The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-28
Eoening Story
An Unchristian Martyr.
BY MARTHA McCULLocH
WTTTTAMC

ingly from the far END OF the Ioot-los
to Betty, poised on the stump. when !
it Lad been cut. She was like a but
terfIy, newly alighted. standing now
on tiptoe, now lettering on both heels,
arms wide and high above her shout
derS, with punches OF red-bud IloWers
in each hand.
"You think I'm foolish enough not
to take a dare" she flung back dis
painfully, her words muffled by the
noise of the swollen creek. 1t was late
March, but warm enough for May
almost sultry, indeed-hence the red
bud flowers. The pair had been
strolling thru a narrow wooded Dot
tom where all manner of sylvan Things
were waking cheerily. Across the
stream there was south-looklng NH
slope above a low limestone bluff,
starred thick in every seam and Granny
with hepaticas, white, pink ana pare
purple. Above them string-bark trees
bore clusters of white stars with point
ed golden hearts, as beautl1ul as OF
chids, and sweeter than spring itself
Betty wanted the white stars-wanted
to pluck them herself. She was not
superstitious, of course-stil 1t was
countryside belief with the unlettered
that wishes made as you plucked were
sure to come true.
her resolve to cross the steam, whether
or no. Peter vowed she could never
walk the log, even with his help-the
trunk was gnarly, rounding, ana peset
with high stubs of the few branches
whoever cut it down had taken time
70 slash away But-he could carry
i her over, if she were baby-his heao
never swan crossing water-and her
weight was nothing to mention
Betty had laughed in his face-then
he had strobe across, ana STOPPED ~
| tantalize her. Half a minute she
meditated, then dropped her flowers
| TO earth. along with her hat ana
| basket, sat herself upon the tree trunk
land began to inch along It, slowly pu'
surely-and> it seemed more than Sc
curely.
.Take care YOU don't wet your rect
they almost touch the water noW-aho
| it's lower in the middle"
sThank YOU for nothing / haven't
| lost sight nor hearing" Betty retorted.
| somewhat breathlessly. The progress
| so easy in theory. was proving naru
nd slow-besides the big stub midway
| doomed menacingly. She could not
possibly lift herself past it-craWhng
| over was her only hope. go away, L
| hate to be watched" she panied 10
Peter who shook his head obstinateiy,
| saving nothing. She drew up her feet
| for the crawl, setting her hands either
! side of the stub, then incautiously
! looked at the water. The log ap-
peared to turn upstream and go SAIL
| ing to nowhere-desperatel she es-
saved to follow it-with result CT
| finding herself splashing in cold and
J very swift water three feet deep. IL
swept her like dead leaf down to q
| pool very much deeper-as sne came
| to it's surface Peter ,clutched her, held
her with one hand, and very shortly
drew her safe to the bank, some hum
dred yards below where she had fallen
| in. And there watching, first with
| concern then with slightly yelled
amusenn ent, stood Jack Bellew and his
city cousin, Emma, u very pattern of
! trim elegance in tweeds high boots
and severely tailored hat They had
come from the Bellew house upon the
| hill top, to see the creek just past its
flood stage, and the waking woods.
Betty could cheerfully have slain them
! both-why had they chosen this spe-
cial morning for their stroll? Jack
Bellew had been fluttering about her
since the Christmas parties-to the
great distress of his mother, who had
matched him in and to her mind with
| Niece Emma. Betty had played with
him prettily after her habit-but she
| would never be able to face him again
she was so conscious of her dragged,
dripping garments, her blue lips, her
hair stringing over forehead and
1
he had flung off coat and waistcoat to
| be sure, but the clinging wet shirt re-
vealed muscles and a torso to delight
any eye, moreover his clutch of her
| showed giant strength. He did not
wait for her to refuse Bellows eager
invitation. Homes nearer-going
| there is the best preventive of taking
cold,' he said almost brusquely. It's
mighty nice of you to Offer US fire AMI
| shelter-thank you a lot-but wet dogs
had better get to their own kennels"
| Then be half-led, half dragged
Betty away, bowling airily, to the pair
| they left. On the way to the log
Towering tree overhead, and reaching
| silently to twitch off changing
J clusters of starry flowers. She was
quite willing to be carried over the
stream. Peter set tentative foot
on the log, then plunged down to the
streamside, saying, with a grin, 1--WE
can't be wetter-here goes." then
! went striding steadily across. He put
down his passenger unbidden, picked
up her hat and flowers and started
along the homeward path at nearly a
| dog-trot. But Betty kept up with
him SO cleverly. In, Whit her color
had come back, here eyes were shiny,
not clouded, and her hair, begin
ming to frame her face in adorable
small tendrils. Viewing all which
| from the corner of his eye he smiled
whimsically. saying, Lucky those
| Others" nodding backward, cant see
you now, Betsy! Jack would fall in
love with you all over again, and
| Cousin Emma want to bite herself
with jealous spite. Fine as she looked
in her outdoor get-up, she'd have
nothing on you. Now you have, as the
/, darkies say, Done come undrowned.'
Did you wish anything on her when
you got the flowers?'
Not a thing" Betty painted. run
/ ming a yard ahead of him. He caught
/ her arm saying, stNrnly, mo running
away, missi Things have got to be set
/ tied right here and now
"Oh, have they?" Betty flung over
her shoulder. twisting SO her face was
hidden. She was all in a glow-the
twinkle in Peters eyes had betrayed
/ him. Besides-it was about time to
settle things-but she would never in
the world let them be settle otherwise