The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-23
aaa 6Continuedl

Maaf night after l retired to my
 Eoom the instincts of the newspaper
 m&n, which had lafne dormant since ar
 Ets1ng at the Pines, began to stir, and E couId nat help tlAuk1ng what a pic
 t1xre this household would make if held up befUe.a Boston audience. But eO turn these kindly people into an ob- 3ect lesson would be the basest tn- gratitude. Yet put this idea from me 4e4 would, it would recur to me during the night, and scene after scene, with EHen and Bud always in the fore ground. kept shifting themselves across the mental canvas, and argue as
 would that to make use of this homely
 Hfe with its poverty and pride. its dig nified endurance of changed conditions. as the subject of a news letter would be an i'll return for the hospitality had received, yet could not put aside the longing to pen the picture as saw it and to paint it boldly, in order that others might see it in the same light as it had appealed to me.
 The next morning was up early, the sun, in fact, being only an hour ahead of me. Thinking it would be an ex- c@llent chance to see something of the place and study it's character more in detail, for had become deeply inter- esfed in everything connected with the Pines. I dressed hastily and started for a brisk walk. As I was making the half circuit of the house by way of ex- pIoration came upon Miss Ellen, car cying an arnful of kindling wood.
 ''Why, Miss Turpfn," I cried, 'T had no idea of finding you up at this hour."
 'sYou forget the dual character I play" she laughed. 'I am not early, however, for 1t is late. But you are responsible for it, as you demoralized the household last night in encourag- Ing father to discuss politics. Doubtless you saw all his fallacies, but was kind enough not to point them out to him."
 had been much entertained, said, though his politics appeared to be somewhat mixed and his ideas were quite different from those I had expect ed to hear him express.
 -'Yes," she answered; Che Is half Democrat and half Republican, with q dash here and there of populisn, fear, but it makes him very angry to tell him so, as he thinks himself a hidebeund Democrat He can never forget that Henry Clay believed in a protective tariff. I think, next to Gen eral OgIethorpe, he admires the Ken 4uchan more than any of our historical characters. But must not allow my self to be dragged into political argu- menf, for see you are ready to take up the cudgel for Clay, no doubt, and since you have come bothering about so e4Efy you must make yourself use full" She then showed me the wood pile and told me to bring enough to the kitchen to last two full days.
 Miss Twpfn.'' I said a little later as entered the kitchen with my arms loaded down with short oak logs, ''is It really necessary for you to do this workF'
 She looked with surprise at me, and I thought saw faint color come to the surface of her skin. but could not tell, for she was lighting the fire. She saw that I was earnest in my question, and, Stin kneehng in front of the stove, she turned her frank face toward me and said:
 T would resent the question, MT. Palmer. did not know that a kind heart prompted it. Yes,' she added; '1t is as necessary for me to do this as it is for Bud to blow. Of course you must have heard from your rela- lives that fhe Turp1ns were greatly re duced. The house is heavily mortgag ed, and to meet the interest we have to save in every legitimate way. Bud wants to hire a cook. but will not lis ten to him. Father is determined that the moment he defaults on the inter- est that minute he will give up the Pines to the owners, for such they are who hold the mortgage on 1t And. oh, Mfr. Palmer, you don't know what 1t would mean to father and mother to move from here now. Besides, too. we would be no better o1-even worse, l think, for we would have no place at all Bud and would be glad to go into the world and run our chances, but it can't be thought of. not now" She sighed and continued to make the fire.
 By degrees I found out all there was to be known of the family. for there were no skeletons there. After the ! war 1t seems that Colonel Turpin had i lived in a reckless sort of way. still keeping up the style of living he had grown accustomed to before the change of fortune in the southern | planters life. It was not until Bud l