The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30
EoeningStory
On a Summer Day.
BY CRAWFORD LUTTRELL.

.Hello!" he called cheerily, waving
his cap. 1--WE hunted all over the
farm for you Thought you were
down at the spring house, SO 1 went
with these apples? Make cider?"
| Kate nodded. They picked up the
basket, carrying it between them. Il
had a letter from my brother this
morning" she told him. HE is COM
i ing home for the week end and he is
bringing Reece Logan with him.
Reeee is an architect, gifted, ambi-
tious boy who is bound to make
success. I'll be SO glad to see him.
How long have you known him %
Mac asked suddenly.
Forever" said Kate simply. 1--WE
lived on the same street, in the same
block, from the time was baby until
dad bought this farm and we moved
out here last year. Reece is really
splendid. You'll like him.
"Maybe!" said Mac doubtfully. He
! glanced down at her left hand, where
it rested on the handle of the basket
The small diamond on the third finger
twinkled up at him disturbingly. He
had thought about that ring many,
many times.
She saw him looking at it, and set
ting the basket down, lifted her hand.
''Reece gave me that diamond. Isn't it
| a white little stone?" There was no
coquetry in her manner. She was as
candid as child. He's going to put
several others with it and have it
mounted in a cluster next fall, for nv
birthday. Isn't he generous to do that
for me?"
Mae tried to smile, made miserable
IaHure or 1t and stopped over to pick
up the basket again. Nothing in this
world is too good for you. Kate
/ When they had reached the cider
n1~oI7 re
house. black Pete who had gone
down there for water, looked at the
little basket of apples and burst out
laughing Lawd hev mercy chile, -
ne cried, them many apples wouldn' t
wet yo' whistle. Wait till Pete goes
to de orchard! Amt no use 1nessin'
up de press to make dipperful."
Mac and Kate sat down on the
porch OF the springhouse to wait for
Peter to return. Kate was lost in the
reverie of day dream. With her
graceful head tilted back against an
old weather. beaten rain barrel. she
was looking up. smile nesting in her
W1oe blue eyes and around her soft,
curved lips as she watched little
white clouds. like a hurrying troop of
winged young fairies, racing across
the summer sky.
Mae turned his head and looked at
her. There was a shadow in his Won
der1ng eyes. He ran a speculative
finger down her bare forearm, touch
, ing her brown hand lightly.
t ''Thinking?" he questioned her.
She glanced down at his hand
t touching her own. the dreams still
l lurking in her happy eyes She slowly
; turned her hand over until it rested.
palm to palm, under his A little
pulse seemed to be striking sledge-
hammer blows in her slim. bronzed
5 throat. Her heart raced with the Cos
a lr5a
summer sky. eS-' = -.-s a3.7g s....ls
Thinking about tom orrow and
your brother coming?" he asked
again with a worshipful look
And today. too" she remarked
truthfully. blushing under his keen
scrutiny. Il was just thinking how
wonderful it was to be in the country
It's like hearing the heart of the
l world beating under my cheek" She
3 hesitatingly withdrew her hand from
. his warm clasp. He made no effort
to restrain her. st have always lived
1 in city where people are herded to-
2 gether in restricted quarters, where
= most of the flowers are in florists
. windows and little trapped birds are
e In foot-square cages. Out here one
gets such a different perspective"
r "A little philosopher, aren't you p
e he smiled. Il wish that 1 had always
D known a girl like you"
"A girl like me or" She >hesitated
laughing at his quick protest
1eu of ceuse. Just you, Kate.
f never dreamed that there was a gir
8 in the world who loves the country
e as CO, city-born and bred as L have
been"
n Il suppose you have known many
: many girls, haven't. you?"
oil Il never knew another Kate" he
S conceded evasiVely.
n ?" She was smiling expectsnt
j II wish that I had known you soon
s err" he said again soberly He rose
s suddenly, holding out his hand to her
: I'll try to see you some time tomor-
row. I'm thinking about going on a
! fishing trip
All of the laughter and. the ghost.
| of happy little dreams fled away a.
: she looked up at him. Aren't you
f going TO wait until Pete comes bach
4 with the apples? 1t will be such fur
e to help make the cider Why cam
3 you stay, Mac?"
: He smiled gratefully when she call.
. ed him by name, but shook his head
Tn in the dumps" he told her wist
: fully. Better get eff by yourself unit
: I'm cured.''
!. She watched him go swinging of
down little path. travel worn ant
| beaten into thin dusty line thru the
| drying grass. He did not look bacl
= ! and at every step he took he seemed
: to be treading on her heart.
Il wish that l had known you soon
!. err" he had said sadly. Was there, per
| haps, somebody else, somebody tt
| | whom he had pledged himself. Eye
| smarting with unshed, carefully re
| strained tears, Kate looked up one,
! more at the far blue sky. but SHADOW
had yelled the golden sun and it wa!
as somberly gray as last years gyps,
fires.
He came back so quietly that sh
did not know he was near until h
leaned over her tenderly his rnois
}, hands burning as if with fever as h
7, drew her to her feet before him. Kate
dear, have no right TO come back t.
tell you that I love you, that l wan
A you for my wife when I know tina
you are engaged to Reece Logan, bu
something stronger than my will i'm
/ PEELED me, forced me back. Don't lie
. ! - T5HI