The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-06-04
The Return Home



-Heilo. Phil. digging away at the
cid farm yeti"
The speaker. leaning languidly
against the top rail- Of the fence. held
a cigarette IN the most approved style
between his two forehngers. and occs-
slonaily pulled slowly al H.
Phil Dryden looked up from bis
planting and responded: why. I'd. is
hat your When did you come DOWN
RAN down last night on the early
train Taking a few days vacation and
thought ia like 70 see the old place
Phi glanced rather obviously AZ the
well dressed smoker. and then dropped
bis eyes a little shamefaeediy % bis
own coarse. lil-fitfing mad faded clothes
why 90 you stay down here, Phil,
and use yourself Up on this old farm
I'd Spencer continued. Il should think
you'd 20 to the city and get a better
Sob. II you hate farming as ] always
did. you would
Pills face flushed frine. The con-
srast between his appearance and that
o. his old school friend made him IN
Easy.
Il have thought Of il several tines
be replied slowly. -'but there's 70 much
20 DO here. and then
-Oh. shucks. You hate 10 make the
plunge. So did I. But after the arst
break rs all 20 much better Clean
sailing then just picked up my things
and made the start And now--weil.
I'm going 10 get a raise next month,
aud then III take u easier than now
Il suppose the work Is pleasanter.-
Phil sfnmmcred. -and the pay Is bet
ter
Better answered Ed. a little con-
irmpfuousiy. -why. you get cash there
for your work. but on the farm you
don't IN bet you haven't seen as
much money as this In a year"
Producing roll Of bills. the speaker
clipped them careiessiy through his I'm
gers exposing to view several CT high
denominations.
That's what you get In the city," he
continued. ITS cash-every week or
unonfh-~
PHI said nothing. but his mind was
feverlshly active. Suddenly he askei
anxlously: Il suppose It's hard to get
a good position at iirst, Isn't itf-
Yes and no. II you have influence
It's dead easy; II you don't you have TO
hunt around Bit
I'd Spencer flung away his cigarette.
and added confidentiaily:
III you're thinking Of making the
change. LED me know. I may help you.
know the ropes little Just send me
word when you've made up your mind"
Phil kicked lump Of earth with the
toe OF bin shoe. Ed seemed to conipre-
bend the state Of his mind. and asked.
sniiingly: How are crops. anyway
slow as everfs
A fash Of resentment appeared In
phll's eyes. for he knew the question
was asked in weIl-bred derision.
'-oh. they're pretty good" Phil replied
with some dignity. ~rli harvest good
crop this season f.
III potato huge don't eat up every
thing. and cabbage worms don't finish
what's left laughed I'd. as he turned
TO leave. swell. must be going. !
want to sec 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 gold chain.
Remember me to Bcss" he called
over his shoulder. II suppose she's
wells
when the two separated. Phil Dryden
picked up his hoe and stood for several
minutes staring at the retreatlng form.
Contending emotions possessed him.
The old rebcillous spirit rose up 10
make his thought bitter and disQuict-
ing.
Life on the farm was drudgery, he
thought. and dozen times he secretly
longed 10 leave II behind to begin work
Ia the city. The opportunity had never
been presented quite 80 forcibly ms to-
day, and he felt that the decisive mo-
mcnt had come.
an do t." he firmly muttered after
the space Of 1--WE minutes of silent
thought "Ill do Il now. Uncle Ned
can get along without me. He can hire
someone else In my place. I've delayed
too long alreads."
Thereafter the planting progressed
slowly. Phils mind was not on his
work and several times he had 10 go
over his hoeing to repair damages care
lessly done.
II was late IN the afternoon. and Phil
cut the days work short BY an hour.