The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-06-02

lawn, and if he'll eat the grass for me
it will save cutting it,"
Madge thanked him and Invited
fact that he had furnished the supper
she could not well do otherwise, even
had she so desired, which most emphat
ically she did not.
He looked at Cicely good deal while
they ate-Cicely was very good to look
upon-but his conversation was ad.
dressed for the most part to Madge
As matter of fact. it had to be
that way. Cicely's accumulated woes
pressed so heavily upon her that she
was utterly incapable of anything be-
yond an occasional subdued Yes and
mo"
Madge, however, chatted gayly. TIC
her mind the situation was decidedly
tolerable and growing more so every
minute. And when next she looked
upon the bleak vista Of rocks that
made up the immediate landscape she
found it almost attractive.
THE only hope observed Madge,
'has come home again"
Cicely joined her in the doorway.
"And he's thinner than ever" she de-
clared pessimistically.
Then Mr.. Ellwood came into view
He was doing an elaborate imitation
Of man who has been running fast.
He got loose" he painted. 'And
I've been following
'Yes," Madge broke in genially. 81
know you have. I've been watching
you down the road for the last five
minutes" She waved a hand toward
the mule. Il never in all my life" she
said, saw anybody so reluctant to
take advantage of handicap. How
on earth did you induce him to get
here first?
Mr.. Ellwood had the grace to blush.
Tits very warm day." he STAN
mered, tactfully trying to shift the
conversation to a safe topic of general
interest
at is" Madge agreed. "And l don't
believe so much exercise is good fer
the mule. Besides, it will take lot
of your time to lead him home with
you every night and dri-follow him
back here every morning Why don't
you bring his meals to him?"
Every day." inquired Mr. Ellwood
hopefully.
We'll, l really think he ought to be
fed every day, but I'll leave that tc
you"
Cicely, who wondered miserably at
her friends high spirits, had retired
into the other room, hopping her eyes.
"She doesn't like it," Madge observed
confdentially to Mr. Ellwood.
"And no wonder" he rejoined SYM
pathetically. you're going to stay?''
he added
eve must" said Madge, "for we've
no money to get away on And any
way" she added after a moments
pause, 81 believe it isn't going to be
half bad"
IF l can help it." said Mr.. Ellwood
heartily. Its net"
He was as good as his word. and
better. For Cicely he brought ham
mock and flowers in pots and many
little comforts that helped to render
her life more tolerab bic He treated
her as might an elder brother low
able but Incapable sister.
But Madge was his comrade and
friend. She had assumed the burdens
Cfcely was incapable of bearing, and
he very naturally thought her the own
err of the farm. He liked her pluck
that wrested her hardly won garden
from the rocky soil and her sturdy in
dependence that always returned favor
for favor. His own little place took
on an added value because she had |
approved it. He gave the house a
new coat Of paint and planned when
the crops should have been harvested |
to build a bigger porch And he
evolved little conveniences for the
shelves and closets and -four
bin. things of which his masculine
had not felt the need He
as he worked. and before him
there was ever girls face. laugh
Ing face growing daily roster and more
happier
''The only hope" observed Cicely
sis certainly growing
TAT. II we could sell him by the pound
Is they do beef on the hoof,' think
hey call II. we'd get quite lot for
him."
Hes too fat" Madge objected. "He
ooks stuffed. I think you feed him
90 much. Cicely. If Mr.. Ellwood were
It home I'd ask him to take a look at
him. I'm quite certain his eyes ought
lot to have that CLASSY stare"
Later in the day the only hope sue
.umbed.
Il don't really blame him for dying"
aid Cicely, who was weeping over the
emains. Il suppose he was just nat
rally tired and discouraged and didn't
are whether he lived or died-I've felt
hat way myself-but do think it was
most inconsiderate Of him."
He might at least" said Madge,
have gone off and done it somewhere
lse. Then we could have pretended :
e wasn't ours. AS it is. we'll have TO