Sharp County record., 1918-12-27
Squaw-B Berries
@1
BY AGNES q. BRoGAN
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper UniOn.)

Inc DrlSk walk brought the Color
tlngling to James lately tOo-pale
cheeks; it also loosened a shining
strand or two of hair that had grown
to a fashion of neat preciseness.
With strange and sudden impulse
she turned from the country roadway
down a tree-bordered lane to the ra-
vine. How long it had been since she,
a fun-loving girl, had followed this
path of wood-fragrant charm, in
search of bright red berries, clustering
among their shining green leaves in
the moss underfoot Or, had the
search for squaw-berries been but a
youthful excuse for an afternoon in
his company? she wondered. So hap
py, so care-free they had been togeth-
er, the tall, bright-faced lad, all en-
thusiasm in planning his future,
or "our future" as he had called it, and
she, released for an hour or two from
the daily care Of her invalid mother
Bending, she would gather the berries
from their hiding place beneath the
dead leaves, as she listened to that
old, old story whose charm Is ever
new. "And when I come back rich
and famous" he would say, 1--WE shall
be married, Jane Rose"
"Jane Rose" She loved the name as
It fell from his lips. Jane" was too
plain for his "rose-girl," he told her,
and the added name seemed a caress.
But Jane sighed as she thought Of the
years Of separation, necessary, II he
were to become the great artist that
his ambition craved. Never for mo-
ment did she doubt his success, even
now. Wonderful were his unframed
sketches of wood and valley, beautiful
fancies, too, filled his mind.
'"The dead leaves and the snow" he
told her signify the discouragements
and hardness of life, while beneath
them grow the bright berries Of hope
sand love-" Jane Rose had added tim
Idly, "for love can live through every
encouragement" The young man had
turned away impatiently at that, for
her allegiance to the invalid mother
was a never-forgotten grievance. Had
1T not been for the mothers eXacting
presence, Jane herself would have
Travelled with him across the ocean to
the land Of adventure, and realized
ambition. So--he had gone away.
Far as her eye could see his graceful
swinging figure Jane watched him
down the road to the station. And
that had been more than ten years
-ago-ten long years and until THIS
threatening winter day, James feet
had never again followed the ravine
path to the wood.
AT first letters had come regularly
from her lover; then they had grown
further apart, and ceased altogether
Often she thought Of him, this alb
sent lover, and without bitterness,
Then came the time when her care
was no longer needed. Quite alone,
Jane prepared her evening meal and
set place at her table for one. Alone,
she sat Mt evening looking down the
long road to the village, for young
friends had departed or made newer
homes for themselves, while Jane had
been "busy," occupied with task OF
love which allowed no respite.
"rll go away" Jane murmured pas
sionately; II will see the world that
claimed him. will not stay forever
and ever on n lonely hillside"
As II TO give incentive to her decl'
sion, Jane read n sentence In the pa
per which came daily from the city.
"Mr John Allen Gordon" announced
the society column, "has returned from
abroad" "Mr. John Allen Gordon"
she smiled TREMENDOUSLY, Would he
recognize the village friends who still
lovingly referred TO him os "JnckT'
jane Rose fell 20 dreaming, then, or
tho home he might now have, and the
wife, perhaps, and II seemed all Mt
nnVt lllOl lut IONl NHllN VI INV iiN'N
homo room were pressing down upon
her and she must-must get away.
After that preparations brought n
new ana delightful excitement she
would take the money saved from the
renting of the old barn for n neigh
bor's automobile, and spend II Oll In n
short city vacation, Such eNtrnvn-
gnnce seemed sin, but this new sense
of rccliessness was eXhIlnrnling,
James eyes spOrkled with mn old light
ns she viewed the mail ordor' tr0v'
cling suit, with accompanying hat
gloves and shoes, Gray she hOd chos
en- for each article, sllycry bcoutl
ful gray,
Jane was enchanted, She blushcd
with guilty vanity M sho regarded her
self In the mirror Ten years, ever
In the filling Of hot.wnter bottles hnt
been most kind, Her spirits SINK n III
tlc rs she considered that she had moi
one acquaintance Ia the big city Bu'
she knew Of the best hotels,
She glanced around the room nppre
hensively, hoping that the time of lux
urinting would not spoil her for thu
coming back. And ns The train rushed
-t..........1 H.. ,,t.,1.v,I 10 10 p,tiI IA,