Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-06

too hard-but it won't be for Glen
money"
'Td-rd rather sell it," Mrs. Page
half whinlpered. Il will--if Sonny
can't get through without it. But
Jeemes, my husband, charged me, last
thing of ALL never to make no mort
gage to nobody-and I'll mind him"
Il hope thereIl be no need-the
crops looking f1ne," Miss Sue said
comfortlngly Don't you worry, Agnes,
You'll live to ride in your carriage
yet--once William gets start.
know his way. He won't stop short
Of the top"
The crop fulfilled its promise-and
rather more. 1t brought fine price.
likewise, and Sonny, away at college,
come home at Christmas But he re-
sisted the temptation. "I'll wait for
Easter recess he wrote. II want 10
see the dogwoods in bloom, and smell
the plowing."
He did come at Easter, high-hearted,
full of joy and hope. In day he was
far otherwise. Things were going i'll
on the place. His aunt and his mother
did their very best, but they had to
depend on hired men or troopers to
keep up the fences, to plow, and SOW
and plant The stock looked unthrifty
all but the fowl and the milk COWS
to them Miss Sue herself gave care.
Billy gave over all holiday plans
and set himself sedulously to work
He had ten days free and in course of
them he went just once to see Molly.
She was as charming as ever and re-
preached him sweetly for not coming
earlier, and especially for sighting
her Easter picnic, and her party
later.
Judge Glen was more than cordial
nightly interested in Williams plans
and progress.
Remember, we, all the country in
deed, expect you to live up to the
name" he said. Your grandfather
was in the senate hope to see you
headed for it. at least, before I quit
seeing anything"
Soney went home. his head whirling.
He knew he stood in sight of the part
ing of the ways. He could keep on at
college; he could even hope to make
record there. He had good clear
brain, and strong clean body to back
1t. Further, he had the grit to con-
strain his inclination
Land-loye, land-hunger was in his
blood, but he could also find interest
in the law. He would never love it as
he loved the world outdoors, but 1t was
not alien nor repellent to him. More
over, it led to Molly. He could not
doubt that-she had as good as told
him so. She would never be allowed
to marry William Page, farmer, but
William Page, her fathers junior part
ner, would be match quite accepta-
Bile to the paternal mind.
Over against all that there was his
mother, figure Of pathos, of piety and
resignation. She would turn herself
out of house and home for Sonny's adj
vantage, and do 1t not merely In meek
uncomplaint, but with sort of pain
full JOY Aunt Susan, likewise, although
she of tougher fiber, and more filled
with ambition, yet the homes passing
would hit her hard.
How would they manage through the
long years before he got on in his pro-
fession? If, lacking him, the place
was already falling away from itself
its income would have dwindled to the
vanishing point by the time he was
ready to earn a living. That meant
it would have to be sold outright by
the time he was half way through. He
wanted to be great man with part of
himself, but there was another,
stronger part, that pleaded for the
home and those it sheltered
He could only listen family then.
He was going back on the morrow.
But it was not so long to term end.
Afterward? He thought no further.
Instead, very sensibly, he went to
sleep. And when the charm of college
life had again laid hold on him he
somehow shunted the conflict to the
very back OF his mind.
He got through commencement with
such mild honors as are possible TO
freshmen. Molly was there to see him,
but he did not dance with her. In
spite of Aunt Sues pleadings, he had