The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-11-11

than be had dared to hope Tor, hut thht
was all.
Gladys and Mabel put into their col
lege work all the energy with which
their live young bodies were charged
and enjoyed 1t Immensely The other
girls were not At all stuck up but
lust happy. healthy girls like them
selves. and they made friends rlHily
Outside of study hours they let off
some of their bubblinp spirits hy play
ing basketball. aud they did II 50 eth
GENTLY that before the llrsi term wns
oyer they had both made the team
But, after all. they were plnd when
the term was over aud they could %
home for II -four weeks vacation Il
was good to get buck to the Mite turni
home unce more mud duublA guud to
see the dear old father nnd moDher
again
Ii was lonely al nome these days
with both the girls gone, bnt MIR aud
Mrs. Sanders bore II uncomplnlnlngly
We've got no call 10 worry. moth
err" said Mr.. Sanders II evening
ITS lonesome. but it's II whole lot to
have girls you can depend on. And
then It'll be vacation In two weeks,
he added. and his wife echoed his
smile
And when the girls. n little taller, a
little straighter. but not quite 40 rosy,
came rushing In In the same old breezy
way-well. the old house took on n
new joyousness
IF you girls don't keep still aud go
to bed said Mr.. Sanders some time
within an hour or two after the clock
struck II. I'm van to pack up and
start for college myself"
The next morning as Mr. Sanders
was starting out to the barn to milk
he met Gladys coming In with II brim-
ming pail In either hand.
Just 10 show you hadn't forgotten
how she said. with "A laugh. ITS
such fun to be home again"
Mabel was already up and getting
breakfast. and If some Of the cakes
were burned it wasn't because of care
less cooking. but rather indicated her
proficiency MS "A fire builder
After breakfast Gladys went out TO
the barn and had u long talk with
Mollie, and II Mollie didn't understand
all the secrets she was told IL wasn't
because she didn't listen ~attentively
Then Mabel came out, and they hitch
ed up to the cutter, and Mollie took
them up hill and down at a pace that
made the sleighbells Jingle merrily
They laughed reminiscently at each
familiar road and field. 1t seemed as
If they had been away for years in
stead of only for one short term
When they reached home again and
Mollie was carefully stabbed and fed
they went out to the orchard. Every
tree was a friend. and a true friend.
too, for none other would uncomplain'
ingly furnish the funds to send them
to college.
Look how papa's been caring for
them" cried Gladys. Hes wound
every one with cornstalks to keep the
rabbits and mice from gnawing them
I'd never thought of that"
Hes doing all he Ear to help us.
cfCu IL hC q I 6ANS ao Wv ihOh~J
said Mabel. II sometimes wonder II
we ought not to stay here and help
him and mommie so they wouldn't
have to work so hard. Then think of
the nice things they could buy with
the money we're spending"
Gladys looked serious. II never
thought of it that way" she confessed.
Lets go and ask them about it."
Their father shook his head decided.
ly when they preached the subject to
him. stay out of SCHOOL," he cried
''Of course not. girlies. Mother and
| are too proud Of our college girls to
think of such a thing for a moment
Aren't we. mother?'
Mrs. Sanders nodded a smiling as
sent, and the girls were satisfied. for
the time at least. They were too
young to realize what the loneliness of
their absence really meant to the old
people.
Gladys was out feeding the pigs that
evening when JEFF came riding up the
road on Nancy. That year and a half
at school had done wonders for him.
az Gladys had predicted. He was a
man now and so strong and self re-
liant that Gladys was almost afraid
of him.
THAT curl hasn't learned to keep
out of your eyes yet, has it?' he cried
gayly as he leaped to the ground. "Id
know you by that anywhere"
Il couldn't say as much for you"
said Gladys. There isn't n thing about
you that hasn't changed since | saw
you last. You seem like a different
jeff"
I'm sorry" said JEFF contrltely.
I'm not" she replied promptly.
''It's-it's a change for the better"
JEFF laughed heartily. I'm glad to
hear It," be said. There was lots Of
room for improvement But how about
yourself? There wasn't room for you
to grow much prettier, butt
lContinued next week.