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

insisted on doing the milking himself.
and he brought the big. unwieldy pillow
and swung it in behind the mules and
went merrily around the four acre lot
in lessening parallelegrams.
1t was the novelty n seeing a wom-
an about that was pleasant. He had
no sisters and his mother had long
been dead. 1t was just the novelty
and the neatnpSS and c0ntentedneSS of
it all he liked And this idea if his
thoughts took such definite form, re-
manned with him for month-until
the invalid began to hobble about on
crutches when suddenly the truth
came home to him as had her beauty
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 a 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
hand defeIsively before his face. but
the invalid was not thinking of that
"Heered anything bout wheat to-
day." he grumbled. Coin down. of
course
Coin up" Billy answered promptly.
"A man holered 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 a snarl Of mingled
rage and pain Seventy cents. an
I've got ninety bushels. Dunn the old
back. By the time I'm out ag'in it'll
be down to fifty. like twas last year
an that'l be a clean loss of S1S"
Cant | go. pap?" 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 a brief silence Then Bet
ty said:
There's Billy, pap. He's mighty
strong and willin'''
The face darkened. then grew light
er. 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. I've 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 THE mules can draw
half on the long Vaughn. an I'll borry
Tom Stuarts mule an Ike Coyner's
hay Vaughn. Thatll take the other
half. Ikes boy Sam can drive behind
me so | can keep an eye on him. Oh
yes. Well get on fust rate"
Jake nodded approvingy. 1t was
good plan.
Seventy cents he admonished
warningy. 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 hack
kitchen for a moment.
Say, Betty" he began. ''I-l-say
would We mind me buyin ring to
Staunton. a 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 acquaintance who had been
given a gold ring.
why, no. | wouldn't mind, Billy"
she said simply. "I'll be real glad"
"An'-an' would We mind speakin |
to your pap bout it while I'm gone,
Betty? 1t might be 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"
'T've said yes" composedly.
Jake controlled himself with a
mighty effort. With Betty he must be
diplomatic.
'Well, We know BEST" he grimaced
affably. But We know how it's with
Billy. Yell have to wait till he's able
to keep We. | don't reckon he's saved