The Parker post., 1914-03-07
HOW URIAH QUALIFIED
BY c. c. JOHNSON.

1t was Uriahs last duty of the day
to personally conduct the COWS, and
such Of their near relatives as accom-
panied them to the barnyard drinking
trough at milking time, back to pas
ture.
Uriah was known as one of the
mast patient, 1noffenSive of mortals.
This in itself was a serious fault in
the eyes of Lucy's father, old Sylves
ter Graham.
Il amt got no complaint cause
you're poor, Uriah," the old man had
said the evening before; you're in
dustrious, and would be just the kind
Of feller to take hold O. my little
place, but I'm 'fraid to risk you as
son-in-law. Somehow you don't strike
ne as bein' just human; you're too
good"
Uriah had taken his way home to
he neighboring farm, where he
worked, in sadness of soul. Even had
he understood Sylvesters philosophy,
he would have been at loss how to
put it into practice UncOnsciously,
however, he had been influenced. He
had been pOndering the old mans
words all day, and tonight, for the
first time, he felt an impatience with
the tameness Of his existence. 1t af.
fected his usual gentleness. Letting
down only the upper bars, he seized
club, and with some homely eXple-
tives foreign to his lips, cajoled the
cattle into hurdling the gap. Uriah re.
placed the bars and started for the
house. His mind was made up.
Midnight found him well on toward
the city. He had walked fifteen miles.
A haystack served him as bed, and
a pocketful of cakes supplied his
breakfast, after which he caught a
friendly farmers wagon.
Uriah had never been in the city
before. It's rushing life and strange
sights both beWildered and intoxicated
him. In his pocket was forty dollars.
his entire savings To his mind this
sum presented limitless possibilities,
He was ready to part with the last
penny of it in his mad determination
to turn himself loose. The only prob;
lem with him now was how to begin.
In the course of few minutes a
spruce-loOking young man spied him
from across the street. He hurried
over, as though he was afraid Uriah
might get away before he reached
him.
Up at the Forks the whereabouts
- TTr;D l. i0fx fOr
week or two, until Jeff Blaine, the
huckster, who had paid visit to the
city, brought back word that he had
seen Uriah as a play actor in a thea
ter; that he looked just like he al
ways did, and people were making
great fuss over him. 1t was conceded
that Jeff had run across Uriah some,
where in town, but as for the rest
Jeff had been drinking again-unti!
the Forks saw the newspaper which
said:
'rIt is interesting to learn that the
splendid piece Of character work in
up the State" which has brought
fame to that talented young actor, Mr.,
Wallace Keene, is taken from actual
life. Mr. Keene accidentally met on
the street one day the prototype OF
his creation in the person of young
countryman, Uriah Hope, and has
made him his constant companion
The countryman had come to the city
to see the sights IT he has missed
any it has not been the fault of Mr..
Keene, who, being anxious to study
him thoroughly, has spared no eX'
pense in his entertainment. 1t is
understood that the pace has proved
TOO swift for the young man, and that
he is anxious to return home. He will
probably carry back with him the
pleasing memory Of more different
kinds of headaches than he ever be.
fore experienced"
Yes, it was true, Uriah wanted to
20 home. He wanted to see Lucy
again and have a talk with her IA
her. He, somehow, had the feeling,
as he readjusted the towel on his fore
head, that he had qualified.
Lucy recognized him when he reach.
I'd the front gate, in spite of his styl-
ish new clothes, and thought him
splendid. Old Sylvesters greeting
was scarcely less hearty.
You sly rascal, l didn't think it was
in you No, more O. your foolishness,
now; git the weddin' over, so that we
can start the fall plowin'."
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz