The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-05
EDening Story
The First Step.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.
They had~named her June because
they said her eyes held the heavenly
blueness of the June sky, her cheeks
were apple blossoms and her hair
curled like the tendrils of the moon
flower vine that grew outside the
windows. June Day, what charm
ing name for a babyi
Her father and mother loved each
other SO much tht when her father
was called suddenly away her mother
followed very soon.
They've gone to heaven Annette,
her old nurse, told the child.
And that was the history of June.
that and the fall she had had that
lifted her on a narrow cot bed and
left her there thru all the dreaming
hours Of her girlhood.
She watched the birds wing past in
flocks when spring was come; she
saw the fiye-fingered frond of the
she breathed the soft air heavy with
the damp odor of the earth and bud
ding things.
Then June Day for the first time in
her twenty years had the irrepressi-
BILE desire to get up and walk. She
pushed back the cover that lay over
her and looked at her helpless feet in
their blue slippers. Very carefully
she lifted first one and then the other
with her hand so that they hung over
the cot. Then she tried to stand.
Annette found her there beside the
cot when she came up with her glass
of milk, a little huddled figure cry
s.Now, dearie," she scolded. why
didn't you tell me? I wouldve got it
for your
But I wanted to walk. I wanted
to walk" the sobbing girl choked.
Annette lifted the slender figure in
her arms and laid her back on the
cot. But when she had left the room.
her wrinkled, plain old face bore a
puzzled look. That very afternoon
she put on her black Jacket and her
black hat with the red dahlia in it
and, taking her black cotton gloves,
prepared to journey forth.
Anything you want. dearie?" she
asked. putting her head in at the
door.
| June smiled. I'm reading the love-
Hest book She has so many lovers
that she doesn't know which one to
Annette shook her head sadly as she
went down the stairs. That was why
| she dared to ring the bell and ask for
'Dr Fleming in spite of the brilliance
of the new brass plate that quite filled
| the old woman with disnay. She
knew, too well. that all the old doctors
had said hopeless" But still-Dr.
nette thought. He asked her questions
in a sudden. abrupt way that abashed
her at first Then he sat staring hard
F., at his desk.
Now Annette had come to the hard
| est part of her task.
| you don't get your meals here?"
! she fumbled.
! NO" he answered, wondering at the
curiosity of the old woman.
| Then I'm thinking-that is. would
you take your meals with me to pay
| for the doctoring?"
| Doctor Fleming opened his eyes that
were neither green nor gray. and
smiled: and as the smile lighted his
face old Annette wondered why she
could ever have thought him plain.
/ "I will he said. and gave her his
| hand on the bargain.
/ June Day looked on this new man
creature without shyness, but a gen
| tie question awoke in her blue eyes.
Was he the Incarnation of all the
heroes she had ever read? Was he
the prince charming that always
comes riding for the dreaming prin-
cess?
| He was very gentle, but very cruel
too, she sometimes thought when he
made her move her stiff legs until she
felt she would faint from the pain.
"If he knew how 1t hurt. she
thought, and closed her eyes. But she
did not see the doctors face change
from encoura cement to sudden mis-
ery He was still there when she
what are all those about2" he
asked, pointing to the books beside
her on the little white table.
"Oh, they're all about love" June
said. 1T must be wonderful-
The young doctor frowned: You
ought not to read that stuff. It'll
spoil you. I'm going to be married
soon-myself.'
"Oh!" June breathed with her blue
eyes lifted to his. ,.
You must know all about love
and said: You are to do that exer-
else twice tomorrow morning and
twice tomorrow afternoon and twice
the next morning.
an?" June asked ungrammaticaily
] but wistfully IF you knew how !
loved to see you-and II you
"Oh. very well: very we'll" the
young doctor snapped and had gone
before she had a chance to say good
/. by,
June, when she was once more
alone, forgot to think over her exer-
cises, but dreamed instead about her
mythical lover. He must have pale
brown hair and eyes neither green nor
gray, and he must be tall, and. yes,
she would even like him to frown
when he was thinking hard, and his
smile-why, his smile must must be
just like DR.. Fleming'si"
| When DR.. Fleming came next morn
ing his first words startled her SO that
she sat up quite straight
This is the last time I shall come
here as your doctor"
"Oh!" June, slipping to her feet in
her excitement, forgot that she was
Estanding all alone.
Unless you can take the first step
to met
June Day stood very straight, then
she made one trembling, wild, brave
step and slipped into the young doc
tors arms. She felt his arms about
her, strong and saving. and she found
her cheek pressing the rough lapel OF
his coat.
My brave little girl he said softly
and lifted her back to her cot.
When she opened her eyes she fall
tered, But do you think-do you
think-she would like it2''
II didn't dare trust myself" the
young doctor said quickly. II said
| 20 r. al hut ~