The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-20
EVENING STORY
Wine of Life.
BY CATHERINE HOPsoN.


Amy Davanant. teacher of the Pine
Grove school, stepped aside in the road
at the approach of bells, and then
turned with a slight pucker between
her smooth brows at the futillty of
the question. Her need of lift" was
thru fourteen inches of unbroken
snow. Besides. she felt piqued that
Duncan Alden, unlike the other young
people in the community. had made
no effort to get acquainted since her
coming among them
"Oh-its you, Miss Davanant," AL
den said when he saw who it was.
Then he jumped out to help her in the
sleigh.
Il don't wonder you didn't recognize
me, I'm so wrapped up she laughed,
as he tucked the robe around her.
why in the name of common sense
didn't the Perkinses take you to school
on a day like this?' he asked, when
the jingle of bells began again.
She laughed They seldom think
liza, once taught this school when she
was girl, and walked back and forth
every day of the term. She set an
! uncomfortable precedent"
Its hard to live up to some one
else's reputation, especially in a win
ter like this
Maybe the paragon Amelia didn't
have so much snow to wade thru
But in most ways the Perkinses are
very kind to me-" she amended, lest
people with whom she boarded.
Yes? But it must be pretty dull
for you there-just those two old peo-
pie" He glanced commiseratingIy at
the bright-eyed girl beside him.
1T isn't exactly exciting" she ac-
knowledged.
When they reached the district
school house, the unbroken snow and
smokeless chimney told them that
they were the first arrivals
"Oh, I'm afraid Ted isn't there"
she exclaimed in dismay. Hes the
boy hired to build fires for me-"
ALLOW me to be Ted this morning"
laughed he. I'm good hand at fire
building. A case of practice making
perfect, you know"
She protested, but he had his way,
and soon had a glowing fire in the
rusty stove. This done, his glance
traversed the typical country school
room back to the dainty, city-bred girl
before him.
Genuine concern was in his face.
This billiards. made travelling
mighty bad. 1 doubt if any of the
pupils get here this morning. Most
of them live SO far away. What'll
you do if they don't Gomez
"Oh, stay out the time. I'll have
to on account of the salary you know.
The directors aren't very lenient in the
matter of lost time
That's so. But it's a pretty dreary
proposition I'll drop in at noon to
see how you're making out With a
few last laughing words of advice, |
he left; and the merry sound of bells |
died away in the distance.
He was right about the pupils No
one came. Amy put in the morning
correcting papers, and finishing pieces
of work she had been obliged to neg |
lect in the stress of regular routine. |
All the time, though she would not |
acknowledge it to herself, the thought |
of Alden's promise to drop in at noon |
was cheering factor.
However, when IL O'Clock came he
old not appear, and she was setting |
out a cold lunch from her lunch box |
when she heard bells again. She
opened the door. Alden stood there, |
shining.
I'm afarid I'm a bit late, Miss
Davanant-" His keen glance took in
the forlorn, empty schoolroom. 81 see
my prophecy proved true"
She laughingly nodded.
ct am glad of it, he said naively. |
For it makes possible the wish I've
been harboring that you would do me
the honor of taking pot-luck dinner
with me. I'm not much of cook, |
but can make bully soup; and I've
whole kettle full on the stove in my
cabin
Her eyes frightened, but hesitancyJ
shone in their depths.
"Oh, 1 know it may be a bit uncon-
ventional But surely this blizzard
might allow US some latitude in that
direction. Besides we have Lassie,
here for a chaperone," he nodded at !
the gentle eyed collie at his feet.
She laughed. 1T does seem as if
the storm might make some conceS- |
sions. But can you get back by one
O'Clock? 1 might have some pupils by |
then, you know
He gave hearty assurance, and be- |
fore she could change her mind, he
bundled her into her wraps.
Again the juggling cutter made the
half mile trip to his cabin, where the
appetizing odor of steaming tomato
soup greeted them. The cabin was a |
coy, two-roomed affair, bachelor in |
appointments, but with books and !
magazines everywhere Amy drew a |
long breath. After five homesick
months away from her kind in the |
narrow isolation of the Perkins home, |
it was good to be in book-loylng |
atmosphere again.
To do her honor, he spread a clean |
white cloth over the little, oil-cloth |
covered table, and served the steam |
ing tomato soup. They were as merry |
as two children while they ate. Lassie !
sat BESIDE them in gracious forebear- |
ance as they talked and laughed. Both |
were surprised when the clock struck |
one. Quickly they entered the cutter
and drove back to the school house !
where silence again greeted them
I'VE needn't have hurried so after I
ALL" protested he.
Some of the pupils may come yet" |
answered she.
He brought in more wood for her. |
and with advice about keeping up the |
fire well, went away.
The afternoon dragged. No one |
came She finished the odd jobs |
which occupied her during the morn |
ing, and time hung heavily on her |
hands. The storm, which had abated !
at noon, increased in fury. The air |
seemed full of snow and smooth I'M |
broken expanses of prairie stretched I
out around her for miles and miles
She had no assurance that Mr.. Per-
l1ins 1TnIlld come for her at four |