The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-28
,,SSUN~DOG

and black with fluffy, newly matched chickens; nor vas sewing in the corner Chickens and carpetrsgs not the only things Theodosia had neglected, She the sort of who spends hours in ser flower garden and buys all her vegetables.
 How comes The Sun-Dog?' called to her from Lbe road weeks later.
 I detected a quiver in her voice. T don't seem able to learn the incubator. Half my last hatch "PoemsY asked
 A smile lit her face. q begin to think it would have been better had let the poems die and turned my attention to chickens
 Nonsense. Cheer up. Oliver says" "'Whot do you understand by nuen-chad Danerr" q don't give rap what Oliver says," And she refused to waste any more time
 From my house could her quite plainly, at times trampng the snowy fields bring the house, or milking the new cow-she had hitherto bought all her milk and buter-or doing the hundred other things about farm that it is a mans business to do.
 One morning in February had occasion to go very early to the station It was bitter cold so cold that fine one, thought as Theodosia had painted ia her poem. AS my wheels creaked past her place she came out, mufhed to the ears. She had resurrected from forgotten corner old great-coat of her brothers She had a hatchet in her hand, and knew she was going to chop the Ice out of the watering trough. It startled me-Theodosa Par<man choppinz ice out of watering trough or anything else "Take cheer" called, waving my whip toward the sun-dog, tits propitious."
 But things did not go very well with Theodosis. The real sundog had not helped matters much after all. "Im afraid I've waited too long to turn my hand to money making" she once admitted sadly She had confded her plans to no one in Eden but her old servant and myself. She could keep her sudden rigid from her neighbors but she cealed it's purpose.
 When saw that she determined to slave the winter dvulged the whole business to Oliver, in the vague hope that he might suggest way out for her. We were sitting in his little old parIor at the time. It was seeting abominabie day
 "So that's the reason she's working her fingers of, eh" he said, and, knocking his pipe empty against the hearth he got and srode to the window, where he stood looking out his hands damned into his pockets
 "Id never have told you but thought you might suggest some plan to help her without her knowing it. Of course it will have to be done that way"
 Till late hour that night turned over plan after plan, only to discard each in it's turn. Let's sleep over it,' finally suggested, and departed
 The next morning was laid up with rheumatism and had to forego my usual drive to the station. was very much surprised when one of the neghbors brought word that Oliver had been called to went directly to Theodosia She it was who called to my way to see him, and through her I got aoliyer had some urgent business to attend to in Chicago" she explained. land while there he hap pened old schoolmate who is a publisher and persuaded him to give hearing I sent Lemuel to the station to post The Sun-Dog only moment ago."
 It wonderful to how hope had rejuvensted her. offered my congratulations, and chuckIed, after I got away, Divers urgent business" The acceptance of the book came surprisingly sooD-had known about such things then I-shoud have thought suspciously I called Theodosa at the very first opportunity and as I drove up the lane saw that the chicken house door open and that Lemue loading the incubator onto his own wagon.
 Theodosia didn't wait for to knock. Come right in" she cried, opening to me- It was rather warm day for March, but she had blinking red log in the fireplace.
 "what extravaganza" said l.
 "Not now," she laughed, happily. "Of course yoH know about the book?" She radiantiy happy, Never had her half pSetty. Isn't it per fectly glorious?' she asked. with all her charming frankness.
 "Its fine, Theodosia" said I, squeezing her hand
 "Oliver says he's sure the publisher can sell five hundred copies right here in Eden," said she It surprising how often she Oivered this and Olfv- cred that during my brief stay.
 Its great thing for Theodosa, said that gentle to some days later. Anybody can compile a book and get published if he is willing to pay the q price. But to have a book taken outright it's merits, the publisher assuming the risk that's quite
 The book was to come out June, an ideal time Theodosia declared, from poets point of view. few weeks before the date set for its appearance got letter from Oliver, who had been called to capital in a business emergency He requested me to search his desk for very important document which I to mail immediately to him. You'll likely have to read every drawer through before you
 It was while searching for the letter in question that came upon another that was vastly more i'm portant to me. It bore the name of Chicago pub fisher, and read:
 "MY OLIVER:
 "Your friends 'Sun-Dog and Other Poems will be ready on date specified. We shall do what we can for her, which is not much, as you know. It will well for her, if she wants to get rid of the edition to sell as many copies as possible among her friends
 You will find receipt enclosed for six hundred dol lars, payment in full arrangement DerWeen ms Will m settlements with her per contract and will return to you whatever may accrue 70 us up to the amount you have advanced. rear, however, it will be many a year, magnanimous soul, before you get your money back
 There followed schoolboy reminiscence and the publishers signature. old Oliver. could have hugged him!
 When he came back told him about having learned his secret. For a minute he was more annoyed than had seen him.
 we can keep it from her. said I, reassuringiy.
 He gave me one of those quZzical side gIances Of J [ going to be very easy for keep from her after the middle of June he remarked quietly.
 "Olver." I shouted
 There leave me a piece of my hand" he laughed.
 We were driving past TheOdosia's lane It dusk and the odOr of early summer in the air. Theo- dCsia had lighted her lamp The blind up, and we could see shadow the wall opposite the fire place.
 ''YoulI literary partners then. suppose" said
 "I5etter than that" said be- quietly "mnch better that"