The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-12-18

(, would be less "A uQmeN2QJ QlN n.y. n ~ r.
chanceI Ia aprout tue t,ttilt oes Al TIL
cellar. PotatoesI IFarS6l ne sick
ened at the thought o. then. They hae
been q steady diet. III Wished thel
would turn into something else, there
Iwere 80 many of them, Asal Reybura
had laid ia stock out Of the money
borrowed on Bess.
Y He Strengthened up suddenly and
looked over the fields. He set his lips
together, caught UP an armful OF woot
and strobe into the house. " % VI
care You going to sprout potatoes 2
Meg inquired, timorously. She had re
covered her usual serenity.
"Yes," said he, SO promptly as to as
tonish her.
He filled the basker, and, as he
worked, the increasing vehemence with
which he pumped the tubers into il
showed that something was gathering
strength within his mind. 1t was EN-.
phasized when he put down the basket
in the kitchen with superlative. thumI
and hurried out of the back door,
Down past the grocery he went, shrug-
ging his shoulders at the sight OF his
father in the same old seat. For the
mile beyond his footsteps did not flag,
and he turned into Squire Badgers as
the squire himself was leading out Bess
from the stable to the pump.
Squire Badger" he said without
preface, "I've come to see what arrange
nents ! can make with you about buy
ing back Bess."
"Humph" the squire met the abrupt
greeting. What on earth did you let her
go for If you was coming after her so
soon? I told your father $40 was her
price when he bought her."
"Can / have her back next fall for
that?"
"Any time in the next ten years. =
said the old man, carelessly.
Perhaps you don't think / mean it,
but 1 do" said Lot, earnestly. "The
fact is, we've got to have that COW
back, and" he stopped; it did seem
unfilial to say it, but he ended: "And
I've got to get her"
SWELL, got to- isn't bad driver for
some folks" said the squire, his tone
softening little. II hold to what l
said, and don't mind telling you, Lot
Reyburn, I'm rather glad you've got to
a place where you've got to-"
Lots cheeks burned as he came away
across the meadows to avoid both
grocery and common and reach Joe
Baxter's. He had business with him as
well. He found his man, who greeted
him CURLY from the top rail of his
fence.
what brings you over here?"
II came to see If could get the hire
of your old Nance to pillow with our
Fam" Lot went straight to the point
at once.
Hire old Nance-to plow?" Baxter
echoed Lots words in a provoking
drawl. "Well, I yum, Lot Reyburn.
Have you gone clean out of your head? ?"
MY heads all right. / want to
break some ground for potatoes. We've
got enough to plant the bottom"
But good land! Plant potatoes:
Why, how on earth did such notion
come to take you2" Baxter slid off the
fence, and, plunging his hands in his.
pockets, surveyed Lot from head to
foot as if he had discovered some new
animal.
The aggrayating tone, words and atti-
tude all nettled Lot. He drew himself
up, however, resolutely determined to
ignore it all.
II thought Nance could pull along
with our Fan"
"But faint Nance. Land! How're
you going to stand it?"
II shan't give out before the horses"
Lot was trying hard not to become
ruffled.
"Why, what'd your father say? He
don't think it pays to raise nothing"
This isn't father, I'd like 10 have you
know, Mr.. Baxter" Lot was growing
"And if you can't let me
have the horse, I'll try elsewhere. You
needn't to discourage me-" He turned
abruptly on his heel.
"Hold on, Lot. Don't get on your
high heels too quick. yum, l see
faint your father; and kinder
thought l was encouraging you.'
well, guess you are" Lot laughed
shortly. For l am all the more deter
mined to get that bottom ip."
"S'pose you could rake up feed for
her?"
Lot drew himself up stif1ly. 81 don't
expect to work a starving team. And