The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-11-30

/ wOrld-even II he did sacrifice the old
homestead
Phil deferred writing his letter to
Ed for a full week Then something
happened that made it unnecessary.
In one Of the city papers there was
a small news item tucked away in a
corner that greatly excited the people
living in Greenville. 1t was no less
than an account of the arrest of Ed
/ Spencer for robbing his employer.
The details of the case were not
I given, but one could read on the sur
face the old story Of temptation, weak
ness and final failure. Phil's heart
Eearly stopped beating. He could not
show the paragraph to Bess and in his
heart he hoped that no one in Green
/ vile would see it.
4 But this was a foolish wish, for
within twenty-four hours the news had
s.read all over the village and the
farming section. Phil thought of
Mandy. How would she take it? How
would Bess take it if he were the pris-
oner?
"Oh, Phil, suppose it had been you!"
exclaimed Bess, when she heard the
rtws Then, blushing deeply, she
threw her arms around his neck and
stanmered: But, of course, l know
it couldn't have been you"
Nevertheless she sobbed rather ner-
vously for a few minutes until Phil
was tempted to say:
81 don't know, Bess II might
have fallen, too. Who knows?"
mo, no, protested Bess Loyalty.
Phil picked UP his hat and strobe
toward the door
Where are you going?" she asked.
Il am going over to see Mandy"
was the reply.
Without further explanation of his
sudden resolve he walked across the
fields until he reached the Spencer
home. Without waiting for any for
mality, Phil entered and caught the
girl curled up in heap, with her
sewing scattered in a hopeless mass
around her.
Mandy" he said softly.
She raised dull, red eyes to his.
Mandy he repeated, I'm going to
the city"
"Oh Phil" she cried.
I'm going, he continued, ITO see
what l can do for Ed Then I'm
coming home to stay"
IF Ed had only stayed" she moan
ed.
"He will come back-in time" Phil
replied
The girl raised her head and laugh
ed Historically. Eyes; now he will
came home, she said wildly, land no.
body will have anything to do with
him He won't be able to get work
again, and we've shall nave to move
away"
Phil twisted his hat nervously, but
his voice was clear and firm when he
spoke. HE will always be the same
to me, Mandy, and Tiff he'll work
on the old farm with me, he'll never
lack employment. I'm going to stay
on it, and keep Ed, too. Maybe in the
end it will be good thing for both
of us. Well make better farmers for
the-the experience"
Something like a hopeful express
sion entered the stricken girls eyes.
''Phil-if-if you could bring him
home now, I-you know they're not
going to prosecute him. l4r. Barrows
has discharged him, but he will not
have him imprisoned for the-the--"
q understand" Phil replied Il
shall bring him home right away. and
we'll run this farm together"
The door suddenly opened and Bess
appeared on the threshold.
"Bess!"
Mandy"
And the two girls were sobbing in
each others arms. Phil looked on
with wet eyes, and then whistled soft
ly.
81 guess, he said finally, with two
such sisters, Ed and I ought to keep
straight If we don't, we deserve
something worse than thrashing, and
I'll be the one to do the licking"
why Phil, what are you saying?'
demanded Bess wiping her eyes.
you've been talking to yourself, while
we've we're"
Acting like two silly school girls,
prompted Phil But I'm off now
I'm going to the city, Bess-going at
last"
ITO stay?" demurely asked Bess.
Until can bring Ed home" re-
sponded Phil as he pulled the door
softly shut behind him. Country Gen
tleman
No Relative or His.
Duncan, aged two-and-a-half, had
] heen naughtv: to nunish him his moth.