The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-03

ALay oIOuuo kA1S t(1Xk1~o. ASh 1880
have made the tow5 more green and
fair and ivable.s
His eye had an nnwonted sparkle to-
day as he worked Presently smart
team drew up to the door, and by way
of welcome, with his hail, the editor
hurled begrimed newspaper directory
at the newcomers feet. A tall, swarthy
checked young man with the air of the
fields upon him, followed Miss Vance
into the shop. The woman superinten-
dent of schools listened to her BROTH
er's exuberant chatting of the others
for a moment; she seemed mentally
taking stock of the place-Curran WHIP
ing his hands on an empurpled towel,
Harlan ipipaling copy on the hook; the
general ne'er-do-well atmosphere of
the Rome, Iowa, News.
"Tarts," said the editor, "and coffee.
Maybe beer. Who likes beer? Nobody.
It's unlawful. But there's a case under
Aunt Abbys bed, and the good old
lady, all unsuspecting, is at prayer
meeting"
We've dined," rejoined Miss Vance,
keep on with your work"
Mr.. Curran was noted for his pre-
texts to evade work-which explained
a deal about the News circulation.
Miss Vance sat down in the swivel
chair at the editors desk which Har-
Ian had vacated. She was tailored far
beyond Rome's possibilities, even if
Sarah Coyne, the dressmaker, had,
since a recent trip to Chicago, changed
the legend on her shop-window to
.NfzI...oo T,so.a1 81 -r14v,ad
thirty, aggressive. keen, reserved-tbe
county said it was not for nothing she
was daughter of Jake Vance, the po-
litical farmer. Janet was accredited to
be the most effective campaigner in the
court house; she had teen elected to
her second term by splendid major
ity after having carried her first cleo
ton to the courts. The old-line party
men had not wanted her, but they had
had to accept a woman school superin-
tendent. She looked Harlan over with
critical interest: Mrs. Van Hart and
High Street had not given her much
support.
Arne was poking among Wiley's ex-
changes. snorting militantly now and
then. He was on his way back to the
agricultural school in Wisconsin, where
he absorbed as much radical politics
as soil culture. Out OF his pockets now
bulged a great yellow ear Of prize corn
and a bundle of Congressional
speeches. Jake Vance, arguing about
the square on market days in his old,
moth-eaten, buffalo coat, expounding
his heresies to the farmers, was proud
of his two children. Country-bred,
there was no "hayseed' about them.
Out at Cloverdale farm they had tel
ephone a piano player, motor that
did nearly everything about the house
and stables. and all the newfangled de-
vices; and the doubling farmers always
stopped to see what next the 'Vances
were up to. --
While we're all here" put in Wiley,
Tets talk over the Christmas number
of our magazine. SOS we can get it out
by April. Its really due to our sub
scriber."
Miss Vance looked at him. "Wiley,"
she said. decisively, I'm going to sell
the Inland Empire"
Mr.. Curran feigned distress and
amazement. Sell it! Why, you can't
I'm president.
I was afraid our other one would die.
The Gem-Chicago Style. Since Sallie
Frisby came back from the city she
says it's a shame this town has no
place where one can go after the the
alter, so she's going to keep the Gem
open until 10 o'clock If there's not a
soul in the place. She's going to give
Rome a touch of high life, and on
that aspiration got her to subscribe
to the Inland Empire-if we give her
write-up. Also, We take it out in
trade. BY jove, l jumped at 1.-THE
Inland Empire does need a square
mealT
Miss Vance looked at him in some
despair. Nevertheless, we're going to
sell the magazine to a Des MONIES
chap who Wants to turn it into farm
journal"
Mr., Curran looked doleful 1t is
true he was president OF the. corpora
ton, but most of Miss Vance's salary
had gone of late to get the Inland En-
pire out of the Earlville print shop.
Wiley had long since exhausted his
eloquence and his credit. Mr.. Cur.
rams touch seemed as irresponsibly ia
tai to this grand scheme as it had to
the News circulation. Janet had had
dreams of the Empire. She had want
ed expression and achievement beyond
the routine of her work; she had
thought to touch the world, its letters,
crafts, movements with her own con-
victions; they would build their maya
zine slowly to success, aspiring high,
but yet keeping to the good earth,
with departments for the home, the
farm and countryside, while battling
for the militant political ideals of the
West. 1t would mean the sweetness
of power and freedom-now she won
dered how her own practical mind
could ever have supposed it would sue
head.
wiley" she said severely. Il shall
sell it"
you had better" he murmured dis
mally, consult our stockholders"
Arne and Harlan shouted irrepres-
sibly. go ahead" cried Harlan. I'll
donate mine. I'm too busy this year
to furnish any more Boston Notes,
and the athletic resume, any way. !
move we 60 down to the Gem, eat out
that dollar subscription and then sus-
pend publication at once"
Harlan" yetorted the superinten-,
dent, wiley is demoralizing you. Pm
glad you're going back to Harvard"
Her brother looked with some frank
resentment on the immaculate young
mar. The lean-faced student-farmer
from Wisconsin had the dyspeptie dia-