The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-24
EDening Story
Marcia's Honey Lamb.
BY MARTHA Nee. WILLIAM

coot here. III go on strike" Marcia
pouted My. how hate him. Makes
me i'll just to think of him gobbiing
up my cherry pie"
Maybe Wen gobbIe him up in
stead" Roy answered hopefully.
"Once he is full fed, and in fine
humor, shan't mind asking him $500
for Little Tot"
He shan't have her-not for $4,000
nor twice that" Marcia protested
stoutly. My honey-lamb! I'd rather
see her break her neck than belong
to him. Besides-I think know why
he's SO bad off to get her-thinks she's
a World-beater in the pip, and hopes
we don't suspect it,"
well. however. that may be-f he
shakes $500 of the long green at me
he gets her" from Roy
He does not" emphatically. shes
mine. remember! Given to me the
d&y after married you-not the day
before. luckily. Property acquired
after. you see, young man-so you
can't sell one hair of her tail unless 1
agree
but. Marcia-$5OO is a fine price
for a gangling two-year-old whose
pedigree nobody knows, not even is
likely to find out. The stranger who
gave her to you because she couldn't
go yard farther. vanished-for good
reasons. no doubt L have thought al
ways he had stolen the mother. and
or leave it to starve by the road"
Very likely-but Totty isn't a gang
ling two-year-old. She's her own
pedigree. Made right from nose to
heel Not pretty-pretty colts don't
turn out world-wonders. 1 know
didn't see half d dozen of them back
at Uncle Don's? He sold two of them
in spite of my begging him not-and
says now. if only he'd kept them, we
would all Of be rich
L.
planned What's law against men
and money? We must have money
or else lose out You know it as well
as do. So be reasonable. I wouldn't
cross you if it wasn't a matter of ne
cessity."
Don't worry-you are not going to
do it," Marcia returned provokingly.
When Bald Coot knows that I go
Why He'll be hotter than ever
wouldn't be. Marsh-especia1Iy after
tasting your cooking?"
Il might name several without
straining my rememberer," Marcia
Its tumbled curls frameWise about her
rosy face 1t was not beautiful. but
full of health, youth and charm. Bald
Coot, otherwise Silas Jones, Esq, felt
the charm as he ambled to the door
of the ra WY new frame house, so un-
Marcia's brave endeavorings with
whitewash and packing box make
shifts. Her threadbare Bingham
faded to soft dull blue became her
wonderfully, albeit it was none so
clean. She had no ornament beyond
the thin wedding ring upon a rough
ened finger. Altogether she was
figure not of poverty. but of pinched
and decent aspiration
As such she did not warm the cal
lous Jones heart-Tather she stirred
in it a quicker touch of greed. Five
hundred for that young thing would
be wicked extrava gance-better say
two at first, and go on to the quarter
as IL thru an access of liberality, So
1t took him all aback to hear stead
lastly spoken: IT m sorry you've come
back. sir-to get no more than your
trouble for your pains. I ought to
wasn't for sale at any price. AS I
you stay to dinner with
us-just to show you're not mad with
with pIeesher." Jones responded,
smirking hard Roy's sulIen face en-
couraged him more than the aspect of
things general Besides, he was sharp
set-as an old campaigner he knew
what surprises lurked often in coun-
try fare. In reward of such faith he
devoured newapotatoes, early cabbage
boiled to perfection with a scrag of
ham, along with hot cornbread. fresh
buttermilk, and crisp young lettuce,
praising all effusively. and leading up.
after the cherry pie, to a renewed Of
fer for the filly.
Three hundred-couIdn't think of
making it less, after the way they had
treated him. Roy's eyes grew eager,
Jones Notwithstanding
for an elusive likeness. Suddenly she
caught it-and likewise caught her
breath. He was the filly's giver, or
his twin-either way, there was need
to beware. Hence she shook her
head more decisively than ever, SAT-
ing: mot for three hundred nor five
nor even a thousand. TOtty's all the
baby I've got-I am not going to sell
her"
Look out you don't lose her-horse
critters die mighty easy sometimes"
Jones all but snarled.
The snarI walked the man in Roy.
Very civilly he said: You better be
Mr.. Jones. Understand, what
my wife says is the word with the
the way" Then, as Jones vanished:
Honey don't see the way OUTPUT
we won't be sorry, so long as we can
keep together"
Marcia's eyes were starry. She |
could hardly speak for trembling |
Roy, Jones brought Totty here-if he !
had come by her honest, don't you |
know he'd claim her now? He'll try |
to steal her-and match her up with |
her pedigree. Not openly, of course
but thru some other crook"
Honey! Are you sure 20 Roy
sasped- Lets go look Totty over |
carefully
Not yeti" Marcia cautioned. III hid |
her down by the sinkhole. AZ soon |
as it's safe-why, there she comes
running. Honeylamb, what is the |
matter?"
Totty tried to tell them-she was /
but more angry-almost to |
the pitch Of squealing. The welt of a |
savage flash along the flank, her very /
first blow. explained her state. as the |
bark halter explained that a |