Crittenden press., 1902-10-09

| lIuIu lHt DdS>' suppose sLt NdhlCu
to talk!
The girl sat looking down the
road. Her sweet face grew more SO.
Der every minute. She was thinking
of her mother and Molly and the un-
known Parsons place. At last she
could bear il no longer.
is it-nice" she asked. suddenly.
startling the color into the boys
brown face The Parsons place. |
mcan:'
Terry had the dismal picture still
in his mind. The Parsons place was
unrepaired. uninhabited. He re-
membered the tall weeds and grass
in the dooryard, and the broken win
dows and the gate that saggcd on its
hinges. For ten years the Parsons
place had been abandoned.
is it painted white with green
blinds:' the girl persisted. Are
there beautiful trees: And rose
bushes? Is there a view? l shall be
so glad if there's a piazza! We could
wheel mothers couch out on it. and
she could lie there all the pleasant
DAYS and get we'll That's whatwe'rc
coming here for. The doctors said
she-could not be any better in the
city. It's awful in the city in sum
mer."
The boy made no answer. and, at
tributing his silence to bashfulncss,
she continued:
This place-the Parson, place
was left to us year ago in will. Now
that mother is sick, we are very glad
of il, because the doctors say she
must be in the country. I've come
to see about getting the house opened
and aired. Then I'm going back for
them all
Where were YOU expecting to stop
tonight" questioned the boy, awk-
wardly. She turned upon him in
puzzled wonder at the question.
"Why. at the hotel, | suppose. |
hadn't thought, but that's where | !
shall 90. of course. Is it near the |
Parsons place.
Terry Quinn felt a wild desire to |
laugh. The idea Of a hotel near the |
Parsons place was too much for him. !
But a side glance at the wistful, girl /
ish face sobered him.
There isn't any hotel hereabouts,"
he said.
NO hotel: Why. thought Of
course Oh, | don't see what I'm
going to do.'
"Mother'll take YOU in. l guess"
interrupted Terry, hurriedly We
live close by. Shell see to YOU
Mothers great
In the instant of Offering the girl
the hospitality of his own home. an
other idea occurred to Terry Quinn.
He sat on the edge Of his seat.
driving the old white mare at a snail
pace, and thought it all out to his
own satisfaction.
1t was growing late. The soft
June dusk was settling lightly over
the land. The girls impatience
nearly asserted itself 1t would be
so late to see the Parsons place.
We've got the key at our house"
Terry announced, with startling alb
ruptness. We've always kept it.
You'd better not try to 90 down to
the house till tomorrow lit
needs daylight to see it anyways well.
Mother'll go along with YOU in the
morning. Mother great
lie had said that before The girl
smiled to herself wearily.
They were Jogging along by lit
tie unpainted, uninhabited house set
in weeds and neglect The girl shud-
dered.
"Oh, hope it won't look like that
That's dreadful! she said. 'If it
looks like that think shall-cry"
Terry whipped up the old mare
hastily, and drove away from the
dreary place. In another five min
utes he had stopped in front Of a
cheerful little house hugged by vines
and roses. His mother was in the
doorway.
"Oh, yes, shes 'greatr" the girl
thought, as she lay upstairs in big,
soft bed. shes beautiful. She
help, out the Parsons place, no mat
er what it's like. And the boy
veil, he's pretty nice, even if he is
muddy outside
1 L. .