The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1908-02-26

of Yesterday. SlG Tor the IefC1l1ZGE O1
today. Ideas were not always prac-
tical. and ideals did not materialize as
they might. Fight as she would against
them. the tears would come again.
The sound of wheels on the road near
at hand reused Florence. She turned
to see the express wagon from the gen.
eral store about to- deliver the barrel
of tar. She jumped down from the
fence and hurried to the gate which
led to the old stable.
"Why, Mr.. Rivers, what are you do
ing? Driving the express wagonT' she
exclaimed as she recognized In the
urIver one or Goshen's leading young
men.
"HellO, Flor he cried as he tied the
old horse to the gatepost. tits me,
all right. Just lOaf1ng around for a
few days finishing up a business trip.
Dad said you ordered this tar from the
store and said I'd deliver 1t and kill
two birds with one throw. was COM
ing up to see the wonderful mush-
rooms anyway before left. Call your
man to help me unload the barrel. will
you?"
haven't any man, nor any boy. nor any
mushrooms. Yes, I've been crying"
she added, as he glanced sharply at
the somewhat wet cheeks. You see, :
Fhe went on, i've had bad luck with
my farming"
They wandered instinctively toward
the wall Dick took out his pipe and
began to light it,
''Didn't your idea work out?" he said.
with fine impersonal interest.
mot very WE'LL" she admitted. THE
idea is all right. but skilled labor is
hard to get. and after all I'm only u
woman.
What about the ideals?' suggested
Dick as he puffed away. Seems to
me you told me that you had ideals
as well as ideas"
"Oh. still have them--in my mind.
of course. but they are so hard to find
in real life"
Dick crossed his. legs and Rugged the
uppermost knee. He was not looking
ut Florence but straight ahead, across
the fields which lay before them. 1t
was one of those beautiful winter days
which apparently had nothing but
warmth of sun and breadth of blue sky
to offer
"It's just a year ago today he mus
ed aloud. yet as if talking to himself
"a year ago today. A man in love
and girl with ideals. Couldn't make
it go. Such team couldn't pull to-
gether in harness. Twelve months
finds the man still i'll love and the girl
clinging to her ideals. Hopeless case.
ell, don't you think?"
"Oh, don't know" sighed Flo. Not
SO hopeless as raising mushrooms, for
Instance
Dicks knee slipped through his grip.
and he stood beside the girl.
What do you mean, FLOP" he de-
manded. Can you forego the ideal
and take me after all?'' and he stretch
ed forth both hands.
Twill you take me. Dick:" she said
as her two hands met his.
Take you. darling!" and he drew
her close within his arms But you
said No."
but I didn't mean it," she whisper
ed as she nestled close to his neck
Didn't mean it," he cried, looking
down at the radiant face. "Well. but
you said it. and how was | to know:
You told me you had ideas of your
own and an ideal besides. so got out
to give the other fellow a decent
chance"
men are such stupid creatures" she
assured him. II didn't think you'd
take mo- for an answer, and my ideas
were to be happy in a home with you,
and you, Dick-Oh, you old dear-you
are my ideal"'
The strains of the wedding march
sung in several different keys by un-
trained voices reached them, and they
were confronted with the girls. who,
having failed in their mission the day
before, had returned to meet with bet
ter results.
On the wedding day among the pres
ents arrived a barrel of tar labeled
''Stick to it," Dick suspected his pater-
nal parent. while Florence has always
attributed it to Malachi 1t stands in
the yard of Mushroom Farm" the
title of their country place. so called
because Dick asserts that his hopes
sprang up in night