The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-10-08
The Return Home

-Hsllo. Phil. digging sway al the
ED farm yetf'
The speaker. leaning lsnguidly
against the top rail OF the fence. held
q cigarette In the most approved style
between bis two forenngers. and oeea'
sionally pulled slowly At II.
Phil Dryden looked up from bis
planting aud responded -why. "a. Is
that youf when did you come DOWN
ran down las, night on the early
train Taking = few days vacation and
thought ia like 10 sc the old place -
phil glanced rather e0sionsly AZ the
well dressed smoker. aud then dropped
bis eyes \ little shamefaoeiiy 20 bis
swa eoarse. nl-dtfing nad faded clothes.
why do you stay down here. Pail.
and use yourself ~ on this Old farmr'
I'd spencer oontinned. = should think
you'd SO % the city aud SGT > better
SOB. II you hate farming ~ Always
did. you would
Phlrs face flushed a tribe. The Gnu
trssf between hls appearance and that
Of bis old school, friend made him un-
ssy.
= have thought Of Il several times.-
be replied slowly. hut there's 70 much
70 DO here. and then
-Oh. shncksi You hate 10 make she
plunge. SO ala l. hut after the arst
break TIA all 40 much better. Clean
salilng thea. just picked up my things
aud made the start And now--wsii.
I'm going to get = rairs next month.
and ibrn IN take u easier than now
Il suppose the work n pirasanfer.-
Phil stammeFcd. -and the pay IL bet.
ter
-Betfsrr answered IA. a little coz
fempsuousiy. why. you get cash there
for your work. but on the farm you
dont. I'll bet you havcn't seen az
much money a. thIs IN a year
Producing q roll % bills. tho speaker
Hipp~1 them careiessly through bis IN.
gers. exposing to view several OF high
denomlnafions
That's what yon set IN the city" he
eontinned- -ita cash--eveFy week or
MONTH
Phil said nothing. but his mind was
fevcriahly active suddenly he asked
anxiously: II suppose It's hard TO gct
a good position At FIRST. ISN'T ltf'
yes. and no II you have influence
it's dead cay n you don't you have to
hunt around a Bit
ia Spencer funx sway bis Cigarette.
and added s.onndeutially:
IF you're thinking q making the
change. let me know. I may help you.
know The ropes n little. Just send me
word when you've made up your mind.
Phil kicked = lump Of earth with the
toe Of bis shoe IA seemed TO conipre-
bend the state OF his mind. and asked.
smiiingly; How are crops. anyway
slow ns eserT'
A fash Of resentment appeared In
Phil's eyes. for be knew the question
was asked In weii-bred derislon.
'.oh. they're pretty good Phil replied
with some dignity. "Tll harvest good
crop this season r."
III potato bugs don't eat up every
thing, aud cabbage worms don't finish
what's left" laughed I'd. as he turned
10 leave. swell. I must be going.
want to see the old place. and get back
to the city soon's can. It's pretty
slow here"
He consulted a handsome gold watch
which hung at the end OF a gold chain.
"Rcmembcr me to Bess" he called
over his shoulder. II suppose she's
we'll"
when the two separated, Phil Dryden
picked up his hoe and stood for several
minutes staring at the retreatIng form.
ContcndIng emotions possessed him.
The old rebcIIlous spirit rose up to
make his thought bitter and disQuiet-
ing.
Life on the farm was drudgery. he
thought. and n dozen times he secretly
ionged 10 leave II behind to begin work
In the city. The opportunity had never
been presented quite 30 forcibly as to-
day. and he felt that the decisive mo-
ment had come.
"I'll do t." he firmly muttered after
the space OF Eve minutes OF silent
thought. am do II now. Uncle Ned
can get along without me. He can hire
someone else In my place. I've delayed
too long alrenas."
Thereafter the planting progressed
slowly. Phiis mind was not on his
work and several times he had 10 go
over his hocIng to repair damages care
lessly done.
II was late In the afternoon. and Phil
cut the days work short by an hour.