The Press., 1903-06-04
LO ITS ~ STRATEGY.
 By SU SAN
 BROWN ROBBINS
Copn'ioht, 1908, bu the
 IF

\
 Lot turned on her. Look he'r, Ma ria Bemis," he said almost fiercely. "You pride yourself on your faculty for seeing things You've been here three days, and haven't you seen | that there was something come be tween us since you were here before and that she has stopped caring any | thing about mel" His voice broke at the last words, and he turned away from her.
 Maria looked nt his back. and there was an expression on her face of min gled pity, contempt and amusement. i've been here three days, Lot" she | said quietly, and I've seen that you | are a pair of foolish children. But be fore I go on I want to ask you if you have got over caring for her." | Lot looked at her with indignation too strong for words.
 "T didn't think you had" said his sister in a tone of relief. "If you had, 1t would be a serious state of affairs; but, as you haven't, I don't see any | difficulties"
 "You must admit that she isn't hap py, ne Sallu aI LenSln- "Yes"
 "But, don't you see, it must be me, because she doesn't see anybody else, hardly"
 She settled herself more comfortably on the grain chest and began to speak deliberately. Don't you know that when two people. I don't care who they are, live on a lonely farm and don't see anybody but each other for weeks at a time-don't you know that they are bound to get morbid and imagine all sorts of things about themselves and each other? That is why so many farmers wives go insane"
 "But what can do?" Lot asked, look of terror in his face. i've tried to get her to go to places with me, but I can't"
 ''In tell you" said Maria decisively. '"The first nice day take her out over the farm and spend the day. I'll see to things while you are gone, and I'll put up a lunch for you. Show her all you are doing and plan to do. Take her to the pretty places and, most of all, make love to her as though your life depended on it."
 "I don't believe she'd go. couldn't persuade her. You've no idea how set she is.''
 Maria looked at her brother scorn- fully. Perhaps you never heard of such thing as strategy"
 She turned away and walked out of the barn.
 For a long time he stood looking at his Grandfather Stetson's old covered wagon. It had been considered an ele- gant affair in its day, but now 1t was seldom taken out except when some of the children came home at Thanksgiv- ing or for short visits.
 He took out his jackknife and opened it, felt of the edge, then got into the wagon and knelt down on the seat. Very carefully, and following the thread in the cloth, be cut slit two inches long in the back of the seat. He picked at the cotton batting stuffing with the point of his knife. Then he let the flap go back In place. the cot ton batting showing a little all along the cut. That looks very natural" he muttered.
 The next morning Lot spoke to his sister when Eunice was in another room. Just as soon as the dew gets off some," he said, and she nodded after breakfast she carried to the barn a large covered basket. demijohn of with look of comprehension. Soon cold tea, a shawl and her sister laws sunbonnet. These Lot helped her stow away under the back seat
 At 9 o'clock Lot came into the house. "I'm going to start off with the old GOV cred wagon in a little while" he said, "and l find there's a tear or a cut in the back of the seat. Do you suppose you could mend it?"
 Eunice went to get her workbasket. She found a piece of green cloth and pulled some ravelings from it; then she went out and got into the covered wagon and set quietly and patiently to work.
 Lot watched her furtively from the barn. When he thought she was nearly half through he began harnessing with feverish haste. What if she should get through too soon? She looked around as he backed the horse into the shafts.
 "I'm not quite through yet. Lot" she said mildly.
 Don't hurry" he answered. He waited with the reins in his hand until she had taken the last stitch; then he jumped in, sat down beside her and spoke to the horse. Eunice half started to her feet but he laid his hand gently on her arm, and she sank back again.
 I've are going to ride over the farm," he said quietly.
 He drove on, talking rapidly about his plans, recalling incidents of the haymaking and speaking of the get ting in of the ensilage.
 Eunice was silent. and in spite of his lively chatter Lot was anxious.
 In the middle of the pasture Lot stopped the horse and glanced about. Some of the cows were feeding near and they lifted their heads to look with big, inquiring eyes.
 Pretty good looking cattle, 1 call them," he said proudly. He paused. His face was quiet, white and agi- tated. and he did not dare look at his wife.
 "l always thought an awful lot of BLttercup." said Eunice in her sweet, gentle voice. Il liked her looks so well that I learned her to drink and took all the care of her myself"
 "Yes," he said. ''I remember. and it was good thing that you did take charge of her. She's made fine cow" His voice grew curiously husky. and he spoke almost sharply to the horse. "Get up, Nell"
 AS they went slowly through the pasture the cows one by one dropped their noses to their feeding again. Eunice gaZed about her eagerly. new light in her face. ''Oh," she sighed contentedly, ''it is a lovely day."
 The cart path was very rough, and the wagon bounced and pitched along, the oyerbanging bushes and young trees brushing against its top and sides Eunice laughed like child and