Mower County transcript., 1910-09-28
By Clifford q Y.
Gregory
CHAPTER VII.

they left He was working
through the summer on. farm
4 up In Minnesota and had not
been home since be first went away a
year before An occasional. letter told
them that he was enjoying his school
work and getting along much better.
than he had dared to hope for. but that
was all. ~, -
The cabbages they had sold in town
amounted to about $15, so that they
still had $13.25 left, enough to pay for
the seed,: as Gladys said. as
One evening in the early part Of
September jeff came over after the
chores were done. He found the girls
sitting on the back steps.
Il came over to say goodby," he said.
''I'm going to start to school tomor-
row.
"No; I'm not going to Ames," he
went on in reply to Mabeps question.
Il have an uncle at Minnesota uni
versity, and he'll give me my board
for taking care Of his horse"
II suppose you'll forget all about us
when you get away to college," said
Gladys.
"You know me better than that"
JEFF answered. II wish you were 60
ing along" ~.
''Gladys shook her head: II think
we had better so to Ames," she said.
"But we won't go till next year any
way and maybe not then If the apple
crop isn't good:' ~~ ..
you'll be a good boy in college,
won't you. Jeff?'' said Mabel.
"You don't need to ask him that"
said Gladys. Jeff would never do
anything he wouldn't come over and
tell us all about. would you. Jeff?' ..
JEFF Strengthened up his long back,
and the awkwardness Of boyhood
seemed to slip from him in an instant.
leaving in it's place the responsibility
and purpose OF, young manhood.
"A fellow that couldn't amount to
something when he had two such
girls as you to back him up must be
&. pretty poor sort to start WITH" he
said, Then he held out his hand,
"Good night and goodby,' he added,
and a moment later he was gone. s.
eve won't know Jeff when he comes
back.' said Gladys. college is going
to make lot of difference in him.
"Do you know" said Mabel. Il don't
feel the same way about him that l
did about Harold. Jeff will be true
to his ideas of right whatever happens.
but Harold Oh. hope he gets start
ed rightv'
The next spring the girls, following
the advice of Mr.. Pearson, top grated
about half Of the Wealthy trees with
sc1ons Of hardy winter varieties. Whe,,
these came into bearing it would sim
plify the work of marketing very
much. They decided not to try cab
bage growing again. but instead seed
ed the entire orchard to clover.
While not quite so good an apple
year as the previous one had been,
the returns from the crop were never.
theless large enough to increase the
girls bank account to such an extent
that they felt that they could start to
college. -. 49,. .
Gladys was: in town a couple OF
days before they were to start, when
she met. Harold on the street. 1t was
the first time she had seen him since
he had acted as their champion when
they were peddling apples the fall be
fore. He raised his jaunty little car
as she approached. &-
1T seems good to see you. Gladys
he said. Wont you let me take you
out home in the auto?'' ..s......v-
If you'll wait an hour" Gladys re
Piled 1--WE lot to do yet before I'll
be ready" -. "
Promptly at the appointed time Har
old drove the auto around to the dry
goods emporium and helped Gladys
and her many packages to the seat.
The apple orchard must have done
extra well this season." he remarked
, with smile, sas he surveyed the seat
full Of bundles ~
Not quite SO well as last, year. she
replied. But we're getting ready tc
| 90 away 70 school. and 1T takes lo1
Of things you know i. 1,>
Yes; Harold knew. He had spent 8
couple Of uncomfortable hours tha,
morning trying to convince his father
that all the things" he had spent hi,
money for the previous semester wcr.
really necessary. u.
Il hope you'll like college he sale
after q moment. land that the apple
orchard will be equal to its task"
"Oh, I think it will. all right" re
piled Glad that is. If it keeps OF
doing as well as it has done SO far"
Harold looked at her quizzically fol
a moment. Yes" he said slowly, a
think it Will---with two such girls a,
you and Mabel II s.s t.z
DO you know" he went on. leaning
back in the seat and drawing a deer
breath, tits refreshing to get to tall
to real. genuine girl once more ate,
seeing so many Of those artificial crea
tions that pass for girls at college"
don't think that's nice way tt
talk about the university eirls.n said