The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-08-10

"I could go 10 the academy, mother
for two more terms" was the answer
''Then, perhaps could-get the
school at the Corners"
Nonsense, Susy, / need you TO help
me, "her mother said. keeping school
Is ';fiankless business"
"It's money" said Susie, "and / do
long to help myself, and you, too.
Money will do everything that needs
to be done"
"Yes, that's n fact" spoke up Tom,
"and there's lots wants to bc done.
I'd like to clear that five-acre lot for
potatoes and corn, but / can't do H."
"And the house wants shlngling,"
her mother said plaintively, her care
worn countenance taking on another
shadow.
"The front doors got crack all
the way across" Tom spoke up again,
"and there ought TO be fireplace In
granny's room. Then there's the barn;
it's all that we can do to keep the hay
dry"
81 know all that" said Susy. 81
know the house is getting to be n
scarecrow, and the barn Is worse, and
that's why / want to be earning. AS
for the shingles, | should think you
could put them on yourself, Tom yes,
and mend the door"
"Where's the shingles?" Tom asked,
In his matter-of-fact way. where's
the nails? Where's the hammer? The
old one Is broRen past mending. And
where's the money to get them with,
/ should like TO know
"Sure enough" said Susy, "unless
i could earn 1t. That's why | want
to sell Brown Bcss."
"And II you do sell her you won't
get much" Tom said. " She's so full
of her tricks-the crazlest colt | ever
saw"
I'm more and more afraid TO have
you ride her" her mother said. BIT
If you should sell her, there's the
mortgage to be paid in October"
IF ! sell her" said Susy, quietly,
''lt will be to finish my education"
That's always your cry" her moth
er went on, in plaintlye tones; mo
matter what's needed; but | s'posc we
must give in. Bad as the roof Is,
IL shelters us. what would we do
without n house over our heads?"
I'D sell the COW, too" put in Tom.
"And then grandma would just
about starve." the mother supplement-
ed.
Susy turned away from the table,
angry and grieved, but she said moth
ing, only ran upstairs 10 her own
room.
"They don't see it, she sorrowfully
murmured. "They can't understand
that it's for their good and comfort
i want to get that school. I'm willing
20 wear old clothes and to walk three
miles and back every day for the
sake of finishing my education. Let
the roof leak awhile-lf Tom don't
patch II. Let granny sleep downstairs.
where there's fire. III help them all
i'm a year or two-but they don't see Il
they won't see it, If can only sell
old Brown Bess! ia go and beg time
for the mortgage, or I'd borrow money
Or, maybe | can get enough to repair
the house and go TO school, too. Ii
only Brown Bess wasn't such little
vixen! 1t will go hard TO part with
her though II was my fathers last
gift"
Tears rushed to the dark eyes, but
she repressCd them and went down
stairs.
After helping her mother about the
house she donned her sunbonnct and
ran in to the barn. Tom was rubbing
down Brown Bess, whose bright, glossy
coat shone like satin.
"Much as l can do to take care of
her." said Tom. "Shc wants regular
groom who would break her of her
nasty little tricks. See how she throws
her head up. and look at her eyes
flashing fire Are you going TO the
store? Mother wants sugar and mo-
lasses, and vinegar-and I've got to go
In the field"
"Yes, I'm going" said Susy, though
i dread 1t. the bills so large. If
sell Brown Bess, that's the first thing
I'll pay"
THAT and the mortgage" said Tom.
"Well. I'll saddle old Dick"
Susy mounted to the back of the
slow old cart horse with gloomy fore
bodlngs. Ii was warm September
day. Even i'm the midst of her anNi-
ETY. the beauty of the ride TO IIillston
soothed and delighted her. Every
detail OF the way was familiar 60 her,
yet when she came TO Silver Ledge
Falls. and saw the white spray leap.
ing over granite rocks and dancing
among the islands. she stopped old
Dick nj sat enjoying the scene as II
she had never beheld Il before.
"Good morning" a voice said behind
her.
"oh. Charle" she exclaimed. with
n start. II didn't hear you coming"
mo? The falls are so loud. ! saw
you at the bend and followed Going
TO town.
"Yes, Charlie" she made reply. ant
In spite OF herself her voice held d
curious tremor.
you're worried over something .
he said. the keen lovers eyes noting
the shadovA
"Yes. Charlie. n little-the same old
trouble. l want to set things &
rights-and-.t's hard work" she said
in low voice.
II knew It. Why won't you leave nj
these matters and come with meg Th'
house ls waiting for you-and so an
]. Susy. darling. mako mp your mind.
ue held crf his bsnJ look Of nm