The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-04

DO wonder" Mrs. Page began
plaintively.
Her sister, Sue Andrew, interrupted
snappishly: "What7 You wonder so
whole hour"
''welll I can't help thinking about
Sonny. You don't understand, Susan
you never had a boy. nor minded what
you had on. But I'm 'fraid college is
going to go mighty hard with him.
Boys that have to wear homemade
shirts. and earn their own spending
money, it seems to me. had better keep
at home"
shut UP, Agnes! You make me sick:'
Sue said. stamping her foot. 1T is just
your way-you'll be writing the boy
word to quit. Patience knows, he's got
load enough without that. Every Page
from greatgrandfather down has been
very last of 'em. wants to grow up an
oaf-and stay poor forever"
He always loved the land so-dumb |
creatures and sheep were a heap more
to him than books" Mrs. Page pro-
tested. "At least, until he fell in with
Molly Glen. and you put at him to turn |
lawyer and marry into her fathers
firm. AS if she'd wait all that long
time! Why, she's got beaux by dozens"
Sue said confidently. acan you keep
secret? Well. she herself told me to
tell Billy she would Her pap amt in
a hurry to part with her-besides, he !
thinks the world and all Of Son-of
Of using that baby name. Molly said |
he did-said daddy would lend William |
all the money he needed. tell you she |
took my breath away, speaking out so. |
But we couldn't have that, you know
Son-Wflliam, must get his education
without being beholden except to his
own. We can mortgage the place If the
pinch comes too hard-but it won't be
for Glen money"
'I'd-I'd-rather sell It." Mrs. Page
can't get through without But Jeemes,
my husband. charged me. last thing
OF all. never to make no mortgage to
nobody-and I'll mind him.
crops looking fine" Miss Sue said
comfortingly. Don't you worry.
Agnes. You'll live to ride in your car
rage yet-once William gets a start.
I know his wayne 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,
was let know he might, If he chose,
come home at Christmas. But he re-
sisted the temptation "I'n wait for
Easter recess" he wrote. 81 want to
see the dogwoods in bloom, and smell
the blowing"
He did come at Easter, high-heart-
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 crop
pers to keep up the fences, to pillow,
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
Sonny 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
a record there. He had good clear
BRAIN and strong clean body to back
it. Further, he had the grit to con-
| strain his inclination.
| Land-love, land-hunger, was in his
blood. but he could also find interest
| in the law. He would never love it as
he loved the werld outdoors, but it 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
| partner, would be a match quite ac-
| ceptable to the paterna1 mind.
| Over against all that there was his
mother, a figure of pathos, of piety and
l re icrr7n mo f11r 6n =
out of house and home for Sonny's
| advantage, and do it not merely in
meek uncomplaint, but with sort of
painful joy. Aunt Susan, likewise, al
though she was 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
profession? If, lacking him, the place
was already falling away from itself,
it's income would have dwindled to the
| vanishing point by the time he was
| ready to earn a living. That meant it
time he was half way through. He
wanted to be great man with part
of himself, but there was another, a
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 SenSlbly, he went to
sleep. And when the charm of col
lege life had again laid hold on him
he somewhow shunted the conflict to
} the very back of his mind.
i He got through commencement with
such mild hcnors as are possible to
freshmen. Molly was there to see
him, but he did not dance with her.
4 In spite of Aunt Sues pleadings. he
had no festal garments. So the
dances knew him not
- y, In h. Pal fr.
!. honor bound to forego that brought
to life again the Easter struggle. It
was lively even before he reached
home and found again the lack of the
1 L. To G.,,- ~