The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-08-28


THE BARN RAISING.
Keene Warden sat at the clumsy,
old fashioned writing desk, staring
hopelessly at blank piece of letter
paper. Several fragments were scat
tered on the floor, bearing testimony
to fruitless efforts. He was better
educated than the average farmer in
the vicinity of Cornsville, and he had
clear, reasoning mind, but his un-
dertaking was of delicate nature.
Moreover, his six feet of manhood
strode away from other peoples busi-
ness instead of poking into 1t.
He felt that he owed it to his
fathers memory to protect his fathers
friend, Stephen Ross, In his old age.
In his day Stephen had been pros
porous farmer. Successive off-seasons
had done their work and the inevita-
BILE mortgage had rolled up its added
interest. His wife's illness and death
had weakened his strength and am-
bition. He had lost his farm and gone
to live on a ten.acre strip saved from
the wreck. Then his only son, who
had no aptitude for farming, had gone
West, married, made a fair fortune in
mining stocks, and had written to his
father to come out and share his luxu-
rious home.
But the old mans heart and mem
ories were. too strongly rooted in his
meadow lands to stand transplanting.
So the son had bought the farm back
and let his father live on 1t, also max
ing him generous allowance. Ste
phen was as happy as his solitary
fireside would allow him to be, but
the fireside was about to be cheered
by his granddaughter, young girl
OF nineteen, whom he had not seen in
fifteen years. Her father was going
to Mexico for a six months sojourn
among some mines, and she had
written that she felt longing to see
her fathers boyhood home and her
grandfather.
"It's really hers, you know" Ste
phen had said, when telling Keene
the news. "Her father decided it to
her when he bought it."
"Her coming will cheer you up
wonderfully, Mr.. Ross" ventured
Keene.
"Yes," agreed the old man, but
there was reservation in his tone,
foreboding in his eyes, and Keene
gradually drew from the cause. 1t
was this talk which had prompted the
letter to Ruth Ross. Finally he
managed to explain to this pamrered
young person that her grandfather
was old and lived entirely in the past,
clinging pathetically to old ways. He
tod her be knew that the farm was
hers, but urged her not to make the
improvements that would doubtless
suggest themselves to her. This the
old man was fearing and dreading
that she would do. He feared that
she might replace the old fireplace by
a furnace. Stephen made heartfelt
plea for the survival of the old man S
altar fires. 1t was Straightforward
letter with no apology for his inter-
ference.
About six days after the mailing of
this letter he looked for a reply, but
none came.
"She|s offended and thinks me
nervy," = thought ruefully. "Med
dlers alw. IS make matters worse.
She'll probably take pains to do all
she thinks asked her not to do"
A week later Ruth Ross arrived
ard Keene went over to meet her.
He entered the big living and dining
room, braced to meet a scornful young
damsel. The room was lighted only
by the flames from the fireplace. The
Old man sat in his usual place, look
ing, as Keene's quick, keen glance
noted, ten years younger and twenty
years happier. A slender slip of a
girl with soft, sweet eyes and smooth,
shining hair came forward with ex-
tended hand.
"Mr. Warden, papa has told me SO
often of all the pranks you played
when you were boy that feel as II
knew YOU"
"You do, he said earnestly. "The
summer you were here when you
were four and / fourteen we were
firm friends, but, of course, you don't
remember"
'I am not so sure about that, " she
replied. "When / smell new mown
hay have Aeeting vision of big
boy with gentle touch who used to
carry me on his back through fields. y
''I was that boy" he declared.
"Then draw up a chair to oul
lovely fire.
"She likes the fireplace, Keene, y
said the old man in childish eager
ness. "She says it's the most beau
tiful fire in the world"
"Of course" she asserted, looking
at Keene. "It makes me loatht
steam and COAL"
That night Keene went home witt
his heart throbbing. She was MOI
offended, then, and from the 6replacs
proposition it looked as If she were
going to follow out his suggestions
The next morning he met her driving
her grandfather over the place.
isn't 1t dear old farm!" sh'
4 cried.