The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-12-05
THE END OF
HER FARMING
ny EVA ROBERTSON
(Copyrisht.)

Wnen wayne boWeEs uleu anu Icit
his young wife Betty two little boys to
care for, great was the discussion
among the sympathetic but curious
neighbors as to how Betty's future
was to be arranged.
They were not left long In doubt
and after a year or two Of successful
management on Betty's part their
ridicule died a natural death. On the
whole. Bettys first three years might
be called an emphatic success, and
she began to feel comparatively easy
AZ to the question Of livelihood for
herself and her boys. Hans, the big
German, whom she had hired to run
the farm, was so sober, honest and In.
dustrious that she unconsciously de.
pended upon him In many ways. and
left certain affairs more and more to
the solid ground seemed to sink from
under her feet when Hans informed
her that he must leave her.. as he had
decided to get married.
Poor Betty! How alone she felt
once more. She felt sure It would
be impossible to find a man to ill
Hans place, for help was scarce, and
she would have to be satisfied with
some stranger or tramp" as Betty
expressed It.
In another house, half mile to
the north, Kathrina was trying to ex
plain the state of affairs. She stood
beside the table, looking bashfully at
the floor. Her master had pushed
back from his meal and sat In q
brown study, looking at Katrina, but
seeing far beyond her.
"And So" said he, rousing himself
suddenly, you and Hans think you
will try your fortunes out west?"
IF you please, sir" answered Kat
rina, demurely.
But what II / don't please?"
Then / think you must talk to
Hans" put in Katrina's mother, laugh.
ingly.
I'm going past there this afternoon,
and perhaps I'd better speak to him
about It," with a twinkle In his eye
toward Katrina. But what will Betty
Bowers do without Hans!" and as the
thought and other attendant ones
came to John Meade, he paused with
one sleeve of his coat on and one
of till Katrina came to his aid. Even
then he seemed strangely absent-mind-
ed, and said in return for her helI
"Oh, yes. thank you. believe
will"
Betty hailed his appearance with de.
light and FASTENED to ask him II he
would help her shut the black colt
in the barn. 1t had gotten loose, and
she was so afraid Of It's heels.
OF course John would help, and the
refractory animal was soon stabbed.
Side by side they walked to the house,
talking naturally enough about Hans
and Katrina and their prospective
marriage.
1T will leave us in rather bad
shape, won't it?' said John.
Yes, indeed; and I'd like your help,
John, in finding someone to take
Hans place / do so dread having a
stranger come here" and Betty held
the door Hospitality for John to enter.
He could not resist this chance Of
freeing his mind. He took Betty's
hand from the door, looking in her
wondering eyes and said:
TRY me in Hans place."
Your" exclaimed Betty in astonish.
ment.
"Yes," said John, feeling that he
had gone too far for retreat, and must
now explain himself Hans takes my
housekeeper and you lose your main
stay. Don't you see, If you marry me
it will straighten the whole matter.
Hans and Katrina could live here,
and"
But he got no further. Betty jerked
her hand from his, and an angry flush
overspread her face. His proposal
was great shock to her, for the
thought of finding a lover in her old
friend John had never crossed her
mind. But aside from her surprise,
there was another reason for her dis.
pleasure. He had tried to put the
matter in a practical light, and to
Betty 1t amounted to this: John want.
ed her to marry him because he was
In need Of housekeeper. All her
pride rose in rebellion against the
idea.
mo, john" she said decidedly.
Let's not talk about it any more, for
1t won't do any good. II we don't
speak Of 1t again, we shall soon for.
get 1t and be as good friends as
ever"
Hans hustled into the house that
night with news. He had heard of a
chance to hire man, and proposed
that Betty ride over to Koontzs Cor.
ner next morning to see the man. The
ride was taken, and the man came for
two weeks on trial. He proved to be
quite ignorant of farm work, but was
quick and willing to learn. Betty,
though not without certain misgivings.
had nearly decided to hire him for
the season when something happened