The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-05


"Twenty years after it was given my
father sent it to lawyer in Illinois,
who wanted it to help the old woman's
children in some legal matter. He prom
Used faithfully to return it, but never
did. That does not matter if it is re-
corded. 1t was, / know. But 80 many
books were burned in that fire at the
courthouse. Benjamin Topnlark spoke
Of that and said he would find out for
me. He was going to search the books
on his own account and would be glad
to look for me-"
"Mr. Topmark is-too kind" Rob
said, with the faintest curl Of the lip !;
then, with quick change of mood:
"Jack, do you want to be useful? Then
come help me feed my chickens. They
are spoiled, almost as badly as this dad
of mine. They eat nearly their own
weight in meal every day, yet to hear
them quawk and complain you would
think they were starving"
"They are deceitful, like their mis-
tress, Jack said as he followed her to
the feed coop, a tent shaped affair of
rough Stats, which was set some so
yards from the back steps. Rob had a
big basin Of wet meal. She flung it by
generous handfuls within the coop, then
leaned upon it, watching her pets at
their greedy feeding One of them, a
pretty, tame, ash blue creature, flew
upon her outstretched hand and perched
there, preening herself and giving out
soft little sounds as she pecked daintily
at remnants of dough in the basin.
"Poor BluebirdP' Rob said, stroking
the soft feathers. 81 am afraid, sweet
heart, next winter you will be hungry
unless can bring myself to kill you or
give you away. Do you know, Jack.
have come to wish, almost, that every
thing love may be dead when winter
comes?"
"Hushp Jack began imperatively,
but she went on recklessly:
cit is the only way out. You see how
things are-the crop going to destruction
and not hand raised to stop it. Uncle
Ned's wife's brothers. mother in-law is
dead. To show respectful sympathy with
him every soul here quit work and went
to the burying. 1t was bad enough be-
fore. Now have quite lost heart. Pap
py has lacked nothing so far. had
rather die hundred times than let him
know the truth. How could even hint
to him that we must sell part Of the land
we both love so we'll? Yet that seems
the only way in which I can save him
from actual want unless-unless God
were good enough to let US die together.
'Ah, there is another way, almost as
bad maybe-still way" Jack said,
with unfeeling levity. "You-you can
marry me, Rob, tn n l am not halt
so good a chance as you deserve"
Rob flushed lovelier scarlet. "Take
that back. You must" she cried. ooh,
but am ashamed of you-myself-ev-
erything! / did not think You would
misunderstood. / was Blue and misera-
BILE and began to VI ''e-ycs, actually
to whine. So you ca. THO help me
in the only way you cal Ny name
ought to be Winfield. aid not think I
could behave so. Do. please, take back
everything and forget all said. If You
do not, / shall never be able to look my
self in the face, not for whole year. "
Jack caught her hands, not roughly,
but in firm, masterful grasp. "You
are the one to take back things" he
said in her ear. "Rob, it hurts-rath-
say what I said and find
yourself laughed at for your pains"
The tremulous little fingers ought to
have told him how brave fight she
was making for pride and love. But
Jack was too full Of feeling himself for
judicial consideration. His face famed
and his brows drew together when Rob
said difficulty:
",Jack, it is not wise, hardly right
indeed, for you TOTO speak so when
you have your mother, all of theml Oh,
don't you, won't you, see how impossi-
BILE it all is?''
Jack let her hands fall and swung up.
on his heel, saying, with freezing cour-
tesy "Pardon me. did forget could
offer you nothing beyond q poor mans
heart. 1t was presumption. take it all
back. see you want rich husband.
No doubt you will get him. Accept my
in advance. You have spo.
ken of Miss Winfield. Let me add that,
cold blooded as she VIGOROUSLY is,
think she would scarcely trample upon
Y fellows heart as you delight to do. F"
Certainly not, If you were the fel-
low" Rob said, beginning to laugh.
"Oh, Jack, my one friend, you are not
going to take yourself away from me
with all these heroicsf Let's both forget
for a year. Then / am sure you will
think back and see how much your
friend I am showing myself to be-.
She held out her hand. He took it
between both his own and raised it to
his lips, just as throaty. good humor-
ed voice said behind them:
"Looky yere. Miss Robl You take your
co'tin inside do house. I not gwine bab
no sech carryin's on out yere tor az
coop. But fore you goes I want
Marse Jack dar ter tell me is he begaged
Ter your
"Yas- Nam Lisa. enGaaed hard AID