The Republican journal., 1902-03-06
an fifty more, an there's no way to get
it in the known world. No, the dear
old farm'Il have ter gO-but don't men

old farm'll have ter go-but don't men
ton this afore Frances, will We? She
don't know nothin' bout it, an don't
want her to, it nd only worry her. The
injunction came too late, for Frances
had heard every word: the sound of
their voices had floated out to her
through the open window, even though
the door between the two rooms was
closed. She stood very still for few
moments, all the wild rose bloom fad
ing from her face Slowly her gaze
wandered out over the green fields and
wooded hills, the fertile meadows and
broad pastures dotted here and there
with grazing kline, and her eyes grew
dim with tears. Her dear old home,
where seventeen years before her baby
eyes had first opened to the light, and
where she had lived all her happy care
free life. Why, every rock and tree
was dear to her, and could she leave it
all to 60 forth homeless? The thought,
even, seemed almost too hard to be
borne. Mechanically she washed and
set away the dishes, and when all was
i'll order she went up stairs to her own
dainty room and throwing herself upon
the bed she thought long and earnestly.
When she arose there was a look of de-
termination upon her pretty face, and
the light of inspirat on shone in her
eyes. "I'll try at any rate" she muir
INJURED thoughtfully. IF fail it will
be no more than others have done. if l
win, | win everything" And seating
herself at her desk, she drew paper and
ink toward her and began to write.
Rapidly her pen flew over the paper,
her eyes shining and her checks glow
ing until they rivaled the crimson roses
blooming beneath her window. SO alb
sorbed was she in her work that her
mother called to her twice before she
heard her voice. She sprang to her feet
in dismay. why surely it cannot be
time for supper she thought, glancing
at the tiny timepiece on the mantel.
"And yet it certainly is" Hurriedly
putting her writing aside she descended
the stairs two steps at a time.
Here | am, mother but why did you
slightest idea that it was so late" NO,
good natured laugh. You was moonin
over them books O. yourn | reckon an
didn't know how time was a flynn"
Frances smiled and made no reply but
after she had retired to her room that
night, one, if they had listened, might
have heard her busy pen flying over the
paper until far into the wee small hours
The next day and the next it was the
same. She neglected no task, but every
spare hour that she could get was spent
in her own room. Her mother remark
ed to their visitor LAS how she guessed
that Frances had another O. them poe
try writin' spells o hern, same as she
had sometimes ! dunno what ter
make CT her, Tilda," she sighed. Il jest
can't understand her at all. if she is nv
own darter.'
We'll, Cynthy, was the reply. Don't
We go ter naggln' ct her and dlscouragin'
of her: she's a smart girl Frances is. an
who knows but she may live ter be a
great writer some day, like them folks
we read about; an then jest think how
proud we'd all be OF her Now. sister,
We take my advice an let the child
write all she's mind ter
The morning of the fourth day Fran
ces took a bulky parcel from her desk,
and telling her mother she was going to
the nearest village for a walk, she
started forth. She went directly to the
post office a mile distant, deposited her
package and returned. 1t was now the
tenth of July; in little more than a
month the dreaded payment would have
to be made. No wonder the farmer
and his wife We're grave and silent at
times. Little lines began to show
themselves on Mrs Dennison S smooth
forehead, and in her husband S dark hair
tie silver threads multiplied daily, and
his usually cheerful face wore look of
care and anxiety pitiful to behold.
AS for Frances, i'll the weeks that fol
Ia 70 il1r l,ar,l11 -lat IN.
make of her. She laughed, she sang.
she kept them all merry at times with
droil humor: then suddenly, without APP
parent cause, she would become as silent
as she had before been nirthful and
for hours would 90 about her tasks
speaking no word. At length one morn
Zig only a week before the dreaded
fifteenth of August, she returned from
her daily walk to the village and went
directly to her own room. Tossing her
hat upon the nearest chair, She drew
from her pocket a letter bearing the
post mark of a distant city. what
will it be- she whispered; victory or
defeat? | hardly dare open it, After
a moment she broke the seal with
fingers that trembled a little in spite of
her efforts to keep them steady \
note enclosing a folded paper fell from
the envelope, she picked it up and read
as follows.
Dear Miss Dennison;-The story
which you so kindly sent us for exami-
nation has been accepted, and awarded
the first prize OF five hundred dollars.
Enclosed please find check for that
amount. Your work shows remarkable
talent, and we shall be glad to receive
contributions from your pen at any
time when you feel disposed to so favor
us. Yours truly,
S. V. EDGERToN & Co.
Publishers.
With low cry of JOY and burst of
happy tears Frances fell upon her knees.
Thank God"' she breathed. "The
dear old home will still be ours after all
our fears, and father and mother will be
happy again. Oh, how glad | ann.
Rising she put the letter carefully
away and ran down stairs looking as
fresh and lovely as a flower. Selling
her aunt who was busiy engaged in
picking the dead leaves from pet
geranium, she nearly smothered her
with kisses.
Fer the lands sake. child. What ails
We this mornin'? | declare thought
Whirwind had got me-
You were right. auntie, only the
whirwind is human. but feel SO hap
Ply this morning that it is just impossi
|, No f,N,, To-, l. -