The Southern herald., 1912-10-25

Well, fair to middlin', fair to mid
dim. l brought you up some Hub
bard squashes, and good Peek's Pleas
ants, and nuts, and ginger cookies.
I amt forgot when ! was young.
knew the children would enjoy things
right from the old place where their
father was born"
so kind Of you. Polly" aeknowL
edged Mrs. Potter. sweetly. Betty,
you may remove them to the hteh-
en-"
Wait a minute; amt got = good
look at you yet This is Miles girl
amt iti She favors Millie. too"
Geraldine smiled shyly.
"Call me Gerry, auntie. Jack does"
"She don't handsome q bit, does
she, Maggie?" Polly said. Anybody
sitting stiddy with you. yet, child?
I'm to be married Easter week"
"My, backward, amt yer" laughed
Polly. Run along and take your
walk. Who's she going to marry
Maggiel"
"A gentleman in a Wan street Of
fee"
You don't tell me. Amt that too
bad! But love goes where It will
Jackie, help your old aunt off with
these pesky tight shoes and get my
old slippers out of that bag on top,
pretty near lost all my religion
wearing them down here"
Jack knelt on the floor. putting on
the slippers.
Mother worries too much"
"Hurries too much?"
Worries. She has a good many
social engagements"
Il didn't know they'd let Potter's
Pure Pellets into New York society
chuckled Polly Land, Jackie, re-
member when your father used to put
ter around home over his little dough
and sugar pills, and a little pepsin
And he put on the labels they'd cure
everything on earth excepting chill
blains and boils. Seems queer to
think he made a fortune out of them
before he died"
IT'S about all gone now," said
Jack cheerfully Were putting on
lot of dog, Auntie, that we can't
back up with the real goods. It's IL
the air down here"
Better come home with me. You're
a Potter through and through
Jackie. Sitting stiddy with any girl?'
Jack grinned, and shook his head
Out in the hall they could hear Bet
tvs voice singing.
Il want Betty" he said simply
"She sings like an angel"
"Umm. Be lot Of help to you or
the farm won't she? She was so GLAD
to see me-" Aunt Polly warmed heI
toes at the radiator, and thought for
minute, Then she said, I'm afraid
I'm too old-fashioned for Maggie and
Gerry. They don't take to me, do
they"
She glanced up shrewdly at Jack.
Have you asked Betty to have
ye?"
She's only seventeen, Auntie."
Don't you waste time, Sonny.
was In love at sixteen, and we kept
a'waitin' and a'waitin' for his folks
to die and my old bedridden father to
stop needin' me, and by the time
they'd all passed over the shining
strand, my lad died too, and we'd
missed our way somehow along loves
post road. Sometimes you can't put
much faith In the sign posts along
that road. Now, you brace right up
to the occasion and ask Betty while
she's sweet as rosebud"
How long can you stay, Auntie?"
well, 1t depends. A day or SO.
come up on a little business besides, "
said Polly placidly gathering her bon.
net and knit muller, and coat and
shawl together "Mebbe I'll take you
home with me, Jackie"
Jack stood where she left him, and
Betty came in. Somehow the old
lady's simple philosophy Of life had
put new courage into him.
Betty" he said, slowly, Betty, lis
ten. Aunt Polly's offered to put me
to work on her woodpile If l marry
you"
Betty dropped the broom and dust
pan with bang and looked at him
Jack had always been her hero, ever
since the day when somebody had
brought her there to live, little pen
sioner on her godmother's bounty.
"She's Just making fun, guess.
said Betty, with sigh. You couldn't
cut wood"
81 could learn, dear" Jacks arms
folded around her somehow as If they
belonged there. Wed chuck all this
city life, and go back home There's
about a hundred and sixty acres there
of landIwalting for somebody to wake
1t up. l remember dad telling about
it. Would you go with me, Betty?"
Betty turned her head to answer
and met his lips. And 80 Mrs. Potter
found them as she came in the dinins
room, followed by Aunt Polly.
Jack, I'm amazed at you," she be
gan, in a repressed, sorrowful tone
but Polly laughed.
"oh, good land, Maggie, let tn,