Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-22

which is the name of the town nearest |
to the Valley farm, because except for |
the drives | had had near Newport / |
knew nothing at all of the real country
in America | had an idea that we
should pass some fine country houses
and see a number of pretty little
nesting villages
The name of Aristo was rather i'm
pressive and classical sounding. !
thought, and l had visions of meeting
on the way pretty girls driving or rid
ing, and good looking. well groomed
men such as had met always in the
country round Newport. But as we
went on and on ] was disappointed
The scenery itself was lovely. rich
and peaceful. with groves of maple
trees which would have been quite
| new to me if l hadn't seen few in
the east But the villages were blots
rather than beauty spots, and we saw
only peasants and farm people.
Mr. Brett was driving the car, with
| me beside him, while the chauffeur sat
behind. and l made some such remar.
| TO him before l stopped to remember
| that his relatives were farm people. |
could have bitten my tongue then. but
he didn't seem to be offensed.
"Outside the towns in the west there
are few of what you would call gentle
| folk" he said with just the faintest
emphasis of good natured scorn for
| English prejudice; nor are there any
| country houses as you understand the
name in England. Here people live in
| the country to till the land and to live
| by tilling it. yet they don't call them
| selves peasants either. 1t isn't that
| they're snobbish and want to seem to
| be what they are not, don't think that
| for moment. But they-well. | won't
| try to describe them. Many people
I from the old world would never under
stand what they really are or their
| point of view. but you will. Lady
Betty. You are quick and sympathetic
] and intelligent. and when | ask you
| to define for me the difference between
the farmers of Ohio. as typified by my
cousins and their neighbors in Summer
| county. l shall be surprised If you
don't exactly hit c4e nail on the head
| They'll surprise you Il little at first,
warn you. and for about ten minutes
maybe you won't know what to make
of them. But count on you to see the
point in spite of all your traditions"
What have my traditions got to do
with it l asked.
wait and see
l laughed. We'll, l only wish /
knew what my traditions are" said 1.
II suppose l ought to know. but I
don't think | do
You may feel them pricking up and
down your spine for bit. while you're
) getting used to new order of things
at the Valley farm answered Mr.
Brett. "And yet don't know. I shall
! be enormously interested in watching
the effect upon you before I-have TO
say goodby."
forgot everything else he had been
saying when | heard that last SEN
tence.
"Wi1 you have to say goodby soon?''
asked him in crestfallen voice
He didn't speak for a minute. per-
haps on account of series of bumps
in the road.
At last he said, "To tell you the
l
stop and pay my cousins little visit,
: butt don't know if I have right
: to-"
r "Oh, why not!" / asked. "Wouldn't
they be delighted to keep your
perhaps. l hope so. But what
! about you?"
2 IF it depended one bit on me, you'd
t make long visit"
;, wouldn't you really mind seeing me
I hanging around-sometimes Just al
r meals, you know-or to take you a
:, drive once in awhile?"
l looked at him merrily through my
tale window, for felt happy and light
5 hearted, and the world seemed such a
!. very nice place to live in at that mo-
: ment.
do you truly need to have me an.
swer that question:" l asked. IF you
do, we can't be real friends as
thought, after ALL"
! you say that because you are kind
: too kind to have reflected enough
4 perhaps. An accident-the happiest
. accident in the world for me-has
a given me chance to see something
of you, Lady Betty, but do you un
y derstand that only by an accidenl
a could rough fellow like me have any
place at all in your life, no matter
Y how small or temporary? | don't want
II to take advantage of that sweet kind
ness of yours, which is partly all YOU
own and partly the essence of YOU
youth and innocence
"Now, YOU are making me very
lei cross" said 1. II won't hear yot
st talk SO. You may laugh at me. be
IS cause we've known each other such +;
eel short time, but really and truly yot
IS are the best friend I've ever had.
wouldn't lose you for any one or any
thing in the world, and / don't meal
to. unless you get tired of me-so
therev'
III Tired of you'll Good heavens, 1 tire,
e, of your
e. "yery we'll them" said fippantly
DIS $50 far as I'm concerned you needn'
say goodby' to the Valley farm unit