The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-28
THE VEN1N STORY
HIS WAY.

thing else. Only her management OF
the poultry yard and butter and milk
stood between them and positive
want.
And Ralph still played happily at
gardening. With each season his space
increased, till at last the vegetables
poultry were almost crowded our.
mere were times when she wonder
ed with a small ray of hope, whether
1t was really all play, but the hope
was crushed when he came to her one
day and asked her to write and paste
labels for him.
Are You selling?" she said, and
he had briefly replied: Exchanging.
l want other varieties"
The gardening had gone on now for
three years. She and Ralph seldom
spoke to each other and every inch Of
aVallable, space was given to plants.
once when the place was a ma OF
color he had called to her to come and
see the effect. isn't it beautiful, Nam
nie?" he said, wistfully, and she. ex-
asperated beyond control, replled:
Yes, it is beautiful. The pity Of it IS
that beauty and 'eatables' are not
synonymous"
For days afterward the look in his
eyes haunted her. She told herself
heartbreakingly that he was just a
child: that h must make the best Of
1t and be reconciled: but day after day
her disgust and hatred grew fiercer
and ~fiercer.
Then a change came that brought
the climax. New people began coming
into the village and vicinity. and
values increased. A man from the
city bought the property adjoining
theirs and also their mortgage, plan
ming to add their place to his and en-
large for a country residence. Only
that ~ n,sv1ia~r h-L lite ~~nSf rNtiHAH
her of the fact, and that the mort
gage was due and must be paid or
they must give possession.
And Ralph was away. She suppos-
ed he had gone to the village. He
never spoke of his errands, and she
couldn't remember when she had ask
ed a question. The clock was strik-
up to see. 1t was II, and she flew to
the gate in a frenzy. Ralph u
rouse and assert himself. He must,
he should save their home and give
her back respect for him.
Then the hopelessness of it all came
over her. and she crept back to the
porch and sat down shivering. She
felt sick and faint. THE last day:
The last day." began ringing again in
her brain, and she wandered about the
house. touching things and telling
herself she was seeing them in their
places for the last time.
Then somehow her eyes were drawn
20 the clock and she seemed to stop
breathing. Ralph had not come, and
ii was 6. ts
Wild with fear. she ran to the gate
again. the mortgage. everything, for
gotten. Ralph's safety was her one
thought. He was not in sight, and
with the impulse of going to find MIN
she stepped out, almost treading on a
li:tle figure. a neighbours child. mud
died against the fence.
Mr.. Tyner told me. and 1 played
and forgot" he ffwhimpered. And
mother says she would punish me?
MIR. Timer Observation-Disclosures"
In that moment of relief Mrs. Tyner
felt herself reel She chung to the safe
sol,hins. and the child, frightened,
caught at her dress and walled:
IT paved and forgot" he began
again, u she suddenly stopped and
caught his in her arms.
Child! child" she :ried, can You
understand? I'll love you as long as
1 have life. Now, run home. Tell
your mother what l said. I have to
go new. The.rtrain is coming and
Ralph will be hungry
Smiling, she watched him scamper
off and gazed long after he was out
of sight. The yealamitN that had
threatened. and the clouds, so big, of