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

NIB. SANDERS CALLED HER HIS BRAVE GIRL
dy is. II you don't stop talking and
drive faster | shall have to get out
and ride Mollie."
Thus admonished, Harold gave the
horse sharp slap with the reins and
during the remainder Of the ride de-
voted his attention entirely to his driy-
Ing.
Gladys found her father lying prop
ped up In bed. conscious, but very
weak from loss Of blood. He clasped
her hand tightly and called her his
brave girl. and she blushed and said
she hadn't done anything, but for all
that they seemed to understand one
another better from that time on than
they had ever done before.
Mr. Sanders was able to be around
with the aid Of crutch in few
days, but 1t was long time before his
foot was entirely well.
The weather turned cold for several
weeks after this. but when 1t did final
ly warm up the girls started out to
prune their apple trees. They had
only one saw, and that was far from
sharp, but they took turns saving
and piling brush. 1t was hard work.
but they kept rcsolutely ut II and
made good progress. One day Gladys
was working alone down near the
road when JEFF Pearson drove up to
the fence.
Hello. Gladysw he called, little
Liffdently, as he jumped to the ground
and tied his horse to post. Don't
you want some help"
"Oh, I'm getting along very nicely.
replied Gladys. saving away viGor
Dusly.
Jeff came over and stood beneath
the tree where she was at work.
Isn't that pretty hard work" he
asked.
"Well, a little" she confessed. But
we've trimmed twenty-five already.
and there's only ten more TO do
"Let me do that while you rest
persisted Jeff, seizing limb and pull
ing himself up into the tree.
"Well, since you want to SO badly, ]
suppose I'll have to let you" Gladys
said as she reluctantly handed him the
saw
"Where did you learn to be so po-
lite" asked Jeff.
Gladys smiled little. "Pm not be-
Ing very nice, am II" she said. but
BOYS are such nuisances'-
The sentence ended in half stined
cry as the limb on which she was
sitting suddenly gave way with a loud
crack. 1t was not very far to the
ground. and the fall did not hurt her
in the least-that Is. nothing but her
pride.
"That was the finest branch on the
whole tree" said JEFF regretfully as
soon as he saw that she was unhurt.
"If It hadn't been for you. JEFF Pear
son, 1t would never have happened. !
don't care II break them all off now"
and, grasping the broken stub, she
swung herself up and sat down on
another branch.
81 don't believe there's any danger
Of this one breaking" said Jen teas
Ingly as he sat down beside her. He
seemed to be rapidly getting over bis
dif1idence.
Gladys turned her head away and
did not deign reply.
"Say, Gladys" spoke up Jeff after a
few moments, 81 don't know what
you're thinking about, but I've just
thought of scheme to get double pay
out Of the old orchard"
Gladys turned quickly toward him
what is IT." she demanded.
PLANT something else In between the
trees. Take cabbage, now. You could
raise-let me see-about 11,0OO cab
bages on an acre. At 10 cents apiece
that would come to S1,100. 1t will be
q lot of work, but I'll come over after
supper evenings and help you hoe
them"
"And leave all your chores for some
one else to doT queried Gladys.
II guess they'd manage 1t some
way" he replied.
"And I guess they wouldn't. I've a
good notion to try raising cabbages,
but If you say anything more about
helping us I'll get mad, Jeff-honest, !
will. You see. father told us we could
have all that we could get out OF the
old orchard ourselves, and 1t wouldn't
be fair to let any one else help"
81 don't see why" objected Jeff "But
you'll let a fellow come over and
watch you once in awhile. won't your
"Y-yes; don't suppose we can help
your looking at us II you want to
but Oh. there's the supper bell!
Good night" And she leaped to the
ground and hurried toward the house