Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-03-18
FORVALyERECElVED
Even a FarnIey Gould Conquer
the Preiudices Of a Waite.
By eEoReIA LoTT sELTER.

and huddled into his fur coat. With
the disappearance Of the sun the
winter day seemed to gain rapidly
in chill and gloominess.
CHANGING up, he caught the hutter
of a woman's skirts at the side Of
the road ahead.
"Why, that" muttered Bob, "must
be that little Waite girl. Isn't it
like old Mary Waite to send that
child to town afoot day like this p
The Waites 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
wondered at her living alone and
working the few cultivated acres Of
her farm as best she might.
But when it was known that she
had sent for little Molly Waite, run
away Bud Waite's only child, to
come and live with her, the country
side was agog with conjecture and
curiosity.
"She's almost helpless with rheu-
matism," declared the neighbors, cor
she would never do it. She wants
the girl to take care of her-you
can depend upon a Waite getting
"value received" for all the charity
they giveP'
"Bud has been dead over five
years, and the girl has been looking
out for herself as best she could.
Well, baybe she will find it as COM
Portable here as she has been used
to having"
All this passed through Bob Farm
ley's mind as his team, with big
strides, gained on the little figure
in the road ahead.
The girl plodded on, Indifferent
to his approach. Even when he drew
up opposite her she did not turn her
head.
"Get in and ride" called Bob in
his big, cheerful voice.
The girl muttered her thanks
without stopping.
"But this is Miss Waite, isn't it?
I'm Bob Farnley, your nearest
neighbor. You can ride almost
home, and it is getting dark fast"
She stopped then, and turned to
look at him timidly.
The honesty of his face was reas-
surfing, for she allowed him to lift
her up over the high wheel and wrap
her in the warm robes without pro-
test.
"I'm afraid you viii think me
very stupid or very unfriendly," she
said then, with a smile. "But, you
see, l am not used to the country. In
the city we do not accept rides from
strangers"
81 did not think about that" an
swered Bob, quickly. 81 thought
only about your long walk in the
cold and dark; it is going to be dark
early tonight"
'"This is much better, thank you.
But l never rode so 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,
soft-muzzled calves with their gentle
eyes. They didn't seem quite so
nice, however, when they had grown
into cows with long horns,
Yes, she took care of the stock
Aunt Mary was not able to get out.
And she had to walk to town be-
cause 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't care much for our family,
and might forbid your riding again.
60 10 town every Saturday"
"Aunt Mary" said the girl that
evening, as they sat in the dim old
kitchen, "who lives in the first house