The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-11-20
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
Mary Finds Out All About the
FarnIeys, DisIiked BY Her
Aunt.
BY GEORGIA LOTT SETTER.


winter day seemed to gain rapidly IN
chill gloominess.
CHANGING up. he caught the futter OF
q woman's skirts at the side OF the
road ahead
Why that" muttered Bob, must be
that little Waite girl Isn't 1t Ike OLD
Mary Waite to send that child TO town
afoot day like this
The Waltes had always been hard'
close people, keeping much to them
selves In their gloomy, implanted
homestead at the end of the pine lane.
So when Mary Waite WAS left to spend
the latter part Of her life, the last
survivor OF her family, no one won
dered at her living alone and working
the few cultivated acres OF her farm
as best she might. But when II WAS
| known that she had sent for little Molly
Waite, runaway Bud Waites only
child, to come and live with her the
countryside was agog with conjecture
and curiosity
She's almost helpless with rheumar
tism," declared the neighbors, or she
would never do 1t. She wants the girl
to take care OF her-you can depend
upon a Waite getting value received
for all the charity they give!"
bud has been dead over five years,
and the girl has been looking out for
herself as best she could. Well, may
be she will find 1t as comfortable here
as she has been used to having"
And probably" they always added
as a comfortable after-thought, prob
ably she Is Waite herself, and Will
be us1tch for Mary at her own
game"
All this passed through Bob Farm
ley's mind as his team, with big
strides, gained on the little figure In
the road ahead.
She girl plodded on, Indifferent t. his
approach. Even when he drew up op-
posite her, she did not turn her head
Get In and rider" called Bob In his
big cheerful voice.
The girl muttered her thanks with
out stopping.
But this Is Miss Waite, isn't IT.
I'm Bob Farnley, your nearest neigh
Dor. You can ride almost home, and
it Is getting dark fast"
She stopped then, and turned to look
at him timidly
At sight of the sweetness OF the
blue eyes, the sensitiveness OF the lips,
Farnley shut his teeth together saw.
agely What could such a girl as this
be doing at the old Waite place?
The honesty OF his face was reassur
ing, for she allowed him to lift her up
over the high wheel and wrap her in
the warm robes without protest
I'm aired you will think me very
stupid or very unfriendly," she said
then. with smile. But you see, l
am not used to the country. In the
city we do not accept rides from
strangers.
II did not think about that an
swered Bob, quickly. Il thought only
about your long walk In the cold and
dark 1t Is going to be dark early to-
night"
This is much better, thank you.
Rut never rode 30 high up before.
I'm not accustomed to horses"
Farnley asked questions and list
ened in a sort of maze.
Oh, no, she was not at all lonely.
with the woods and the poor, half
starved winter birds, and the dear,
softmuzzled calves with their gentle
eyes They didn't seem quite 30 nice,
however when they had grown into
cows with long horns; and She could
mt quite help being afraid OF horses.
though she knew 1t was foolish. Yes,
she took care of the stock; Aunt Mary
was not able to get out. And she had
to walk to town because she did not
know how to hitch or drive the team;
such ignorance must seem dreadful
to country people?
Farnley took her to the foot of the
lane.
Perhaps you had better not tell
your aunt about riding with me. Miss
Molly" he said when he had lifted
her carefully down. "She-doesn'
care much for our family, and might
forbid your riding again. go to town
every Saturday"
Aunt Mary" said the girl that
evening, as they sat In the dim old
kitchen, who lives in the first house
beyond our lane?"
The Farnleys And the less you
have to do with them the better" an
swered Mary Waite sharply.
But why?"
1T Is not my habit to talk about
people" answered the older woman
plously, and I'm not going to begin
now But II you live long enough
you'll find there are honester people
In the world than the Farnleysi"
One morning week later, as Molly
was busy feeding the stock. she was
alarmed by the sound OF steps through
the big barn.
Don't be scared" called Bob Farm
ley's voice cautiously. II came to tell
you I'm going to town at one o'clock.
You got to go, today2"
Yes" said Molly. "she wants me to
! 20 after groceries"
Then III be waiting at the end of
the lane. | hate to deceive anyone,
/ but there is no sense In your walking
! that Ave miles this kind OF weather.
1T doesn't seem quite right" hest.
tated Molly.
Right or not, you're not going to
walk"
Molly thrilled at the note OF DONNA,
ton in his voice, and rode away be