Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-07-12

| LEARN HOW TO PRUNR APPLE TREES"
solemnly. Pm not making fun" he
assured them "Let me take the saw,
JEFF" And he proceeded to give them
a lesson IN practical pruning.
do you see how it's done?' he ask
ed as he finished the tree and smeared
some white lead on the larger wounds.
Don't try to leave pegs long enough
to hang your sunbonnets on. but cut
the limbs of close"
Were ever so much obliged" said
Mabel. WED better be going home,
hadn't we?" she added. turning to
Gladys.
Come in and get warm first" said
Mr.. Pearson. JEFF III bring your horse
around in few moments"
Jefrs few moments was nearly half
IN hour. and 1t was almost dark when
| he drove Mollie up to the door.
Here's few books you may be in
terested In" Mr.. Pearson said as they
started to leave. Most Of the folks
| around here don't think much Of book
farming, but just as like as not they
may be mistaken" He chuckled to
himself as he closed the door.
"Ain't there something can do to
help you with your apple trees?" ask
ed jeff as he handed the lines to
Gladys. 81 amt very busy now. and
! thought maybe
"Oh, thank you! But guess Wen
get along all right" said Gladys.
"Goodby"
"Just rs If we wanted big, awk-
ward boy bothering around" she said
10 Mabel as they turned into the main
road.
"Jeff's good If he is awkward" Ma
| bel answered. 81 don't like pretty
boys"
81 don't like any kind Of boys" said
Gladys. "Apple trees are so much
more interesting"
Mrs. Sanders met the girls with
white face as they turned into the
| ,ard.
Your father Is hurt awfully" she
cried. "He cut his foot while he was
chopping wood. and I can't seem to
stop the bleeding" She caught her
breath with frightened sob.
Ibid you phone for the doctor?" ask
ed Mabel as she sprang to the ground.
Something's the matter with the
line" her mother answered. II can't
get any one."
Gladys gathered up the reins and
quickly turned Mollie around.
"You can't drive that colt to town
In the darkw cried her mother. "You
go with her, Mabel"
"I'm not afraid, mommie," spoke up
Gladys. You need Mabel more than
do. Come on, Mollie"
1t was six miles to Brighton, the
nearest place where she could get
doctor, and Gladys we'll knew that
there was no time to lose. II the
bleeding didn't stop She leaned for
ward and spoke coaxingly to Mollie
The little mare seemed to realize that
something was wrong and swung Into
| a stride that made Gladys heart swell
with pride.
The fenceposts sped by In a long
jumbled procession. just visible In the
dim, ghostly snow light. Gladys kept
her eyes fixed on the strip Of white
road ahead. Just over the end of II
the north star shone brightly. Gladys
remembered the old story about the
star that had led the wise men and
whlmslcally wondered If this star was
not there to lead her. On and on the!
sped. Molle never varying from thai
long, steady stride that covered the
ground SO quickly and easily.
| One. two, three, four miles, and
still the little mare showed no signs
of slackening her pace. There was
no wind-nothing but stars and snow
and that long. never ending stretch OF
white road. 1t was glorious. this night
ride, or would have been II 1t were
not so grimly necessary.
"Can't you 60 just a little faster
Mollie?" Gladys whispered.
Mollie gave leap forward. 1t al
most seemed as II they were flying. so
little noise did the mares swift hoof
beats make on the snowy road.
Suddenly she gave leap sideways.
There was a crash as one OF the run
ners struck stone that some one had
carelessly lost from his load that after
noon. and Gladys dived headlong into
the soft snow at the roadside.
CHAPTER II.