The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-16
The Euening Story
When Tom Chased the Cows.
(By Leila Esmond-l

Tom Maben was cultiyating the corn
when across the expanse of golden
brown loan with the shoots of tender
green came a terrified scream He
dropped the hoe and ran toward the
road from which the sound had come,
but all he could see was long stretch
of dusty yellow in both directions and
in the near distance four or five Here
fords grazing peacefully along the
fence.
He listened intently, but hearing
nothing more turned to go back.
Some of the Strauss kids playing I'M
der the hazel bushes. 1 suppose, but 1t
did sound as though some one was
in mortal agony.
He had scarcely gone dozen feet
when some one called despairingly,
ooh. please don't go away"
Tom turned and saw girl leaning
over the fence toward him. her fands
outstretched in supplication. She was
pretty and well dressed, her hat and
shoes almost matching the dust color
of the road. Beside her on the ground
was a travelling bag.
whats wrong?' he called. coming
back in a couple of bounds. rs any
sbody-did anything hurt ycu?" He
looked quickly in every direction for
Eeeing highwayman. or crouch1ng
lion, or something of that sort The
girls hysteria would warrant nothing
less.
They're coming this way: And
can't run, fer # I do they'll chase me
and I can't climb fence! Oh, do
hurry up and do something"
For Tom was standing motionless
and, indeed, open mouthed He wasn't
quite sure he had heard Alright to be-
gin with, and if he had he wasn't
certain whether she was making fool
of him or posing fer movie, like the
crowd that had been there in the
fall.
"Oh. please,"
There was no mistaking the fright
ened agony of her tone. The girl was
almost scared to DEATH
Sure! I'll chase 'emi Don't be
frightened. They won't hurt you.
They got out of the pasture some way.
Why, you're shaking like a leaf!
That's too badi But they wouldn't
hurt you in ten years. Why, they're
afraid of you"
He picked up u stick and went
after the black and white bugaboos
grass in the fence corners. Get back,
there, Posey; go along there! Molly.
hikei Scoot-the whole bunch of
you!"
The cows turned slowly with eyes
of hurt surprise and went quickly
back the way they had come through
the gap in the fence and into the
pasture. Tom swung the big gate shut
and fastened it. There was a twinkle
in his eye as he went back to the girl
sitting. beside the road. Her own eyes
were shut and she was breathing
quickly.
Are they gomez" she whispered.
/ Yes. They won't eat you now"
1t was impossible for him to keep the
note of fun out of his voice.
She flushed angrily. and sprang up.
f"IfS just as natural for me to be
afraid of cows as it is for you farmers
to dodge trolleys aid taxis in the city"
business letting them roam around
Eleessr. She picked up her bag and
kbFushed at her dress. I'm hunting
tTMaybens win you please tell me
where they Hve?''
That's our house, answered Tom
III you give me your bag I'll take you
over Did you see mothers advertise
ment for summer boarders: -
| Yes"
| I've didn't want her to do" he
began. and then changed it. '-She
wants money for some orphan fund
and has chosen this way of getting it,
| Mothers a wonderi"
! But if he had any notion of starting
conversation with the newcomer he
was mistaken A short "Indeed!'' was
j her only reply.
| To herself Carolyn Wilson was saw
| ing. II ought to be able to pay ex-
/ penses here! The people promise well
/ IL this ore is sample. I can send in
/ a story every day to the paper and, be-
sides, 1 shall have plenty of tirue to
| recuperate- I hope the family is large
tso I'll have lots of material to write
about There ought to be a pa and
4 ma and some girls and little kids.
This I suppose is big brotIer!''
Carolyn's hope was verified. The
i family was large and every o.e of
! them proceeded Immediately to make
/ her feel at home. Each one in his
own particular way did what he could
to make her stay pleasant, particularly
Tom, on whom the girl had made a
1 ways between him and the corn rows,
IN the clouds when he looked UP. and
i IN his. dreams when he slept
Carolyn wrote mornings and slept
IN the afternoon, but after 5 o'clock,
when she made her daily trim to the
postoffice and Toms work in the
fields was done they had many pleas
4 ant times together. To Tom it was
heaven To the girl merely pastime.
Tom was Intelligent, she discovered,
and knew lot things. In fact, the
I whole family was entertaining, and
having keen wit and sense of l1unor
and seeing the funny side of all their
/ ways, Carolyn sent many a humorous
4 Qulp 10 HcI paper accompanied by
4 pen-and-ink sketches, 1T which she
was clever.
I One Sunday, as she lay almost
asleep in the hammock. Tom picked
lup paper from the ground beside
her and started to read.
i Suddenly he flung it. down. 3"Tha,
/ rot Is unkind and untruei' he cried.
/. Carolyn was wide awake now and
lsat up. What is it?" she asked
/ .'Oh. these city chaps think it's
funny to write all kinds of things
about US here in the country. It's
all exaggerated and gives false i'm
preston. One would think that peo-
pie who work with their hands cant
grow brains at all, that we are ar
ignorant, stupid lot made to be
/ laughed at, when the truth of it is
we are doing the real work of the
world. People can say what they like
about education and art and culture