St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-07-13

again. ACdSO
take the chisel back to your pa with
my compliments, and bring me up .
little saw. Mine is so big and clumsy
that can't manage it."
Certainly, Miss Elizabeth, Ill-ask
him" responded Randolph, with some
misgivings as to what would be tho
outcome of this second appeal for the
loan of tool.
1t did not promise well for the sue
stairs, he heard his father arguing
vehemently with man in the work.
shop. He waited outside until the
man had gone. But. Mr.. Hombach,
pursuing a habit he sometimes in
dulged in, continued to demolish the
argument of his vanished opponent.
"You are wrong" he vociferated;
"the present need of the country"
Father" interrupted clear, be-
seeching voice, "Miss Elizabet Brad
ley"
But Mr.. Hombach was too deeply
stirred to heed or even to notice the
boy. "Your argument is based on an
exploded theory! You don't know"
Randolph was obliged to wait until
the argument was concluded. Then
he said, speaking very earnestly, in
his clear, boyish tones:
"Miss Elizabeth thanks you for tho
chisel, father. Here it is. See, it
isn't spoiled. She's a very nice, care
full lady, Miss Elizabeth is. She needs
a little saw very badly; hers is an
old, rusty one, and it won't work"
"What! What's that" exclaimed
Mr.. Hombach, raising his black brows
. with fresh start of horror. 'Does
the woman want saw now? I was
fool-a fool! I might have known
I was only making trouble for my
self! BAH" His disgust turned to
severe irony "Maybe the woman
would like the tool box!"
.'Miss Elizabeth is going to give me
a slip off her pink geranium," said
Randolph.
Mr.. Hombach grunted unwillingly,
and the frown deepened between his
eyes.
'Win you not lend the saw, IA
ther?" pleaded the boy.
'sNo." said Mr.. Hanback,.
The tool box stood on the work
bench in sight of both. On top was
lust such a saw as Miss Bradley
wanted. Randolph looked at the mar
row, cleaning blade anxiously, then
at his father. "How is Miss Eliza
beth to finish her work?" he asked.
Mr.. Hombach shook his bushy hair
impatientlv. II cannot lend tools!
No, no! The woman has no sense!
NY tools are my friends! Who ever
heard of lending friend?"
Randolph's countenance fell; but IN
a moment he frightened with new
thought.
20, father" he gasped out with
breathless eagerness to test the
availability of his idea, couldn't you
take the saw upstairs yourself and
do the work for Miss Elizabeth-for
the sake of the saw, you know
Mr., Hombach's brows went up
again, and he ran his fingers through
his thick, outstanding hair as if the
idea was difficult of comprehension.
"sure enough, Randolph he said in
an altered tone, his combative spirit
all gone. Chow absurd of me not to
have thought of that it first. Yes,
YES. of course, that is the only sensl-
BILE thing to do, and it will take only
few moments"
To himself he continued as he went
upstairs with his tool box: "That lit
? tie Randolph of mine is no common
} bow. Whoever he is, there is the
blood of a statesman in his VEINS
He'll make his mark in the world"
Miss Elizabeth Bradley did not ask
for the loan of any more tools. AS
the weeks passed Randolph noticed
that his father went upstairs to chat
with her now and then, to the great
disappointment of the men who
called every evening to discuss poll-
tics. and to the relief of the neigh
bors who wanted to sleep.
81 guess there's something in the
wind" gossiped Mrs. Marary OF the
| second floor front to her neighbot
of the hall room.
20, it's all settled; she's maxim the
weddin' Dress" came the reply; "ard
I'm right glad, it's SO suitable all
round. 1t amt right for man and
how to be eatin' at RESTRAINT day
in and day out. The only wonder IS
, thew didn't make match OF 1t long
: apo."-Boston Globe.
4 l CR