The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-05-05

in lessening paralleegrams.
| 1t was the novelty q seeing IA wom-
an about that was pleasant. lie had
no sisters. and his mother had long
been dead. 1t was just the novelty
and the neatness and contentednesS of
it all he liked And this idea. if his
thoughts took such definite form, re-
manned with him for a month-until
the invalid began to hobble about on
crutches when suddenly the truth
came home to him as had her beauty
I that day on the ridge. Billy was in
/ love.
Betty noticed the change in him at
once and her face grew puzzled. but
only for little while. Then an odd
twinkle of humor came into her eyes
as though she understood. And min
gled with the humor was a tender.
fickering light which had been gaining
strength in her eyes these past few
weeks. light which Billy had not yet
seen.
AS he entered Jake looked up with
angry Impotence. and Billy raised a
| hand defeESively before his face. but
the invalid was not thinking of that
"Heered anything bout wheat to-
day." he grumbled. Coin down. of
course
''Goin' up" Billy answered promptly.
"a man hollered to me from the aige
O. the hill this mornin' an said twas
seventy
Seventy Jake grabbed his crutches
and rose totteringly to his feet. but
sank back. with snarl Of mingled
rage and pain. Seventy cents. an
I've got ninety bushels. Dunn the old
back. BY the time I'm out agin it'll
be down to fifty. like twas last year.
an that'll be clean loss of SIS"
Cant go. papa" suggested Betty.
The gloomy face cleared slightly.
then lowered. He loved the profits of
his industry but not so much as he
! loved Betty. 1t was thirty miles to
Staunton.
mo. We can't" he snarled
There was brief silence. Then Bet
ty said:
"There's Billy. pap. He's mighty
strong and willin'"
The face darkened, then grew light
err Evidently the idea, at first scout
ed. was being tolerated. That meant
Billy had been making giant strides
forward during these few weeks.
'I-dunno," doubtfully.
Billy saw his opportunity and rose
to it like man-like a man of indus
try. He was developing rapidly.
'I'll take it down all right" he said
confidently. 1--WE sold wheat to Staun-
ton afore. But mebbe it'll be worth
while to hold back till you're out
ag'in."
Jake snorted.
There's more fallin's than risin's in
wheat" he snapped. 1--WE found that
out. reckon ye'd better go. an
mind. ! want We to get it all down by
tomorrow. Seventy cents! Yes. We
must get it all in tomorrow"
Billy's head was whirling. But there
was Betty looking at him confidently.
and her father already beginning to
lose some of his newly acquired conf
dence. He must brace up.
"All right" he answered as steadily
as he could. 1.-THE mules can draw
half on the long Vaughn. an I'll borry
Tom Stuart's mule an Ike Coyner's
hay Vaughn. That'll take the other
half Ike's boy Sam can drive behind
me so can keep an eye on him. Oh.
yes. Well get on fust rate"
Jake nodded approvingly. 1t was
good plan.
Seventy cents" he admonished
warningly. TRY an get it."
After the wheat was loaded the next
day Billy entered the cabin for few
last instructions. Before leaving he
contrived to draw Betty into the back
kitchen for a moment
Say. Betty" he began. '1-I-say.
would We mind me buyin' ring to
Staunton. gold ring for you an me?"
She looked at him quickly. under
standingly. her face flushing. She
could not remember single one of her
married acquaintances who had been
given a gold ring.
"Why, no. l wouldn't mind. Billy"
she said simply. iii be real glad"
"An'-an' would We mind speakin'
to your pap bout it while I'm gone,
Betty? 1t might be a good time now
I'm a-totin' his wheat"
"N-no. don't mind"
She watched him from the doorway
until the heavy wagons rumbled out
of sight. Then she went to her father.
Pap" she announced abruptly,
"Billy's asked me to marry him."
can your
give said yes" composedly.
Jake controlled himself with
mighty effort. With Betty he must be
diplomatic.
tWell, We know BEST" he grimaced
affably. But We know how tits with
Billy. Yell have to wait till he's able
to keep We. | don't reckon he's saved
enough to buy runt pig yet"
But Betty smiled to herself content
eddy. Was not Billy the best natured
and the best looking man on the slope?