American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-24
Berries


By N @. RRocAN

toooyrirhs. 1918, Western Newspaper Unionl
The brisk walk brought the color
nngling to James lately too-pale
cheeks: 1t also loosened u shining
strand or two Of hair that had grown
to a fashion Of neat preciseness,
With a 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 f~unloving 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 strawberries been but a
youthful. excuse for an afternoon In
his company she wondered. So hap
by, so care-free they had been togeth-
err, the tall. bright-faced lad, all en-
thuslasm In planning his future,
or "our future" rs he had called 1t, 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
| UpNu lthNtS, us HiG licAVANN ~ aHoN
old, old story whose charm is ever,
new. sand when l come back rich
and famous" ne 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 ms she thought OF the
years Of separation, necessary, II he
were to become the great artist that
his ambition craved. Never for o mo-
ment did she doubt his success, even
now. Wonderful were his unframed
sketches of wood and valley, beautiful
fancles, too, filled his mind.
"The lead leaves and the snow" he
told her Signify the discouragements
and hardness of life, while beneath
them grow the bright berries Of hope"
} "And love-" Jane Rose had added tim
idly. "for love can live through every
encouragement" The young man had
} turned away impatiently Mt that, for
her allegiance TO the invalid mother
; was a never-forgotten grievance. Had
, 1t not been for the mothers exactinp
presence, lane herself would have
5 Travelled with him across the ocean e
: the land of adventure, and realized
ambition So-he had gone away
: Far as her eye could sec his graceful
a swinging figure Jane watched HIN
down tbs road 20 the station. Ant
that had been more than ten year
ago-ten long years and until tbil
threatening winter day, James zee
! had never again followed the ravin'
path t the wood.
At first letters had come regularl!
from her lover; Their they had grow
further apart, and ceased altogether
Often she thought Of him, this ah
sent lover, and without bitterness
Then came the time when her car
was no longer needed. Quite alone
Jane prepared her evening meal an
set a place at her table for one. Alone
she sat at evening looking down tn
. long road TO the village, for youn
q friends had departed or made newe
homes for themselves, while Jane ha
Il been busy" occupied with a task
4 love which allowed no respite.
Il "rIl go away" Jane murmured pa
y sionate.y; II will see the world thf
. claimed him. / will not stay foreve
and ever on a lonely hillside"
As II to give incentive to her dec
sion, Jane read a sentence In the pl
per which came daily from the cit
"Mr. John Allen Gordon" announce
the society column, 'has returned fro
abroad mr.. John Allen Gordon
she smiled TREMENDOUSLY. Would
recognize the village friends who stl
lovingly referred to him as Jack
Jane Rose fell 10 dreaming. then,
the home he might now have, and u
wife. perhaps, and II seemed all
once that the four walls of the lit
home room were pressing down upt
her, and she must-must get away.
After that, preparations brought
y new and delightful excitement. 81
would take the none saved from Il
renting of the old barn for a neig
boris automobile, and spend 1t all In
* short city vacation. Such extrav
ed gance seemed a sin. but this new sen
OF recklessnes8 was exnilhrhun
q James eyes sparkled with an old Zig
Ill as she viewed the mail order" IA
cling suit, with accompanying hi
doves and shoes. Gray h had chs
er for each article. a silvery, beau
Isl full gray
.es Jane was enchanted. She blush
US with guilty vanity as she regarded h
m self in the mirror. Ten years, ey
~ in the filling Of hot-water bottles, h
IN been most kind. Her spirits sank a
tie as she considered that she had
al one acquaintance in the big city. I
he she knew OF the best hotels.
is She glanced around h room app
lis heusiveIy, hoping that the time of II
nd, uriating would not spoil her for
tn coming back. And as the train rush