The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-06-03
The Return Home

Hello, Phil, digging away at the
old farm yet?''
The speaker, leaning languidly
against the top rail Of the fence, held
a cigarette in the most approved style
between his two forefingers, and occa-
sionally pufed slowly at it.
Phil Dryden looked up from his
planting and responded: "Why, Ed, is
that you? When did you come down? ?"
Ran down last night on the early
train. Taking few days vacation and
thought I'd like to see the old place
Phil glanced rather enviously at the
well dressed smoker, and then dropped
his eyes a little shamefacedly to his
own coarse, ill-ftting mad faded clothes,
"Why do you stay down here, Phil,
and use yourself up on this old farm?"
Ed Spencer continued. II should think
you'd go to the city and get a better
job. If you hate farming as l always
did, you would
Pills face flushed a trif1e The con-
trast between his appearance and that
of his old school friend made him I'M
easy. @
II have thought Of it several times"
he replied slowly, "but there's 50 much
TO do here and then"
ooh, shucks! You hate to make the
plunge. So did I. But after the first
break it's all SO much better. Clean
sailing then. just picked up my things
and made the start. And now-well,
I'm going to get raise next month,
and then I'll take it easier than now"
II suppose the work is pleasanter,"
Phil stammered, '.and the pay is bet
ter"
"Better?' answered Ed, little con-
temptuously. "Why, you get cash there
for your work, but on the farm you
don't. I'll bet you haven't seen as
much money as this in a year."
Producing roll Of bills, the speaker
Tipped them carelessly through his fin
gers, exposing to view several of high
denominations. ~.
"Thats what you get in the CITY," he
continued. tits cash-every week or
month"
Phil said nothing, but his mind was
feverishly active. Suddenly he asked
anxiously: II suppose it's hard to get
good position at first, isn't it,"
Eyes, and no. If you have influence
it's dead easy; if you don't you have to
hunt around bit"
Ed Spencer flung away his cigarette,
and added contidentially:
IF you're thinking Of making the
change, let me know. may help you.
know the ropes a little. Just send me
word when you've made up your mind"
Phil kicked lump Of earth with the
toe Of his shoe. Ed seemed to compre-
bend the state Of his mind, and asked,
smilingly: 'How are crops, anyway
slow as ever?"
A flash OF resentment appeared in
Phil's eyes, for he knew the question
was asked in well-bred derision.
''Oh, they're pretty good" Phil replied
with some dignity. "Tll harvest a good
crop this season if"
eff potato bugs don't eat up every
thing, and cabbage worms don't finish
what's left" laughed Ed, as he turned
to leave. well, must be going. I
want to see the old place, and get back
to the city soon's can. It's pretty
slow here"
He consulted handsome gold watch
which hung at the end Of gold chain.
Remember me to Bess," he called
over his shoulder. II suppose she's
WELL"
When the two separated, Phil Dryden
picked up his hoe and stood for several
minutes staring at the retreating form.
Contending emotions possessed him.
The old rebellious spirit rose up to
make his thought bitter and disquiet-
ing.
Life on the farm was drudgery, he
thought, and a dozen times he secretly
1oRged to leave it behind to begin work
in the city. The opportunity had never
been presented quite so forcibly as to-
day, and he felt that the decisive mo-
ment had come.
''I1l do It," he firmly muttered after
the space of five minutes of silent
thought "Ill do 1t now. Uncle Ned
can get along without me- He can hire
someone else in my place. I've delayed
too long already"
Thereafter the planting progressed
slowly. Phirs mind was not on his
work and several times he had to go
over his hoeing to repair damages care
lessly done.
1t was late in the afternoon. and Phil
cut the days work short by an hour.