The Western news., 1904-07-20
Her Soft Soap
Acquaintance
By James Norf7eef
Copyright, 1904, by X. NJ. Whitehead
Copyright, 19O4, by X. NJ. Whitehead

to him in half Il dozen different direc-
tions. Most OF his herd had perished
when his barn had been struck by a
thunderbolt. and following that his wife
had died and he had fallen and broken
a leg. There could be only one more
calamity in store for him. and that put
in an appearance in due time. One day
when Il letter had come for linn he call
ed his daughter Bessie in and sai;r
well. it has come. Old John Doan
is going to fOreclOse the mortgage on
me. and in few weeks we Shall be
homeless. Here's the notice from his
man Of business"
Bessie Thompson was a girl of twen-
ty. In addition to being good look
ing and having good education. her
acquaintances called her brick"
They said so because she had faced
misfortune with braver heart than
her father and had displayed level
head and much shrewdness in trying
to stem the tide and eXtricate him
from his unfortunate situation. She
had even taken Il trip of fifty miles to
see old John Doan in person and try
to soften his heart, but had only found
| his agent and been grufiiy told that
her father must pay up or go. She had
expected the blow, and her answer to
her father was:
Wei, II we can't pay Wen have
to go, of course but we shall be allow
ed few weeks grace and who knows
what may happen in that time?'
Something did happen, but it came
about i'll queer way. Two weeks had
passed, and Miss Bessie had started to
make soft soap in a big kettle in the
back yard. Farmer folks would make
soft soap In the spring even though as
sured that the world would be no
more by midsummer. The big kettle
had been filed with lye from the beach
and fire started under it. and the
hour was 2 O'Clock in the afternoon,
when Miss Bessie sat down on the
back doorstep out of the smoke to
think and plan for the future In the
course of quarter of an hour she was
so lost in her thoughts that she was
oblivious Of her surroundings and was
jumped to her feet by hearing a harsh
voice saying:
Young woman, don't you know that
kettle is boiling over and wasting the
lye?"
1t was man Of sixty who had en-
tered the front gate and passed around
the house. He was decently dressed,
but he was bowbacked and lame. and
his snarling. stingy disposition could
be read in his face.
Il say that the kettle Is boiling over"
he repeated as she stared at him and
wondered who he could be. ut seems
to me that girl of your age ought to
know enough to put stick across it.
Perhaps though. you've got I've to
throw away or you had rather think
of marrying some prince than of max
ing soft soap?'
II was thinking she stammered.
Yes; | know. but it wasn't about |
the soap. Young woman. when YOU |
have anything on hand attend to it !
and let castle building alone. Thinking
won't bring bread and butter
Miss Bessie walked down to the fire |
and rearranged it Il bit and then laid |
stick across the top of the kettle to pre-
vent another accident. While she was |
doing this the old man sat down on |
the steps, with grunt. and looked !
around and muttered to himself Pres
emily he called to her:
Young woman, is your father at
work anywheres about the farm?"
No. sir. Father is in bed with a
broken Leg
Il s'pose he was doing some fool
thing when he broke 1t? 2"
"He was drawing up wood last Feb
ruary."
I'm! Where's your mothery'
dead"
"tm! Who runs the farm?"
I'm doing my best to care for
things. but 1t won't need anybody
long. as we shall soon be leaving"
Got TO leave. eh?" he chuckled.
Say. young woman. I'll bet you Il hair
pin there's Il mortgage on this farm.
Isn't it SOP
Yes. sir"
And III bet another that It's held
by old John Doan. the old flint hearted
rascal. Come now"
"les."
Il thought so; thought so. And. of
course, he's going to turn you out?"
He wants his money, Of course"
replied the girl. Perhaps he has to
be hard hearted to prevent people tax
Ing advantage of him. II could see
him and tell him just how things have
gone with us l believe he would give
us a show" ,
well. why don't you see himY'
Il have tried to. but l had to deal t
with his agent" =
Yes. yes! I'm, um! So your father @
S In bed with Il broken leg and YOU '
ire trying to run the farm? l see 4
Jan you cook and wash?" l.
"Of course"
Know enough to milk COW and do t
q
''Yes; quite enough Il
''WhO make Vclr Dlo hos :,