The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-10

1 udV0 8VOl0eQ you Cat L ObALA0N
you. I always felt you and DiCkiC
considered yourselves a step above me
No one knows what a struggle it ha'
been for me to keep in the University
This year. It seemed wrong to take
Cne money when it was needcd so a.
nome. You know I expected to teach
Cnls year and pay everything back
ashton promise me you will say moth
ing OF this, but I have just exactly
I'VE dollars that I can call my own. ]
must give ten to DR.. Bently tomorrow
morning and 1 will not ask father fol-
a cent to pay for my folly. 1t seems
zoo hard," and the dark head was
bowed again.
JACK cleared his throat several times,
s1ared fxedly out of the window for
a moment, traced the outline of Julius
Sae9ar on his book, and then said
see here Anderson, I understand
perfectly. Your pride is a great deal
stronger than that plate window was
worse luck. You have given me your
nano That means your friendship.
and friendship means trust. Here is a
five dollar bill I want you to accept as
a temporary loan, No, not a word"
as Anderson started to his feet. I'm
not giving this to you at all. If you
don't pay up within the next five or
six years, I'll begin to dun you for it,
sure. Please take it and don't say a
word to any one. Ishall feel it a good
loan if it is the means of gaining you
for my friend"
Anderson was a man of few words.
He grasped Jacks hand for a moment,
then quietly put the money in his
pocket.
Il will try and be worthy of your
confidence" was all he said, but Jack
was satisfied.
Dear little Num- what will she
think when she dosen't get her valen-
tine9" he thought to himself.
He was so quiet all the evening that
his mother was vuite worried about
him.
When valentine morning came,
Jack felt he must tell her, then he said
grimly to himself: mo sir, my aims
shall not be e e before men, or wo
men, either, even though it is the
dearest one on earth"
Wednesday evening he felt SO badly
he could hardly look his mother in the
face.
"Wbat must she think of me2" he
kept saying to himself.
"Jack, you are not eating anything"
said his father at the tea-table.
Don't feel hungry" eaid Jack
gloomily, then he happened to glance
at his mother. Her sweet face was
fairly radiant.
"Jhon," she said, Il can't eat any
thin g either. I am too excited over q
lovely valentine I received to day"
Don't hit a fellow when he's down,
mother" " murmured Jack with a sus
picious break in his voice.
My dear boy" she said quietly,
and, drawing a note from her pocket,
she began to read:
DEAR MRS. ASHTON:
Knowing how
proud you are of Jack, 1 thought you
would be pleased to hear Of a little
conversation l overheard Monday af-
ternoon on my way down stairs from
the laboratory"
The note went on giving an account
of Jacks conversation with Anderson,
and ended, Il want to tell you that
Jack is working well now, and I take
pleasure in saying that IN ali the four
years I have taught him, I have never
seen anything in him but what was
upright, manly and noble. I am, my
dear Madame,
Your obedient servant,
jacks face was flushed.
That's just the way, mother" he
said hastily, IF I don't tell you every
thing, somebody elsa will. DR.. Bently
is a meddlesome old codger, he added,
laughing, ''but I'm rather glad you
know about the vase"
Mr.. Ashton's hand was on his pock-
ct book, but his wife shook her head.
Il understand, and am very proud
of you, my boy" she added softly and
then she added, lit isn't every mother
that a boast of a valentine like
mine "-IntCriOr.
WOMAN.