Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-02
Anna Louise and May.

TT was May. The sky was blue,
but marauding hawk circled be.
meath 1t, above the chickens.
Anna Louisa Swank was IS. but
her uncle was big and determined,
and he had firmly opposed her desire
lie didn't believe in Anna Louisa's get
ting married so long as she could be
useful to him. He didn't believe In
young people anyway.
Uncle Swank had a berry farm. II
wAg sust far enough away to make Il
announcement for the girl to enjoy town
without asking permission. And this
permission was never given except
when butter or eggs were to be deliv
Sred in the squeaking, rafting ole
,fArm wagon. This cut all the edge
From the enjoyment.
The part of the berry farm in promi
nence just now was the strawberry
bed, just coming into bearing
- was very large. Anna Louisa
nngers were nimble. Also it was an
odd fact that whatever she undertook
she did thoroughly, even though her
heart might not be in it.
Most of Uncle Swank's young PICK
ers worked for two reasons-to gel
pocket money and to fill themselves
with fruit. So the girl averaged apout
six baskets to their one. BESIDES, her
presence was something of restraint.
Anna Louisa Swank's desire was q
party in town. It was q coming OF
age party for Hugh Wyman. the son
of the rich woman who had bought the
big place on the hill, and was to be
sort Of introduction to the community.
So all the young people suitable for
the coming of age party had been IN
vited. and Anna Louisa Swank's name
had shuffied in with the rest. Of
; course she didn't have suitable dress,
but even that didn't take away the
longing to go.
Now. though Uncle Swank was
heavy in setting his foot down. he was
also exceptionally shrewd. lie knew
about the party, and he recognized
heartstrings in the outposts of Anna
Louisa's eyes and closely pressed hps,
For three DAYS Uncle Swank must
go away on jury duty, and he dreaded
the absence of his stimulating eyes
and words on the fingers of the berry
pickers. Adeiiza, his wife, was his
other half except in flesh. She was
too fat to waddle out to the strawberry
beds, She stayed in the packing room
and kept tally.
So he and she conferred together,
and then Uncle Swank went to Anna
Louisa and promised she could go TO
!. strawberries to the packing room In
1.-THE three days and, furthermore, If she
made it $50 he would buy her a tine
new dress.
Now. $50 boxes would be a record,
and Uncle Swank figured that quick
ened fingers and longer hours might
carry her to 800 and possibly 325,
which would be that much in his
pocket. And should she, by any mir.
acle, go to the $50, he could well afford
the party. Besides, he could make a
noint of such generosity in exacting
later effort. A high-water mark of re.
suit would be of continued use to him.
AS to the $50 boxes, that was absurdly
impossible except in the way OF added
stimulation.
Uncle Swank always kept his prom
ises to the letter and Anna Louisa
Swank was the prettiest and incest
and most worthy to be loved of all the
girls In three counties. These facts
have important bearing upon subse-
quent developments.
, on the early forenoon of the first of
the three days there were 20 small
boys and girls scattered over the
strawberry field, alternating berries be-
tween their baskets and mouths. Anna
Louisa isolated herself at consider.
able distance from them, for she felt
she could work faster without any dis
fractions. AS her fingers wove in and
out among the green leaves her
thoughts flew ahead.
She even glanced surreptitiously to-
ward the children. Was there dis
Greet one among them whom she could
buy or trade for a few boxes in case
Of falling little short? Uncle Swank
had not once used the word pick in
his talk. 1t had just been bring" or
carry to the packing room.
Good morning" came from some
one on the nearby road.
Anna Louisa turned quickly. A
roughly dressed fellow was looking at
her. His face was eager. She thought
it was from the sight of so many
Strawberries. She had never thought
of herself as very pretty.
Don't those Strawberries smell
good?'' he said, with note of en-
treaty. do you suppose the owner
would mind my eating few"