The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-03
Euening Story
The Ram of Darby
BY-MARTHA Mcc. WILLIAMS.

There was naison, of sorts between
Bobby BristowN and the eminent G..
Washington in that both sang. equally
out of key, the so famous chant of the
Darby Ram. Bobby's performance
approached syncopation thru the fact
that Hoplight, his singIe-footer, was
going great guns, being headed home
ward. Still you could catch without
straining ears:
THAT ram was fat before, sir; that ram
was fat behind;
That ram was ten miles round, sir, the
He had four feet to walk, sir; he had four
feet to stand;
And every foot that ram ihaG, covered an
acre of land"
Don't believe word of it, Bobby.
But if it's true your ram must have
been the Only Original Wool Trust
Marietta called high and clear from
the roadside. Instantly Bobby stopped
HopHght deadTsQ. sharply the crea-
ture came upon hadnches.
What you doin' out here in this
br'lin' SUM-" he demanded. "Ain't you
freckled enough-not even a turkey
egg can come UP to you"
That any of your business?' Mari
eta demanded briskly. She was still
invisible. OBJ by spr a n d o wn,
plunged into the briers, and brought
up standing against a barbed wire
fence-with his sweetheart laughing
merrily at him on its farther side.
It's long; long way to Tipperary
otherwise the draw-bars," that per
home, little boy, mammy'H be on
easy if you're late. But don't you tell
her what I'm doin'-let me surprise
her with six gallons of blackberry
jam, not to name canned ones when
we set up housekeeping"
"Oh, indeed When, does that hap
pen ?" from Bobby, trying to speak in
exactly her key For answer came a
laughing: Let you know in time to
get the icense-Squire Keep lives so
handy no need of bespeaking him."
Tell me now-Won't bulge a step
till you do" from Bobby. Then
you'll go in the class with Lots wife,
and that mythology lady that turned
to a rock" from Marietta 'Mammy'Il
build a house over you--no-a ped
estal to set you on. And if she has
her way she'll sacrifice me on the
steps to your memory
What makes you two hale each
other 80 pizen bad?' Lobby asked
Peeping out thru a Ieafy chink
Marietta returned: Heap of things
infant baptism-she says it's my
bein' sprinkled makes me so mean
and hsr back hair-hurts me to look
at it-and my, poverty-hardly more
than, what I stand up in-and Jincy
Peters with three thousand dollars to
be had for picking up. But mostly
DSSduSe Oh you Sn1 wants TO PICK
your wife as she has picked eFery-
thing else for you-clothes, schools,
books. friends. Sheal like you to have
a white rabbit, made of canton flan-
mel, with pink-cotton ears, that she
could set up on the dresser for you
to look at and play with, now and
then. while she ran things as usual"
How about you?" Bobby demand
ed, biting his lip.
Marietta'sS mouth hardened "Im
a id n hi l. 80
rytn' you" she said, for honestly, I
can't tell whether 1 most want to do
it to spite her-or because
We'll, because what?" from the
Because Marietta went on, I'm
fool enough to care such a lot about
you
GLORY bel First time I ever heard
that Bobby began, making to scale
the fence, needless of barbs. Hoplight
made a sudden diversion. with
sharp impatient neigh, he struck into
a gallop that quickly became a dead,
full run Marietta watched him dis
appear, breathing hard. RUM Quick!
Think of your motherl' she implored.
Bobby was already thinking sight of
his horse. riderless. might kill his
mother. Her heart was unsound, for
all her appearance of haleness. Hop
light would follow the road, a mile
around. If,he himself were inside the
pasture fence he could get home by
running less than half the distance.
Desperately he tried to plung thru
under, at least over-poisedN on post
top, he slipped-fell sprawling back
into the roadway, with a wrenehed
ankle that would not bear his weight.
He called to Marietta-she did not
answer. Dragging himself painfully
upright he peered over the hedgerow
to see her vanishing across the
grass, headed straight, as the crow
flies, for his home.
When opposing cyclones meet there
ensues, it is said, dead calm. Some |
Bristow when. just as Hoplight
dashed thru the open NIawn gate |
Marietta Hill sprang upon the end of
the piazza painting weakly >'Don't |
HopliSht ran away while we were
why didn't he come HIMSELF"
Nine. Bristow demanded, her face
grazing. He was on>the wrong side |
of the fence-the roadside" Marietta |
explained. II came because [ knew
he was so scared for you. No. he |
didn't ask it; now I'll oIaway."
You will not! Show me where my |
son is" Nine. Bristow flared, her eyes !
IN Marietta, the remorseless.
said quietly. HE is just down the
big road: know he wouldn't let you |
Walk Inere IN TINS SUM-
Nine. Bristow sank down biting hert
lips. In a wink Marietta had found |
the car, had her safe in it and was
like mad down the road. The |
girls face was set, yet a whimsical /
smile played over it: she was thinking
at the back of her head what a chance |
for melodrama. By ditching the car /
she could precipitate q catastrophe |
that would clear her path Bobbyward /
Of every obstacle. depressing inward
laughter, she glanced at her pas
senger; what she saw woke in her
genuine compassion. The mother
love, strong, bitter, pbssessiyey that |
she had heretofore so resented, made /
this woman's face a mask of agony.
Marietta began singing The
Ram of Darby sure that Bobby