The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-11-29
LEsBIA's PIANO
BY ROBERT WADE BURTON.

stand in the list, RANSOM"
81 fancy | don't count, Mr.. Balm
BRIDGE replied Ransom Deane IL
his serious practical way, and started
off, hoe in hand, for the potato field
His employer and friend stood look
ing speculatively after him. There
was a tender glow in the grim, hard
eyes.
What are you thinking of, Silas?
inquired his wife, and she looked
keenly into his own.
THAT lad" was the reply. Hes
a good one, too. You know how we
Joke about Lesbia's four lovers? You
know, too, how everybody says that
on her birthday, day after tomorrow
she is going to take her pick. sort
of joked Ransom for being in the
group. He won't have it-says he
don't count"
"Silas," exclaimed Mrs. cambridge,
her face earnest and working, Il wish
he did,"
Mary" replied silas, quite as in
tensely, Il wish so, too. Those three
city fellows are clean, decent fellows.
but I'd rather have him round, kind,
helpful, accommodating day in and day
out, than see Lesbia marry a man who
will take her away from this sweet
dear life to the folly and shallow ex-
element of the city"
The trio referred to were summer
boarders at the lake hotel a mile
away. They were all in love with
Lesbia, and it was no wonder.
Life had gone like some fair dream
with Ransom until the three rivals in
vaded the field. He did not resent
their appearance. He had little to Of
fer her. His father had left him a
small farm, so poor, indeed, that he
rented it out for what it cost him for
taxes and interest on its value.
Wednesday was Lesbia's nineteenth
The week before she had
declared she would marshal her brave
knights errant at her birthday party,
to give definite answer to their re-
spective pleas.
1t was the next morning that Lesbia
came hurrying to the field where her
father and Ransom were working, in
a great state of anxiety and excite
ment.
ooh, father" she said futteringly,
''the piano has not come. have just
ka1A 0I 70 hn
station agent reports no trace of it.
have so set my heart On having it
for my birthday! Why, half our pro.
gram depends on the piano."
Ransom was at once interested.
eff you can spare me for the day."
spoke Ransom, after a thoughtful
glance at Lesbia's troubled face, Il
might drive down to Lloydville and
see if l can't learn something more
definite"
ooh, if you would, RANSOM" cried
Lesbia eagerly, and Ransom thrilled
rs her pretty hand clasped his arm
gratefully.
1t was afternoon when Ransom
'eached the little station. He knew
he man in charge and soon had the
wires busy.
We'll, I declared" suddenly ex-
claimed the station man, as he took a
inal message. Il might have thought
If that before"
What's that?" inquired Ransom.
why, by some error the piano was
shipped to the Lloydville across coun-
ry, in another county, and on another
inc. Been there in storage for two
ays"
How long would it take to get it
Iere?" asked Ransom.
Several days, for the two roads |
ave no connection this side of the
ransfer belt line, a hundred miles |
way"
Ransom reached "the other Lloyd. |
'ille' shortly before midnight. A
ain had set in and Ransom was
oaked through. A chill wind had |
ONE up. He felt repaid for all his
rduous efforts. however, in fact, fair
exultant, as he started back home |
7ards, with the piano we'll brsced and
overed with all the old blankets and
arpaulins he could bribe the sleepy
tation agent to secure.
They told great story of the en-
uing five hours, the cambridge neigh
ors, for many day after that: How
.ansom's horse had fallen into a rut,
'as famed, turned loose, and, for the
lst five miles of his weary journey, /
.ansom, between the shafts tugged,
trained and strove to pull that heavy
lad directly into the cambridge
then tainted dead
wayi
1t was two weeks later that a. first
lean of normal consciousness re-
1rned to him. Mrs. cambridge, his
nxious nurse, told him of the vast
lg fever that had made life a deed
lank to him through fourteen long
avs and nights. Twenty-four hours
ter they allowed him to ask a few
uestions.
The piano?-yes, he had delivered
in time, but Lesbia, in tears at the
stressing results of his selfsacrific-
g hardihood, had refused to have the
arty.
And the favored sutton? Oh. Les