The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-09-17
milk that will be wasted. You and
can't get away with it,

Everything that Peter and Gregory
touched multiplied with astonishing
rapidity. Each accused the other of
possessing weird charm with grow
ing things. With the development of
vegetables and fruits, to say nothing
of the barnyard of prolific hens and
fancy rich milk, the question of dis
posal of the produce became an i'm
perative one.
Old Gregory, however, had scheme
on his worn sleeve, but he kept it to
himself until he had made a round
of all the small cottages that sur
rounded the farm. They were tiny
bits of property owned and inhabited
largely by young married couples with
small children. 1t was not easy to
provision the homes with fresh vege-
tables and the grounds did not per-
NIT of gardening. The suggestion.
that Gregory made to those house
wives was that he supply them with
eggs, chickens, fruit and vegetables
at a nominal price. Housewives one
and all flew to the rescue of Peter and
Gregory, and considered themselves
very lucky in obtaining farm prod
ucts so close to their own doorsteps.
The question of milk was difficult, as
Nancy might not supply an entire
community, and one and all wanted
Nancy's rich milk.
1T means" laughed Peter, 'that
Nancy will have to occupy a smaller
portion of the shed. We will have to
get couple more like her." He eyed
Gregory for moment very thought
fully. you know, of course, Gregory,
that I am not going to take the profit
from this business. No, am not
he added swiftly, seeing the incredul-
ity in Gregory's face. "You are go
ing to take a certain per cent, but
all the rest is going into that hole in
the old chimney corner against the
time Miss Stanwood returns. You
see, it is really her farm, and"
"a pretty farm it was" said the
old gardener disgustedly, but with
added affection in his eyes for Peter.
Nevertheless, the COW, the chick
ems, the orchard and all are really be-
longing to her. You see lido you
not, Gregory"
Yes, suppose do" grumbled the
old man, and turned away lest Peter
Perkins see that which had risen in
his eyes.
Suffice to say that Stanwood farm
became a paying proposition that
quite exceeded the dreams of the
temporary owner The hole in the
chimney corner was stuffed with bills
and silver, and the day came when
another brick had to be dislodged and
another bank started
The brushes and paint had been
taken from the attic room. and Peter
reveled anew in the blossoming or
chard and his loved art One or two
marvellous sketches found their way
into the New York shops.
Peter had regained health, both
mentally and physically, and it was.
most attractive looking artist who
looked up suddenly one sunny day in
early spring to see wood nymph
standing gazing admiringly at his
canvas.
His brushes were suspended in the
clear air, 80 lovely was the girl. Her
wide hat seemed made to shelter the
beauty of her oval face and her deep
blue eyes held hint of fear in them.
She would have fed save that Peter
stopped her.
If ! could put you in this picture
he suggester, frankly, 81 could most
probably make several thousand dol
lars from the canvas
The girl blushed shyly and drew a
trifie nearer. There was awe in her
glance. The orchard, as it appeared
on the canvas, seemed to breathe of
spring and to sway with the breeze.
Certainly the petals were futtering
down.
1T would be a pity" she said
softly, ''to hold myself responsible
for so great loss to you. Since i
am boarding in the Rose cottage 1t
will give me pleasure to pose for you
for few moments each morning."
"Hoursi" breathed Peter eagerly.
1t so happened that old Gregory
was left with more work on his hands
than on the days before the nymph
had arrived. One day he peered
through the branches of the trees
and gave vent to low whistle when
his eyes rested on Peters model
Madge Stanwood, the last of the old
family, was standing beneath
gnarled apple tree while Peters
brushes were rapidly sweeping her
image onto the canvas. There was
that in the eyes of Peter, and 1t re-
Elected itself in the eyes of the girl.
which made old Gregory laugh softly.
Love in its most wonderful form was
making the spring paradise.
At that very moment of old Greg
ory's musings Peter Perkins had said
Wonderful grill" in an awed and
breathless tone, and Madge had re-
turned softly: