Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-23
RED STAR SPECIAL
BY MARY MORRISON.
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told an Indifferent world that John
Henry OF 81A Blocker street sold
lawn mowerA
Up and down the kun.b baked street,
torpid in the August heat. there WAS
not a sign Of life; it might have been
4 deserted village.
Not creature was stirring. not
even mouse" nlurmured John
Henry to himself.
Somehow 1t all reminded John
Henry of the summer two years ago
when he had been salesman for the
Red Star Special Lawnmower com
pany and had tried to sell u machine
10 pretty girl in small town up in
Connecticut. Whenever John Henry
thought Of her standing there In the
doorway Of the little old farmhouse,
with the sun In her hair and the blue
sky In her eyes, he was conscious of
little jump III his heart beats.
He closed his eyes and the whole
scene came back to him. He had
spoken eloQuently of the way Red
Star Special worked.
"A lawn mower! l wouldn't buy
lawn mower If had SO much money
that l had to hire bank to take
care Of 1t. Look at that one under the
tree there-wOrkS a few minutes
day and sleeps all the rest Of the
time. Does nothing but cut grass from
one years end to another. l hate
grass and trees and-oh! very much
and--lawnmowers. If you were selling
rrnrnal 81
cars OF something that really lived,
MIR. Agent, Id buy. But as 1t Is. Ill
save my Irsnry for carfare to Il place
where there Is no grass that needs to
be cut"
She had turned on ner heel and
slammed the door In John Henry's
face.
He gave q sigh as he remembered
the picture she had made In her pink
bingham dress, her sun-tanned cheeks
flushed with anger at lawn mowers
and life in general. He was wonder
Ing where she was now and II she
had ever saved up enough money for
carfare, when soft exclamation
from the doorway made him turn
quickly around.
'Oh, what beauties! What perfect
bcauties"' came In tones of hushed
fervor.
There. but for the Bingham dress
and the angry discomfort, stood the
girl from Connecticut! Her French
heeled slipper and blue georgette frock
proclaimed her very much OF the city,
citified--but John Henry knew her in
an instant. ,.--,,---.
How much are they?" she went
Oh. while he continued inadequateiy
10 mop his brow. Il do not know how
can use one exactly in an apart
ment--but somehow I think Id just
love TO have one around. l suppose !
could use 1t rs sort Of hatrnck eff
feet. Painted black, with rosebud
pattern on the handle, it might be quite
effective"
She paused moment in deep
thought. and then suddenly inquired:
Il don't suppose by any chance
these are Red Star Specialist
Then for the first time she looked
straight at John Henry. Blocker
street outside was beginning to wake
up, FOR from block or so off came the
softened jangle Of a hurdygurdy and
boys voice singing so that they
could hear the words quite plainly:
"A verauda with some sort of clinging
And kitchen where the rambler roses
climb"
on" snid the girl. It's you. Mr..
Agent, isn't itT'
Yes" answered John Henry, rather
breath'essly. II had Just been wonder
ing whether you ever saved up
enough---carfare, and then l looked up
and here you are."
Better than IL palace with gilded dome
Is lore-nest We can call home"
came the boys voice outside, nearer
this tIIue.
when you saw ME that day
wouldn't even talk civilly to you about
lawn mowers-thOugh wa really did
need new oue-jnst because they
stood for the grass and trees AMI coun-
try. thought / was fed up"
To-day" she continued. when l
saw your green sign. ] would give any
thing I possess to tie running one up
and down, UP and down"
"Ecre." said John Henry. thrusting
the handle oi his choicest grade A
into her hand. "Try 1t. often do"
Quite solennly they walked hack
and forth over The dusty boards Of
John Iieury's Blcecl;er street store. the
wisil'Dg-rarp"t Of their iraGinntions
taking them fur away to some grass-
covered slope in the Connecticut hills.
Then. suddenly, catching each others
eye they broke into q guile Of laugh
Ter such as Blocker street had never
heard before.
Just lcve-ncst, coy and warm,
Like dove rest down OH the farm"
came from just outside the door as
the boy passed by.
"'CoHy and warm Gracious. what
unholy sentiments on H day Ike this"
L., Il, til