The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-04
EVENING STORY
A Pig Under the Fence.
BY F. H. SWEET.

worked hard at something every va
cation
~ know. And I've been ashamed of
you every vacation" she retorted. Il
vowed again and again I'd stop speak
ing to you. But you did SO much bet
ter than the other boys in the high
school, and looked so gentlemanly on
the platform that always overlooked
your lapses. I was really proud of
the way you represented our class
when we graduated. Why don't you
try and get gentlemanly position like
Andy Bray and Andy Searles?"
Because I feel just as gentlemanly
between the barrow handles, and I'm
bank or Andy in the real estate Of
fice," he answered. I'm fact, l was
offered Arthur's job before he took it.
1 feel my time, with the future beyond,
is worth more than 81 week to me-"
But it's $3.50 common and undig-
to cut you from society. I'd rather
go into the drug store for a soda with
Arthur or Andy on their salary. than
with you on twice as much, even tho
II might like you better, and you
could make a better appearance If
you would. Why I'm beginning to
hear you spoken of as Cal Cabbages.'
It's horrid!'
Cal shook his head with a smile.
81 like it, he declared. at tells
L III QOluS SOHlelHlHS. HlT0 d DiS
field that seems exactly suited to cab
bages. They've been yielding great
for me the past three years. Maybe
I've earned the name Of Cab
bages.' I'd like to think SO. But the
next work will be even worse, from
our point of view. I've told you about
Mr.. Hatch the coal dealer, who wants
a strong young fellow to go into the
business with him. to shoulder some
of the heavier work and responsibility.
He was talking with me the other day
in fact, made definite offer, which
I've accepted. I'm to own a fourth
of the business. and my crop of cab
bages that I'm delivering will make
my savings enough to pay for 1t. But
I shall look after the harder outside
part while Mr.. Hatch, who's DID, will
stay in the office. I want to I'M
derstand the whole business, SO for a
while will drive one of the delivery
wagons, and probably be as black and
dirty as any of the coiored men. Peo-
pie may get TO calling me. .Soft-coal
Cal,' or 'Anthracite,' or 'Bituminous
CAL I hope so. And hope the next
thing beyond coal that 1 enter will
stick to me the same way. I'd a
thousand times rather have some such
working name than be a mere Mister
this, that or the other. You wouldn't
like it, tho, I'm afraid, Louise
The girl had stepped back, her face
cold and scornful.
zeal Cabbages'-'Soft-C CAL
wheeIbarrow = smooched face = one
your horrid taste. No; I wouldn't like
it, and whatever we may have talked
of is off, utterly.
Calvin looked after her for some
moments, as she walked away. his
face grave. They had been very good
and congenial friends in the high
school Now they were drifting
abruptly apart. Who was to blame?
He lifted the barrow handles and
continued toward home, thinking it
over. Louise was set on becoming a
fashionable young lady. and perhaps
placed too much stress on appearance.
Very likely he was just as much the
other way
But somehow. even for the friend
ship of Louise, he could not wish him
self other than he was. He liked hard
places that must be climbed over or
pushed aside. The very zest of achiev-
ing almost paid for the hardship of
it. He would far rather struggle for
yard, wrestling for every foot gained,
than to sit at a desk in good clothes
and trust to luck or diplomacy. But
he did not whistle any as the trun-
died the barrow along.
Out near the edge of the town was
a second-rate boarding house, kept by
a woman who couldn't afford better
one or one nearer the center. She was
an energetic, kindhearted person, and
tho her boarders were all common day
laborers who couldn't pay much, they
were her good friends and acted as
sort of house policemen, watching
newcomers and transients frankly and
seeing they paid their board promptly
when due.
From the small margin above cost
she had sent Adelaide Eliza her only
child, thru high school. The girl had
been in many of Calvin7s classes, and
had graduated at the same time. But
he knew very little of her. He re-
membered her chiefly as a defiant,
black-eyed thing in a neat but out-of-
date and much turned and darned
clothing. Such of the girls as noticed
Adelaide Eliza did it to ridicule and
make her angry. Some of the boys
did the same. They liked to watch
the black eyes flash and the angry
feet stamp.
But they couldn't ridicule her from
school! The girl literally fought her
way thru, without friend, and grad
uated with almost the highest honors.
After school she had always darted
away ahead of the others, going across
lots; and in the morning had slipped
in just as the last bell was ringing 1t
enabled her to escape muci. of the
rfdicule. After graduating she disap-
peared in the same way, taking no
part in the later exercises or social
on it in low voices, perhaps ashamed
of things they had said or done.
Calvin had been too much absorbed
in his books to notice much. In all
their schooling he hadn't spoken to
Adelaide Eliza half a dozen times
nor for that matter. much more with
any of the girls except Louise, who
had a seat near him, and walked as
far as her home ON the same side
walk.
As he trund1ed his wheelbarrow out
thru the edge of the village, where
there were more vacant lots and larger
gardens, a sudden mild, protesting
sQueal rose directly in front.
Rank weeds and bushes grew out
side, some of them nearly as high as
the fence. Calvin ran his wheelbar.
row a few more feet, then stopped
abruptly A path had been worn thru
the weeds to the fence, and crouching
in the path, straining back, her feet
braced against a rail, was Adelaide