to glimpse the rag
ged stranger disappearing with the
cherry pie.
"Of all the-impudence!" breathed
Betty as she slipped from the ham,
mock and followed him. There never
Will be another such a cherry pie in
this world
The thief threw himself on the river
bank under the shade of the droopi-
est willow, tested the delicacy and
found that its firm under crust slipped
easily from the pan. Then he broke it
aSunder.
When Betty came upon him, he was
holding half of the cherry pie in each
hand, and his ecstatic expression and
sickness of countenance pro-
cahmed that Betty's effort was with
out doubt a success
When he looked up and saw Betty
eyes, charming little figure in pale
blue lawn, he tried to scramble to his
feet, remembered their freedom from
shoes and socks, and sank back on
his curled toes in a furry of momen-
tary embarrassment.
What are you eating - demanded
Betty in an aggrieved tone.
"Ambrosia," he replied, with an
unctuous smack of his lips.
Betty started resentfully.
That's a nice way to evade explain |
ing why you stole my cherry pie, I'd |
be ashamed. "a great big. strong man
like you-s-s-s pie!''
while steal plain bread and butter, !
or even cake, when you can find pie |
like this? Cherry pie is my favorite |
at the pastry. And never tasted a |
better cherry pie in all my days"
But Betty Thurston was not to be
placated by compliments. She knew |
wasted on a horrid tramp.
why don't you go to work and /
earn money to buy food?" she asked, |
after she had watched him, with fas-
eyes. consume the remainder
of the pie.
II do work part of the time" he /
confessed.
What is your trade -
Painter, he said, rather hunbly.
Betty's eyes frightened Here was
an opportunity to make this rccreant /
youth pay for his pie
Then you can come right up to the /
house and paint the veranda chairs 4
for me-" she Sara Sdecisively- Il was I
going to do them myself, but you
might as well paw for the pie
Very welI,', he said with astonish-
ing meekness, considering his size and (
strong, square chin. But he had been /
gazing at Betty all this while with a I
pair of good-humored blue eyes, and |
the more he gazed at her the more |
docile he became. Lead the way; but /
to be strictly honest-sounds funny. I
doesn't tim afraid that cherry pie I
is worth much more than painting |
those chairs,