The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
The EDening Story
Cherries in the Snow.

M1rlamS birthday fell on the
Fourth of July and her Aunt Amelia's
on the 22d of February, which Miriam
said was evidence of the reinforced
patriotism of their family. For nearly
all of the twenty years of Miriam's
life she had spent her birthdays at
the village home of her aunt, and
her aunt had gone to Miriam's city
home when her own birthday came.
But there came one February when
the grip laid it's treacherous hand up
on Aunt Amelia, and, as a powerful
cat plays with a tiny mouse, just as
she would make a little progress to-
ward recovery the treacherous hand
would once more draw her back. AS
her birthday approached, there was
no hope of keeping the usual tryst
with her favorite niece, and not even
MiriamS cheerful daily letters did
much to lessen her disappointment.
On the twenty-first Miriams letter
concluded with this assurance: I'm
getting a present ready for you and
you can look for it on your birthday.
It's not very pretty, not very big, and
not very useful, yet I'm sure you'll
like it. In fact, you already like it,
don't you?"
Now, I wonder what that dear
child is up to- unused Miss Amelia,
and she fell asleep early that night
and dreamed pleasant dreams of Mir
lam.
Meanwhile, down under the smoky
an unkempt newsboy she had hailed
as she left the street car were run
ming down the long Midway of the
station with a bag, bundles and a pa
per-covered market basket. They
fidgeted while the gateman examined
Miriam's ticket and the clock hands
above his head moved to within one
minute of the trains starting time.
Just as the '.All aboard cry rang
out Miriam trotted breathlessly up to
hn Of Ia Cf PII11 n q
verified her tickets, the boy transfer
red her luggage to the black porter,
she slipped a coin into the boys grimy
hand and was hustled up the steps
of the train, which was already creak-
ing and jerking in its first efforts to
break from its moorings under the
sheds.
Miriam shrugged uncomfortably as
she made ready for her berth, know
ing that she would have to be reused
before daylight to leave the train at
Skagmore, but she soon fell asleep,
weary with the exertion of getting
ready for the hurried trip and collect
ing that basketful of hothouse vege-
tables and Florida strawberries with
which she hoped to tempt her aunt's
truant appetite. In her dreams she
went back to the summer days of a
year and half before when she had
roamed Skagmore's shady streets and
played many a lively game of tennis
with Hilton Moore, who was there for
a whole month when clematis, straw
bfrries, roses and raspberries followed
each other in a competition of lowell
ness and 1usciousness,
The train stopped with a jerk that
awakened Miriam, and she Shivered
slightly as with consciousness came
the memory of the quarrel that had
ended that idyllic period. Hilton had
gone back to the last year of his med
ical course, and she had gone back to
finish for year before formally en-
tering society. AS for the quarrel, it
began in a mere disagreement about
the rights and duties of men and
maids in general, and it might have
blown over easily had not Miriam's
distant cousin, a bachelor of forty,
come to visit her aunt. Miriam sought
to prove her indifference to Hilton by
assuming great fondness for this cou-
sin, who was frankly amused at the
audacious way in which she Haunted
him before Hilton.
Miriam raised herself on her elbow
and looked out of the window as the
train stood painting at a water station.
The hills were becoming white with
snow and the skies looked dark and
low. The prospect of arriving at Skag-
more before daylight, alone and uneX-
pected and in a snowstorm, was not
pleasant. but Miriam dropped back
into the warmth of her blankets and
once more fell asleep. The next she
heard was the porter calling softly:
''Skagmore next! Awake, Lower
Three?"
Half an hour later she stood almost
knee deep in snow beside the tiny sta
ton at Skagmore, while the long,
black train puffed its way up the steep
grade. The whiteness of the snow and
a pale light at the eastern horizon re-
Heved the darkness, and as her aunts
house was only three blocks away
Miriam smiled as she thought of the
old lady's surprise when she should
appear before her with a dainty break
fast with strawberries as the chief at
traction. Stuffing her smallest bum
die into her handbag and pushing the
other one under the handle of the bas-
ket, she took up her two burdens and
started up the street.
Not a sound was audible in the
town. Even the snow fell stealthily
without any accompaniment of wind
When Miriam had gone but one block
she was compelled to let her luggage
drop into the snow and to stop 20
rest Standing there. she saw IN the
coming toward her. She gave a sigh
Of relief at the prospect of being res
cued, but, alas, the man turned at
| the first corner without seeing her.
| Knowing how willing the villagers
were to be of service, Miriam tried 10
call out, but her throat was so dry
and her breath SO short from her
great exertion that she made a failure
of it
Then she moistened her lips and
sent out thrilling whistle-an accom-
plishment which Hilton Moore had
/ tau~ht her once upon time.
At sound of the whistle, the man
stopped short and bent his head to
/ listen. Again she whistled, louder
this time, and he turned and looked
searching1y toward her Then he
came bounding toward her with as
tonishing rapidity considering me
depth of the snow. His face was Al
most hidden by a pulled down fur cap
and a turned up fur coat collar, but
there was about him an unmistakable
air of protection.
ITS SO good of you to come to my
rescue, sir" began Miriam, but she