The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-03-02
INTERCESSION OF NATURE.

Look out there, Stell! Keep the
horses heads over the markings. /
guess you better let me drive"
Mr.. Bradford was planting corn. He
sat down on the front seat of the
PLANTER" working the handle. and
Stella, up OH the back seat, was driv-
ing. ~F
On one side of the field, at the foot
OF steep bank, was the rive. and
beyond that broad belt of woods
The corn field had once been a wood,
and there We're still many stumps,
charred with fire and half uprooted.
Stella's brother. De Witt Bradford.
was on the side of the field nearest
the river, riding the corn marker. He
wore his straw hat pulled down over
his forehead, and kept his eyes stead
lily on an imaginary line ahead.
The meadow larks on the grassy
slopes that led up to the house sang
loudly The air was full of the odor
of tho newly turned earth, and of the
sweet fragrance of wild crab apple
blossoms growing on a gnarled little
cluster of trees in one corner of the
field
Another year Ill have a self-mark-
ing planter. It's clear out Of date,
working this way" Mr.. Bradford said,
when they had passed the stump in
safety. Then De Witt and 1 can do
the planting without your help"
I'D Just as soon help as not said
Stella. Only it makes De Witt so mad
to see me here. He's so particular
about the marking! He wants the
10 TO Loo 10 srov ,hn1
it's done. He says he's going to have
every stump out of here before an
other complaining What a brag he
is! He thinks he runs this ranch
Mr.. Bradford laughed. Il thought
~ it was generally understood that Ma
mic run it, he said.
Over in the edge Of the tall weeds
and grasses on the river bank a little
girl in Il pink SunbOnnet moved back
and forth. Now and then she called
to her brother on the marker. Two OF
three times she screamed so persist
emily that he had stopped to answer
her.
I'm making 4 playhouse, De Witt"
she called.
Yes, hear you.
I'm cutting hall through the weeds
with your jack-knife. Then I'm going
to make a square place for parlor.'
"Well, don't tumble out Of youl
parlor into the river
DE Witt would listen to her fool
ishness when he wouldn't to anybody
else MI Bradford said, looking acros:
the field at the little girl.
They reached the end of the row
Stella exchanged seats with her father
and they started back across the field
.E'othcr hn SaiI ch1r1nt1v hr9n
go?'
Go where?'
You know, father l asked you yes
terday.'
Have you said anything to De Wit
about it?' Mr.. Bradford asked.
Yes He says l might as well kee
still He says I cant go, for I can
be spared
Well, I don't see how you can, Stel
] don't see how you ever could
thought that you could go. Did 20
ask mother?'
Yes: she says the same as you an
De Witt"
well. what are you coming to M
for, then? You think I'm going to le
you do what your mother says 70
can't? De Witt never thought he nee'
ed more education than he could g
at the district school"
He don't care whether he know
anything or not. so longs he can DO:
somebody. | believe mad let me &
if it wasn't for De Witt
Her father went on with his wor
paying no more attention to Stell
The tears started to the girls eye
and she pressed her lips together ar
was silent
She was sixteen years old. The de
before had been her birthday. VI
present had been given Ter; she hf
found it in her shoe in the mornin
small pincushion that Mamie h;
made for her out of 4 piece Of gree
silk.
!. 1t had helped her to ask the que
ton she had for a long time tried
gain courage to ask, for after brea
fast she had followed De Witt to tt
barn. and stood in the door viii
he went in among the horses.
1T is my birthday, you know,
Witt she said. Il want you to
- something for me- Will your
:. We'll, fire away; what is it? Y
want another green silk pincushion
H. Don't laugh at Mamie about h
n present You never thought to gi
me anything
We'll. what do you want?'
Il want to go to Fort Scott to scho
De Witt, the first of September.
want father to pay me for what
do this summer. and let me have
money to go with. He's always 81
ing ! do as much as any man he COT
hire. and l do, too. I want you
ask him to let me go, De Witt
There was a prolonged whistle frt
within the barn.
well, I'm blessed! What next?'
you will ask him to let me
won't you, De Witt?'
,"No.'
a. why not?'
81 cause you can't go. You're nee(
here more'n you're needing to go
school What'd ma do, I'd like
know-overworked as she is nOw?'
she can get Mrs. Patterson to co
and wash and iron for her"
well, I guess she wants you NOR
she wants Mrs. Patterson. Go ale
away
"Well you'll see, I'm going