The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-20
THE BARN RAISING.

Keene Warden sat ct 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
a clear, reasoning mind, but his un-
dertaking was of q delicate nature
Moreover, his six feet of manhood
strode away from other peoples busi-
ness instead of'poking into it.
He felt that he owed II to his faith
er's memory to protect his fathers
friend, Stephen Ross, In his old age,
In his day Stephen had been pros
porous farmer Successive off-sea-
sons had done their work and the
inevitable mortgage had rolled up its
added interest. His wife's illness and
death had weakened his strength and
ambition. He had lost his farm and
gone to live on ten-acre strip saved
from the wreck. Then his only son.
who had no aptitude for farming, had
gone west. married, made a fair for
tune In mining stocks. and had writ
ten to his father TO come out and
share his luxurious home.
But the old mans heart and mem-
orles 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 II, also max
ing him o generous allowance. Steph-
en- was as happy as his solitary fire.
utI ell al l.
fireside was about to be cheered by
his granddaughter. a young girl OF
fifteen years. Her fether was going
to Mexico for q six months soiourn
among some mines, and she had writ
ten that she felt longing 10
see her fathers boyhood home and
her grandfather.
It's really hers. you know" Steph-
en- had said. when telling Keene the
news Her father decided Il TO her
when he bought H."
Her coming will cheer you uu
wonderfully, Mr. Ross. vontured
Keene.
Yes. agreed the old man. but
there wns reservation IN his tone. 4
foreboding IN his eyes. and Kerne
gradually drew from him the cause
II was this talk which had prompted
the letter to Ruth Ross FINALLY he
managed to explain 20 this pampered
young person that her grandfather
was old and lived entirely IN the past,
ciibging pathetically 90 old waya. H0
told her he knew that the farm was
hers. but urged her not 20 make the
improvements that would doubtless
suggest Themselves 60 her. This the
old man was fearing aud drcadlng
that she would do lie feared that
she might replace the old fireplace by
a furnace. Stephen made a heartfelt
plea FOR the survival OF the old mana
altar fires. II was a STRAIGHTFORWARD
letter with no apology for his inter-
ference
About six days after the mnillnE Of
this letter he looked for a reply. bat
none came
she Is offended and thinks me
nervy." he thought ruefully Med.
dlers always make matters worse
She'll probably take pains to do all
she thinks I asked her not to do.
week later Ruth Ross arrived aud
Kcene went over To meet her He en-
tered the big living and dining room.
braced to met acoruful young dam
sell The room was lighted only by
the flames from the fireplace. The
old man sat IN his usual place. look
ing. as keeue'R quick. keen glance
noted. ten years younger and twenty
years happier A slender sim Of a
girl with soft. sweet eyer and smooth.
shining hair came forward with cx-
tended hand
Mr. Warden. papa has told me 80
often OF all the pranks sou played
when you were boy that I feel sH II
I knew you
You do. he said earnestly. The
summer you were here when you
we're four and ! fourteen We were arm
friends. but Of course. sou don't re-.
member"
am not 80 sure about that. she
replied When ! smell new NOV q
hay ! have q ieetmE. vision Of biz
boy with n gentle touch who used 70
carry me on bis back through fields 2
was that boy he declared
Then draw up chair 70 our love
ly FIRE"
she likes the fireplace, Keene. .
said the old man IN childish eager
ness She says IT'S tho most beau
iifui fiTe In the world
'of course she asserted. looking
az keeDc. IT makes me loathe steam
and coal
That night Keene weut home with
his heart throbbing. She was not Of
Tended, then. and from the fireplace
proposition II looked az II 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 she
cried.
"Keone,' said the old man delight
edly, "she loves the fence. She doesn't
want II down"
Want II down" echoed the girl.
looking at keene. 1T Is so plosur-
esque! And | like the Idea OF fenc-
ing IN your possessions. IA 20 far
ther II ! had a home: ia build a wall
around t."
4 was afraid you'd think ua old
fashioned suggested her grandfath-
er. Maybe, now you'd like some
new chairs and SOFAS
Why. grandfather, you couldn't
buy such beautiful old things any
where. II would spoil the place TO
put anything modern in II. wouldn't
it?' appealing To Keene
Indeed II would" he replied, his
heart warning.
The next day he met Stephen driv-
Ing from town. There was a slight
flush In his wlthered cheeks and n
light In his dimmed eyes.
She's decided the farm back TO me.
keene," he said with a sob. She
.alA 4 Lal ...a..l-...l H.