The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
EVENING STORY
Rich Man, Poor Man.
BY ELIENNE ST. CLAIRE


ance. 1t was much better to remain a
stenographer and earn her own living
tan inflict herself upon some poor
hard-wOrking man, she had decided
long before. If 1t had to be a poor
man or no man. then it would be no
man, of that she was confident.
Look outi" The cry came across
the field, but before Harriet could
scream out she was lifted in two big
arms and carried over the fence, just
in time. The Infatuated bull that she
had mistaken for an inoffensiye COW
had been,maddened by her red sweater
and would have trampled or gored
out her life had it not been for her
rescuer.
''There!" The man painted as he
placed her on the grass, I'VE are all
safe now"
Harriet had closed her eyes, but she
opened them now. The man was just
as she had been picturing-tall, big,
brawny and handsome.
"Oh, thank you,' she breathed.
However did you carry me over that
He looked down at the demure little
person of ninety pounds on the grass
before him and smiled. 1T was just
ILL., carrying a baby" he replied.
amused.
nifty. Sitting so serenely on the grass
after such a thrilling rescue she had
felt like a heroine in a novel, but now
she rose sheepishly and brushed the
grass from her skirt. Itrwas difficult
to appear tall and dignified for a per-
tempted it bravely.
Il am by no means a child" she
flashed.
, II did not mean you were,' he cor
rected. perhaps you thought l was
rough. I am more used to carrying
nrls nf Ior, Ia6 Ia,,4 7 u,
prefer the latter
That righted him immediately with
Harriet She was soon wondering if it
would be proper to allow him to see
her home. He seemed to think it
would. 1t seemed no time before she
was bidding him good afternoon and
inviting him to call again at her
aunt's gate in the village.
She looked after him lonsingly as
he went down the road. He was just
the type of man she had always
dreamed of, but alas, he was poor.
HIS every appearance told her that, and
he had said himself that he was work.
ing on neighboring farm-a mere
hired man.
If only he had not been. However,
she was not going to permit that to
prevent her enjoying his company
while she was. ON her vacation, for
there remained two months of it. What
IL he Iell III love with hef! she would
make sure that he didn't-not perma-
nently, anyway. She would invent
some yarn that would scare him off
AS Melville Reynolds, Harriet's res
cuer, was trudging along the road his
mind was on the little girl he had Just
lett. She wassa plucky little thing, he
thought, and 1t was hard to keep from
admiring her. She was a pretty little
country girl--the very kind of girl he
had made up his mind to marry some
day when he found her. He had found
her, he could not help thinking.
2 But the next day Melvilles love am
Buttons were shattered. Harriet let
mig know in a very airy sort of way
that she was u leader in the very best
society of the city, and all that sort
of thing
whenever a chance offered itself for
MIN to grow sentimental she always
managed to bring up something about
a sball or an afternoon tea or a yacht
ing trip, or some other thing that he
hateo the very name of He went
nome disappointed in her, but some
now he could not make up his mind
not to call on her again. she was a
dear little girl even tho she was the
butterly type he detested. OF course.
ne did not guess that Harriet had
MADE up the society role to show him
just now Impossible love-making with
proposed to her the day she announced
her intention of leaving for home.
L could not think of such a thing"
nor
Melville did not wait to plead his
cause. he went away without saying
word, leaving Harriet wondering
whether to laugh or cry. She did not
have time to do either. Just a few
minutes remained in which to catch
ready.
The train was late. and as Harriet
waited at the station she had an on
portunity to think it over. She had
been an idiot to act the way she had,
she decided. Even if he was poor he
was perfect. What was poverty COM
pared to happiness? She loved him
Now she knew it, it was too late
Perhaps it was not too late Her
baggage was checked thru, but she did
not think of that. She was beside her
aunt's hired man in the old ram
shackle buggy. and was ordering him
to drive to the farm where Melville
, worked. just as the train whistIed at
the bend.
He has gone to the river" the
farmer told her.
The river. Harriets head swan.
There was only one thought in her
mind. Melville had gone to end his life
because she had SO cruelty rejected
him. She seized the lines from the
startled hired man and whipped UP
| the old horse. The beast responded
nobly. but to Harriet it was a snaiPs
pace. The river hove~in sight. She
was out before they stopped at the
bridge, and then stopped, painting. On
the bank just few yards from the
road sat Melville. calmly fishing
Harriet stopped long enough to get
her heart back to its normal beat and
| then crept silently toward him.
Melville was staring out over The
| river. a far-away look on his face
/ The minute her arms encircled his
neck he knew who it was. and took
! her in his arms.
She did not sob until her whole cor
| fession of love had been made. but
! Melville kissed the tears away. The
sun was slowly sinking. the shadows
were on the river 1t would have made
a splendid ending had not Harriet re-