Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-04-04
AT THE OLD FARM
PRETTY rosy-cheekcd 81

/AA with round bare arms, was seat
Fed on thet0p step of the farmhouse
piazza. busily Smelling beans, cXchang-
lug sentences occasionally with a stall
wart young fellow who was Ostensibly
shingling the barn near by.
The air was heavy with perfume or
wistaria and cinnamon roses, while
from the hedge came the soft notes Of
wood thrush, :. pair Of tiny hum
ming birds shimmcring In the sunlight
dartcd to and fro, plunging their long
bills into the blossoms Of the vine that
covered the porch while over all hoy
cred the sweet silence Of summer
afternoon.
The young man had given up all
pretense of work and lay stretched out
in the sun on the sloping roof with
hands closed behind his head. at peace
with the world and himself
Il say, Nan. l wish | owned this
farm; it's a jolly old place"
Well 1t win all be yours some day,
Tom ana then suppose you will send
your poor cousin by marriage flynn
said Nan, with a mirthful twinkle in
her eyes.
Il would shake you for that speech,
my girl, if 1t wasn't too much trouble,
said Tom, loftily.
Just then there was sound of Spln-
terng wood. six feet Of Drawn and
muscle shot rapidly downward, and
with plunk' disappeared in the
water butt.
Nan gave shrek of laughter, and
ran to help the immersed Adonis, but
there was no answering laugh; instead,
quiet that frightened her
Tom was not "A practical joker, still
1t did not seem possible that he could
b seriously injured. What should she
do? The men were all down in the
hay field and Tom might drown while
she went for help
Her eye lighted on the chopping
block 1t was a huge affair but she
managed to drag it TO the side of the
butt and, climbing up. discovered poor
Tom, doubled up like a iackknife
As her cries reached his stunned
ears he collected his wits, but did not
move
Nan was leaning over the side, with |
the tears streaming down her pretty !
face
"oh. Tom, please get mp. Dear Tom
%, what shall Ito ? He win drown |
before any one comes" And she
reached frantically for his collar
Toms head was just above the
water, luckily, and with returning
breath he said:
Don't cry, Nan. I'm not dead by a
long shot but my ankle is twisted and |
you'H have to get some one to help |
me out Of this"
Il am afraid you will faint again."
said MN rs he turned white with
spasm Of pain.
Tom pulled himself together with an
effort This was altogether too good
chance TO lose. Nan had leased him
for the last year driving him wild
by accepting invitations from all the
different SwainS who worshipped ut
her shrine, hut with rare wisdom he
had concealed his jealousy.
He had proposed to her but she.
with a young maids distaste for the
final surrender had refused to answer.
perhaps So, some day" was her only
reply TO his earnest. "Wu you marry
me. Man,
Now was his opportunity.
Nan in a purposely weak voice.
don't leave me. dear feal dread
fuily-as II | We're Shipping
away-you do -love-me--a uttle
don't you, DEAR
Yes, Tom. But for goodness sake
try to get ont. Here, I'll HELM Won
Can't you stand ON the other foot NJ
an?"
Tom made frantic efforts TO attain
an upright position, holding ON To the
firm little brown hand tightly.
1t was serious work getting out b,t
h. finally managed it. and sank cx-
hausted on the block, leaning mean
while helplessly on Mans shoulder.
Suddeuly he clasped the amazed girl.
in strong embrace
The ankle is bad enough. my girl.
but us worth it all TO see those tears
for me on your dear face. Now, how
soon are you Going TO be my little