The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-10-01
rLIzABErH GLENNEN glanced

was NOV so MUCH lLS ouduc ouo OcoiAoAJ
though the September sun pushed the
mereury-no true Californian would
care to say how high; but it was with
. longing for the work that the shade
entailed. Her flowerlover's fingers
fairly trembled in their eagerness to
be removing dead leaves and stalking
bending stalks; but heat or not heat,
the figs must be preserved or the silly
innets would get every one.
She turned resolutely from the artis-
hc, homemade pergola, went down the
path, paused at the corral fence to give
Jerry a friendly' pat. Once through
the gate she pushed Jane's intrusive
nose from her shoulder so that she
might get the ladder lying against the
barn. She had not quite mounted to
the top when bell ringing made her
pause. Beth, lingering behind to hunt
4 basket for the figs, called insistently:
Telephone, mother, telephone!'
I "Oh, dearl" It was Disguised ex-
elamation that fell from her lips as
Elizabeth set the basket down on the
top step of the ladder among the bees
and fragrant Smyrnas. She gathered
her skirt in one hand, descended and
reached the telephone with character
istic and capable haste
"Hauoln
"Oh, it's you, George"
What-what did you sayi" It was
m italicized exclamation more than ,
question.
"Oh, George, ism Y that finei"
! "Do like it, I should say so. It
ls simply great What good times we
will have. Come here as quick as you
can. l must tell Beth +"
Click went back the receiver, and
elizabeth turned to her little daughter,
her blue eyes black with excitement
and eagerness.
"What do you think, grille, father
has a new-guess what
"Oh, mother, can't guess; tell
me-"
"No, you must guess. What would
you rather have than anything elsei"
ga little baby sister Goodiel Will
he bring it home right nowi"
The quick change in her mother s
expression made her eagerness lessen a
degree. "Isn It it really, truly baby;
er is it just dol''
"Neither, Beth. What made you
guess thati"
"Well, you said that father was 60
ing to make a deal with Dr.. Strong to-
day, SO I thought Of course it would
be baby" Beth's crestfallen face
escaped pout only because the cor.
ners Of her mouth were not made to
turn down.
Elizabeth herself felt slight abate-
ment in her enthusiasm. cit is an auto
mobile" she said.
Beth looked at her mother with big
Earnest brown eyes widening into a
questioning gaze which her mother
could not interpret as gladness.
"Why, don't you like it, Beth
Aren t you gladi It is great big tour
ing car"
"Yes-I-I'm glad, but mother, vii
We have to sell Jane and Jerryf"
"Yes, I suppose we will, but JUS
think Of the fun we will have. We car
60 everywhere we want to, we can TAXI
al the girls for ride, we can go tx
the beach and back In one day."
"Oh, mother!" Beth gave littl'
Jump. At last she was won to unre
served giadness.
They talked it over at length will
increasing interest till the sound of {
Gabriel horn made them pause. Will
lips rounded for ready exclamation the.
gazed for an instant through the opel
door in silence.
"There's our automobile" Beth
sentence was pregnant with ownership
Her slender form slipped through tn
screen door before Elizabeth coul
reach it. Her good fellowship with he
child made her hurry to catch up wit
Beth to be on the ground when tn
great new possession should appear
Under the big pepper tree, with it
festooning branches brushing 'he seat
- ;ts rad harries already litterino th