The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-11
EVENING STORY
Worthy of Remembrance.
3D. T-I-;A C4a

arose on the second morning of his |
vacation at Anglersville, but if there's
a quiet moment from the time the
first robin chirpS at daybreak until the |
village band quits practicing at mid
night, haven't been able to locate ii.
few moments later Larry was out
for walk before breakfast. Ignoring
the narrow strip of concrete sidewalk,
he was swinging along in the middle
of the street when he gave low, in
drawn whistle, for coming toward him
from the dusty road was a slim girl in
a soft white waist and khaki skirt
The tints of her copper-colored hair
blended with the brown-centered yell
low daisies she carried, and Larry's
delighted admiration shone in his
frank, brown eyes.
just then the village quiet was
broken by the excited yells of a small
boy whose three cows being driven to
pasture decided to bolt their keepers
care and dash back to the lot where
their lately weaned calves stood bawl-
ing. Along the road, just behind the
girl, the clumsy animals swung. moo
ing rumblingly and tossing their heads
angrily- The girl turned her head and
took one glance at them, but stood
motionless with fright. Onward lung
ed the cows and the small boy con-
tinued to yell excitedly. Larry bound
ed to the girls side. With one hand
he took hold of her arm and with the
other he waved his Panama hat wild
ly back and forth in the faces of the
cows, whose lum bering movements
came to sudden halt. The next in
slant, though, they swerved to either
side and went on toward their crying
offspring. Larry could feel the girls
arm trembling, but he looked at her
with such a friendly. amused smile
that she laughed.
Thank you for rescuing me-" Her
voice was a bit trembly. 1--WE had
a foolish terror of cows all my life,
tho never before have 1 had any real
reason to fear them
Glad to be of service said larry
and hoping to prolong the converse
t1on he ventured to add, For fear the
ogres renew the attack at some other
point on your journey, won't you let
again = He held up his hat threat
eningly. and both of them laughed.
Ogres are as nothing to the
tongues of village gossips- Sir Knight
of the Panama. said the girl demure-
ly
oh, bother the tongues and the
thousand other things in this burg
which won't keep quiet
But every moment we stand here
makes material for those tongues"
said the girl. taking a backward step,
so must move on. Thank you,
again.
For your sake I'll move on, too,
but if l can find a way to meet you
according to the ethics of the gos-
sips. have 1 your permission" Larry's
eyes were pleading so earnestly that
the gill smiled ard pulled a long
| stemmed daisy from the bunch she
carried.
Yes. and here's a mascot" tossing
nil the flower. May it bring you
| luck
Larry returned to his breakfast
with a contented smile and a raven
Gus appetite. AS his landlandy bus
tlec about the sunny, rag-carpeted
dining-room, he longed to ask her
it would be unwise. He felt that the
| charming girl was in the sleepy viii
iage, but not of it.
would that 1 had been hidden to
call upon her instead of upon the
prin spinster who was my grand
mothers boarding school chum.' Lar
ry sighed at this thought, but stole
ally drew from his pocket the note of
introduction his grandmother had ad-
| dressed to Miss Arabella P. Mortimer.
He resolved to make the promised call
that afternoon so that he might pur-
sue the pleasures of his vacation with
out qualms of conscience for duties
unperformed.
| to be received in a darkened drawing
room by an oppressively dignified spin
| ster and his expectations were fully
realized Miss Mortimer was just as
she folded her thin hands across each
other in her lap. While listening
courteously to her precisely worded
remarks and while making adequate
IL not enthusiastic responses. Larry
was picturing to himself the stately
social functions which had doubtless
taken place within those broad high
ceiled rooms when Miss Mortimer had
been a dimpled girl instead of a wrin-
killed. spinster. Suddenly the middle
reappeared at the doorway with a
frightened expression.
| Begging your pardon, Miss Morti-
mer" began the woman, talking very
rapidly. but Miss Penelope has fell
from a cherry tree and hurt her ankle
most awful"
penelope in a cherry tree!" Miss
Mortimer's dismay at such an indis-
erection overcame her anxiety about
the accident for the moment, and
Larry almost laughed as he thought
of Miss Penelope as a counterpart of
Miss Arabella. and falling from a
cherry tree
She's sitting on the ground now
a-holding of her ankle said the wom-
an, land vowing she won't come in
till you've gone to the Ladies' Aid,
but 1 knew you'd hold me to account
if didn't tell you
Very well. Maggie Miss Morti-
mer's tone indicated that the servant
|
DO let me be of SERVICE" said
Larry eagerly. Cant I assist the lady
to the house %
You are very kind, Mr. Elliott, and
1 think we'd better make haste to the
orchard" Miss Mortimer led the way
out thru a French window as she
spoke
As they hurried thru the orchard
toward the cherry trees along its far
thest slope, Larry saw a white-clad
woman seated on the ground holding
/ her left ankle with both hands. A
large Leghorn sun hat hid her face
: and shoulders so that not until Miss
, Mortimer's anxious questions caused
| the wounded Miss Penelope to lift