The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-05-13

MduBe thanked MIN ana invited
him to stay for supper In view Of thu
fact that he had furnished the supper
she could not well do otherwise, ever
had she so desired, which most emphat
ically she did not
He looked at Cicely a good deal while
they ate-Cicely was very good to looI
upon-but his conversation was adj
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 Eyes" and
No =
Afadge however, chatted gayly. To
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 1t 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 81 never in all my life" she
said. saw anybody so reluctant to
take advantage of a handicap. How
on earth did you induce him to get
here first?'
Mr.. Ellwood had the grace to blush.
"It-it's very warm day." he STAN
mered. tactfully trying to shift the
conversation to a safe topic of general
interest.
1T is" Madge agreed. "And l don't
believe so much exercise is good for
the mule. Besides, it will take a lot
of your time to lead him home with |
you every night and dri-follow him
back here every morning. Why don't I
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 to
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
TO Mr.. Ellwood.
"And no WONDER" he rejoined SYM
You're going to stay?"
lie added.
1--WE must" said Madge, 'for we've
10 money to get away on. And any
way" she added after a moments
'ause, 81 believe it isn't going to be
lalf bad"
IF can help it." said Mr.. Ellwood
heartily, its not"
He was as good as his word, and
letter. For Cicely he brought a ham,
mock and flowers in pots and many
title comforts that helped to render
er life more tolerable. He treated
er as might an elder brother a low ,
BILE but incapable sister. :
But Madge was his comrade and
riend She had assumed the burdens :
icely was incapable of bearing, and =,
e very naturally thought her the own .
+ of the farm. He liked her pluck .
nat wrested her hardly won garden
rom the rocky soil and her sturdy in =
ependence that always returned favor ),
)r favor. His own little place took
q an added value because she had
pproved it. He gave the house a =
ew coat Of paint and planned when
lie crops should have been harvested ',
build a bigger porch. And he :,
7olved little conveniences for the :,
tchen, shelves and closets and a -four
n, things of which his masculine
had not felt the need. He
histled as he worked, and before him -
ere was ever a girls face, laugh =,
g face growing daily roster and more -,
happier. -
'The only hope" observed Cicely
mplacently, sis certainly growing :.
t. If we could sell him by the pound - =,
they do beef on the hoof,' / think -
ey call it. we'd get quite a lot for
~"
He's too fat" Madge objected "He
ks stuffed. l think you feed him SO
} much, Cicely. If Mr.. Ellwood were VIZ
home I'd ask him to take look at nj
n. I'm quite certain his eyes ought tn
to have that CLASSY stare" so
4ater in the day the only hope sue tul
nbed. ed
| don't really blame him for dying" sc;
Cicely, who was weeping over the we
lains. u suppose he was just nat pc
lily tired and discouraged and didn't sal
e whether he lived or died-I've felt aW
{ way myself-but l do think it was we
st inconsiderate of him." mel
He might at least" said Madge, MS
We gone off and done it somewhere COT
. Then we could have pretended val
wasn't ours. AS it is, Wen have to
y him, and how on earth we're ever pro
lg to dig a hole big enough to hold tnll
I'm sure l don't know"
Wen leave it to Mr.. Ellwood," Iul
Ely suggested. 1--WE can wait till as
rofe no Oh