The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-01-14

don't you know-haven'i yuu hearde"
All the color was gunp irum her hreks
now. and her face WAS white ana plle-
Gus. Did you come all the WAY from
Mexico TO find such II welcome as
this: How thankful am that your
father did not know
But what is ii. grandmother: Yon
must tell me everything. You and |
are sill there is left. and you must let
me help you. What is ii about Maple
wood
1T was sold long ago. Your Uncle
Richard owed money and let the dear
old place so. II took everything.
Poor Richard"
The boys own face had grown color
less now: terrible suspicion was in
his mind.
wv hat place is this?" be asked fear
fully.
The poorhouse. Oh. Jacky. Jacky."
But with that heartbroken cry in
his ears the boy forgot everything else
all his hopes and expectations and
longings.
Never mind. grandmother" be said
lovingly. You have me. and | am
almost man. l will soon make an
other home for you"
Poor Jacky boy. You are young yet
and do not know how hard the world
is And it is more for you than my
self care"
Il am seventeen he answered stur-
Oily as he drew his strong young tg-
IRE to its full height. Il went with
father to his work in the mountains
every day. and he said ! was the
strongest boy Of my age he ever saw.
| shall soon make nice home for
you"
Never mind its being nice. Jacky.
A hovel or woodshed-anything TO get
away from here. And it will not cost
so much to live, You have no idea
how little we can get along with-we
two" Her eyes were shining now.
and the color was coming back into
her cheeks. IL was afraid that |
should have to live here always"
When the rest Of the women began
to file in from the kitchen the two
were standing by the window. talking
earnestly.
John picked up his hat.
"Ill come and see you as often as
can. grandmother" he said as he
moved toward the door. "and it will
not be long before have a home for
you"
AS he went down the lane he could
not help contrasting his prospects with
those of the boy who had passed there
a short half hour before.
He thought Of the long talks that he
and his father had had about his fu-
ture-the studies and college life and
the work TO be done afterward.
Neither of them had ever dreamed
Of the possibility of his relatives being
unable 10 provide for him. And here
he was penniless and his supposed
wealthy grandmother in the poorhouse.
He almost felt glad that his father
was dead and could not know.
At the head of the lane he paused
and glanced back at the rambling farm
house and its outbuildings.
Poor grandmother" be said aloud.
II must not keep her waiting very
long"
Although il was still March. the sun
was hot and the snow nearly gone
Here and there in the fields he could
see farmers beginning their spring
up stones and mending
the walls and fences.
After awhile be went across to one
Of the groups aud asked for work.
But BE- was too late The farmer had /
already hired all the help he wanted.
4 little farther ON be tried again. Al I.
last be- found man who said he was 7.
just the sort Of boy he had been look /
ng for.
one day in the latter part Of April a
farm wagon drove up 10 the poor
house aud boy spraug lightly to the
ground
Sittiu- on the stone wall was the
same man he had met before. SLOUGH
ne across the Darnyard were several
# the dilatory hands.
I've come for Mrs. Carter" said the
10Y respectfully.
The man took straw from his
mouth
We'll. don't mind" he answered
-rufly. Dye think you can support
Ter"
Yes"
Where We coin'?"
I'm working on the Taylor farm,
nd we're go.ng 70 have the little
ouse in the lower pasture"
That" couremptuously Why. no.
ody's lived in it for years 'Tain't
{ TO live in
I've fixed up a couple Of rooms so
heyIi 60 very we'll" replied the boy
uiety. and Mr. Taylor says be will
ave it repaired before another winter.
ie isn't going 20 charge Us any rent
mil be has il fixed
Shouldn't think he would. What
oes be pay your:
Three dollars n week and lets me