The Van Buren press., 1897-01-02
LOT REYBURNs RESOLUTION
by SARAH II. sCARBuRY.

,
rngle.
Anything new happened2' asked
Beckett, the storekeeper, from the open
doorway.
Nothing, only | had to let Badger
have tie COW this morning"
Squire Badgers closer'n your fist,
specially ifyou get beholden to him for
money! remarked Joe Warren, sympa-
thetically, from his Longing place on
The steps.
Badger lends his money and expects
his pay" replied Beckett. "That's
business; but man ought to look long
before he borrows'
You have to borrow when you can't
find chance TO get it any other
way except you steal it. Taxes and
death everybody's got to meet Asal
FASTENED to answer in eXtenuation OF
his action, which he knew they lad di-
yined.
That's so, Asal," chimed in Ezra
Day; ..only man can work out his
road tax"
y
Fan and a collar that gals and a wagon
with a tire off. I amt goin' to pick
stones out'n the road for nobody, aud it
had to be money turned in" said Asal,
somewhat stitfly.
"Well, you won't have the COW to
feed.e Joe Warren encouraged him.
THAT'S what | allowed. There amt
no loss, 'thout some small gain," Asal
remarked, more eheerfully.
Going to work your land this year%
asked Beckett.
Asal Reyburn shook his head slowly
"Don't see any chance to, 'thout its
costing more'n it'll come to. There
don't seem to be anything that pays
and made up my mind won't work
for nothing"
what's Lot doing?" queried Beckett
with shrug at Asal's reply.
Il don't know. less'n he's over on the
ball ground. Boys are boys
Lots boss pitcher, and as for fish.
ing, well--he amt to be beat. There
he is now" Joe Warren finished his
eulogy with a wave of his hand toward
an approaching group of boys.
Beckett smiled rather sareastically
and, stepping back, strolled slowly
behind his cougter as Lot Reyburr
turned and came up the steps.
well, Lot, what is it ?"
Meg said she'd take that last butter
in sugar." said the boy. Then he
turned for an eager survey of the con
tents of the showcases Beckett weighed
out the article.
Butter come to thirty-two cents
five and half pounds of sugar | made
it, tell Meg" Beckett murmured some
what indistinctly, with the string in his
mouth as ne tied the package, his eyei
following Lots.
''Mr. Beckett, let me see those base
balls"
The storekeeper slowly drew out tn,
box containing them.
''How much are they?"
twenty-five cents"
Lot fingered them for few moments
couldn't you trust me for one til
next week?" he finally asked, hesitat
ingly.
II could, but | don't see the use o
it, said Beckett, drumming absent,
upon the case with his fingers.
faint much" said Lot, reading tn,
evident reluctance in the answer.
"Well, that's just one reason You
hadn't ought to ask credit, Lot. Yol
ought to pay cash for such things o
go without" The tone was positive
but not unkind.
otstill hungover the box and Becke
patiently waited.
$50 Meg isn't going to have any NOR,
butter to sell?" Beckett observed at last
The boys face clouded. He pushe,
back the box.
"Bess is sod,n he said. Then with
sudden burst of confidence he foldet
his arms on the case and continued; "
can't see for my life how we're going t,
get along without her. And Meg an,
Iraised her. too. She was ours. really.
why don't you get her back?"
"Me?" Lot opened his eyes wide il
establishment.
"Yes, you. What's to hinder?"
"Well, I'd like to see the chance.
Lot laughed ironically.
IF you'd look farenough maybe you,
find it," Beckett pulled the box towar,
him.
"Chances ormoney-making are slim
It'd be like hunting for a needle in
haymow, as pa says" remarked Lot
skeptically, reaching out in turn for hi
sugar.
depends on the one that's hunting
he's got to know EN- when he sees EN-.
Beckett slipped the box back into tn
case and nodded sharply at the boy
Sometimes they're so close if 'twa
snakes they'd bite you"
There amt much danger" said Lot
with toss of his head, as he turned
away.
Not on the ball ground" retortet
Beckett. he snapped the case together
adding with slow shake of the head a
Lot slowly sauntered out the door: -
chip of the old block"
Lot went down the steps and up tn
road as much depressed as it was posi-
BILE for one with his careless nature I,
be. He stopped and looked over on thu
commons. lie had half n mind to turn
back and ask his father to take tn,
sugar home when he went; but he re
called that Meg wanted the sugar soon
She had said she must make somethin,
10 take the place of the milk that the
must go without now. This though
brought again current of indignation
that the cow-"mine and Meg's," he as
serted stoutly TO himself-should hav
zone IN nav that debt He 1ecided =,