The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-10
The Euenir,g Story
Fair Exchange.
(By Dorothy Douglas. }

!
| Peter Perkins came into temporary
possession of the old Stanwood prop
lerty through mutual friends of his
own and the last remaining member
of the Stanwood family. He did not
know Madge Stanwood, nor was he in
any way interested in making the
girls acquaintance SO long as he had
obtained three years lease on her
property.
Peter was run down, physically.
cia1ly embarrassed. The transfer of
property was a step in the right di-
rection for both parties concerned. 1t
left Madge free to go into the city
land pursue congenial labor, while
Peter Perkins could seek the robust
health he had lost in his effort to
find that vague pedestal called fame.
His channel had been through art,
and Peter had succeeded to g. flatter-
ing degree before his healthier the
lack of it-had sent him to the coun-
TRY.
The stanwood property was sadly
dilapidated. The gardens, both vege-
table and floral, were all but wrecks;
the lone cow was pitiful sight to a
lover of animals, while the few hens
and rabbits were forlorn creatures.
The orchard, once bearing choice and
rare fruit, required pruning, Topping
and care to an alarming extent, but
with it all Peter felt sanguine as to
p, the results he would obtain from
healthy labor on the property
| Peter had worked with feverish in
spiration on his art, and by so doing
had arrived on the precipice OF ner-
vous breakdown. The Stanwood place
came as a blessing to him. Since he
might not make further use of his
brain during it's process OF rebuilding
he rejoiced in the physical activity
that would be demanded OF him dur
ing his three years in the country.
1t was difficult at first to fling off
the inertia that gripped him after ieav-
ing the steam-heated studio and his
paints and models; but the trimming
of shrubs that was necessary, since 1t
was late autumn, sent Peter out with
hedge scissors and an augmentlng
sense of zeal. Having come originally
from the West, Peter was at heart
adapted for outdoor life. Farming
and the artists temperament went
strangely hand in hand in refers
mentality. 1t was not difficult then,
during the lulI of tn artists brain. for
the farmer to come readily into actlv-
ity.
When the shrubbery had been
trimmed the trees in the orchard
came next Peter Perkins was COM
panioned and served only by old
Gregory, who was both an intelligent
gardener and a handy man about the
house.
No social intercourse and no pot.
tering with paints. Remember that!
had been the doctors parting words
to Peter. For one year at least.
pleasure of seeing even Doris Brown,
the girl whom he had almost definite
ly fallen in love with and he mad lock
ed up his paints and brushes in the at
tic room and had bravery given the
key to old Gregory.
Don't give it to me-even II L IRE
you for not doing So" he commanded
Gregory, and the old man kept the
key.
Before the cold weather came the
cowshed was mended, the chickens
coops whitewashed and a cockerel ana
some fine hens addeds to the meager
flock, and all other preparations for
an excellent springtime were made
The poor little rabbit was given
mate, and that being the last OF the
domestic arrangements among the
barnyard life, Peter and Gregory turn
ed their attention to their own habita-
ton.
During the winter months they
painted every inch of the interior or
the Stanwood house and mended roofs
and draughty doors and windows.
Creeping vines were trimmed so that
with the springtime rosebuds would
seek admission to the old living room
with its great stone fri place and lofty
ceilings.
1t was not until the arrival of spring,
when the verdure was brilliant and the
fruit blossoms in full and odorouS
bloom, that Peter really threatened
Gregory with dimisSal.
Its a chance in an artists life,' he
stormed at the imperturbab1e servant.
'"Those blossoms are perfect-there
never was an orchard so beautiful.
could win a thousand dollar prize with
lust a small sketch" His tone had be-
come somewhat wheedling.
The blossoms'll be out again next
year." was all Gregory said, and Peter
raved in vain for the keys to his paints
and brushes. He eyed Peter with
glow of pride. Somehow he felt re-
sponsible for the glow of health that
was slowly progressing in Peters body.
What ever will we do with the
fruit. chickens. eggs, milk and vege-
tables that we will be having before
long," questioned Peter as he realized
the prolific tendencies that work at
Stanwood farm was beginning to make
evident 1--WE will have hundred fine
little rabbits if we don't watch out
He laughed. The question, however,
was a serious one. "Old Nancy is
real beauty now" he added as they
ing her spring cud with bovine con-
tentment. Think of the fine milk that
will be wasted. You ana l can't get
away with it..
Everything that Peter and Gregory
multiplied with astonishing
rapidity. Each accused the other of
a weird charm with grow
ing things With the development of
and fruits, to say nothing
of the barnyard of prolific hens and
Nancy's rich milk, the question of dis
posal of produce became an impera-
tive one.
Old Gregory, however, had scheme |
I'D his worn sleeve, but he kept it to |
himself until he had made a round of
all the small cottages that surrounded
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 vegetables and
the grounds did not permit of garden
ing The suggestion that Gregory
made to those housewives was that he /
+hoy,, with PhickonS