Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-29

near by whiting a stick. His beard
and hair were unkempt, and his whole
attitude was one OF supreme indiffer-
ence TO his surroundings.
Good morning" 1 said.
Same to you," he answered without
looking up to see who had addressed
him.
How are your crops this year," I
asked
Poor" was his monosyllabic reply.
Good last year?'
"Nup." with maddening indifference.
81 hope your crops will be better
next year" / ventured again.
Doubt it." was all he would answer.
The field back of him did not look en-
couraging. Despairing finally of get
ting any information from him. | drew
rein. preparing to join Bud, adding,
however. before leaving:
"WeIl, that's too bad"
With sudden animation he stopped
whiting for a moment to look up and
remark:
faint as bad as you think. my
friend. don't own this land"
/ / rode off. laughing at this quaint
conception OF the value Of land. He
| had not intended to be either witty or
/ humorous. but was sincere in trying to
diSabuse my mind of a false impress
sion might have of the extent Of his
/ troubles. When Bud rode up he ex-
ali ahaN 60 oI
only on shares and had he owned the
land he would have been held respon-
sibe for the interest on the mortgage.
Indeed. he said that to own certain of
the land around that section was re-
garded as a calamity.
That ride with Bud gave me much
material for letter. and when l went
TO my room ! wrote until after mid
night. ] touched only on the general
condition of the planters and petty
farmers and made use OF such apt com
ments as | had CHANGED to pick up
away from the Pines. | read and re-
read my letter TO make sure it could
not be traced TO OglethOrpe or its i'm
mediate vicinity. | was satisfied that
1t would describe many OF the older
counties in the state; but, looking back
now. 1t seems TO me that | was too
general in my deductions and that the
Illustrations. while unique. did not give
4 proper conception either of the man
ners Of the people or of the conditions
Of the country save in the exceptional
case. But ! had been trained TO look
for the exception. fear which think
is the main fault Of all young people
who have a pen put into their hands,
who are prone 10 point ont the ridicu-
lous side Of life instead Of seeing the
manhood and the strength which often
underlie conditions. no matter how
strange they may appear at first
But my work for that week was
done. and | arose the next morning
with the feeling that | could do with
my time as l wished without trying 10
remember incidents or conversations
which might make interesting reading
matter in Boston. | rode TO the sta.
ton and mailed my letter. and on my
return | found Miss Ellen engaged. as
she said, in putting the house to rights
For If We leave all until the last day
very little will be done" she said. and
so | spent the day lending hand here
or lifting a piece of furniture there
Miss Ellen mended many an old lace
curtain that day, while | would sit
pipe IN mouth, watching her fingers
move backward and forward and keep
ing my eyes on her face when her OWL
were fixed on the work il her lap.
was on the point several times OF tell
ing her why | had come south, to con
fess that there was no kinship possibly
with the Kentucky Palmers. but afta
several efforts. which really got no fur
Their than planning them, l would fore
go all determination to play a strictly
honorable role, and then. too. | feared
II might put Colonel Turpin in a falst
position as well as myself. or so
chose then to think That evening Mis-:
Ellen played more beautifully than
had ever heard her play before, and she
sang some old time melodies for US too
Her voice was sweet. and she sans
|. simply and without effort. Before bed
. tine We had gathered around the plan
and sung glees. even the colonel remeu
bering enough from his old Princeto
! days TO lend discord occasionally. |
| was an uneventful but happy day, an
, it swept me many leagues nearer +
! the goal to which had been driftin
/ unconsciOusly since the first minute
| had seen Miss Ellen and looked lat
Tier honest brown eyes
i u Tia next lu3rniu- soaae OF IN