The Van Buren press., 1897-01-02

what need Tor gates or sneu lie ieit
disgust for it all as he tripped over a
fence-ral half-hidden in the grass.
ayes; there was chance" He
laughed moekingly TO himself. Meg
wanted some baking wood. The rest
of the fence had gone the same way.
What difference did another rail more
or less make?" He picked it up and
shouidered it. and trudged on.
Il can't see why some folks have so
many more chances than Others" He
did not notice that he was grumbling
his thoughts aloud as he passed be-
meath the pantry window, until tart
voice replied:
"Folks have chances that make 'em,
and If I'm going to have one to bake to-
day | suppose I'll have to do the same
Meg Reyburn did not intend to he
quite so snappish, but she, too, had
felt keenly the loss of the COW, and I'M
derstood better, perhaps, than anyone
else what il meant for the family II
had been Meg that had kept the Rey-
hufn family together since her mother
died, so the neighbors had boldly as
serted.
For years Asal Reyburn had felt II
his sole duty to preach the woes of the
Door while lie was growing poorer
each day, as his neglected farm showed.
tt was common talk that he saw moth.
ing that paid. and it was evident that
until he did there was little hope thai
the Reyburns' fortune would change
for the better The buildings were de-
| eaYing, the fences disappearing and d.
lapidation generally was fast overtak-
iGg what had once been a prosperous
and desirable piece of property.
Meg and her mother had been able to
make fair support with eggs and but
ter, and Asal had grown to depend upon
them entirely, expecting, as Beckett
put it, "the women would do it with Il
Len and a cow" But the burden had
been heavy one for Meg when left
alone.
Lot was no help. He had grown up
without a sense of responsibility, and
was thoroughly imbued with his
fathers "yews," If such a negative
state of mind toward his own family
fortunes could be dignifed by such q
term.
Meg turned, therefore, with frowI
rs Lot came in at last to throw down al
armful of wood. only a pine rail
How do you expect me ever to balSt
with such stuff. I'm going to give up
! Than Nor AID en,aafI,;po. ~ baf
never seen her do before. Meg usually
arose to emergencies. Now she dropped
ON the old lounge and gave vent to hei
overweight feelings in burst of tears
Lot stood in dismay. Suppose Meg
should give upl For one instant chao'
flashed upon him. lie had neve,
dreamed such a state of affairs possible
The disgust he had experienced a few
moments previous returned with re
doubled force, and now he felt himsel
included in it.
1t was shame to expect Meg to worl
with nothing-for he realized at tina
moment that it was what she had to do
lie gave the offending wood a kick an,
started for the door.
81 guess | can find an apple-tre,
limb" he remarked, as he disappeared
outside.
As he struggled with the limb and hi
newly awakened thoughts, he fell t,
wondering what there would be for din
ner. Meg had said that morning Their
would be less if somebody did not fine
n chance to sprout the potatoes in tn
cellar. Potatoes! Faugh! He sicl;
cned at the thought of them. They ha,
been steady diet He wished the,
would turn into something else, Their
were so many of them. Asal Reyburl
had laid in a stock out of the none,
borrowed on Bess.
He Strengthened up suddenly an,
looked over the fields. He set his lip
together, caught up an armful of WOO
and strobe into the house.
"Are you going to sprout potatoes?
Meg inquired, timorously. She had re
covered her usual serenity.
eyes" said he, so promptly as to as
tonish her.
He filled the basket, and, as h
worked, the increasing vehemence wit
which he pumped the tubers into i
showed that something was gatherin,
strength within his mind. 1t was EN-
phasized when he put down the baske
in the kitchen with a superlatve thum
and hurried out of the back door
Down past the grocery he went, shrue
ging his shoulders at the sight of hi
father in the same old seat. For tn
mile beyond his footsteps did not flae
and he turned into Squire Badgers a
the squire himself was leading out Bees
from the stable to the pump.
Squire Badger" he said withou
preface, 1--WE come to see what arrange
ments l can make with you about buy
ing back Bess."
"Ilumph!" the squire met the abrup
greeting. What on earth did you let he
SO for if you was coming after her s
soon? l told your father $40 was he
price when he bought her."
Can / have her back next fall TO
that2"
ANY time in the next ten years,
said the old man, carelessly.
Lots cheeks burned as he came ava
across the meadows to avoid bot
grocery and common and reach 10
Bakers. He had business with him a
well. He found his man, who greete
him curly from the top rail of hi
fence.
What brings you over hereY
II came 10 see if l could get the hir
of your old Nance to pillow with on
Fam Lot went straight 10 the poin