Smyrna times., 1915-10-13
LESBIkS PIANO
BY ROBERT WADE BURTON.


his serious practical way and startea
of. hoe in hand. for the potato heiu'
His employer and friend stood look
,rg speculatively after him. There
was a tender glow in the grim naru
eyes. -,
What are you thinking Of silas!
inquired his wife, and she looKeu
keenly into his own.
THAT lad" was the reply. He's
a good one. too. You know how we
ioke 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
~ ioked Ransom for being in the
group. He won't have it-says ne
don't count
"siIas." exclaimed Mrs Bainbridge'
her face earnest and working, i wisn
he did"
Mary" replied Silas. quite as in
tensely, "I wish so. too. Those three
eitv fellows are clean, decent fellows.
bNt I'd rather have him round, kind,
helrful. accommodating day in and day
out. Ihan see Lesbia marry man who
will take her away from this sweet
dear life TO the folly and shallow ex'
citement of the city"
The trio referred to were summer
boarders at the lake hotel a mile
away. They were all in love with
Iesbia. and II 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 il out for what K cost him 10
taxes and interest on its value.
Wednesday was Lesbia's nineteenth
birthday. The week before she had
declared she would marshal her brave
knights errant at her birthday party
TO give a definite answer to their re
spective pleas.
Il was the next morning that LesNia
came hurrying TO the field where heI
father and Ransom were working, In
a great state Of anxiety and excite
ment.
"Oh, fatheri" she said futteringly
"the piano has not come. ! have just
telephoned over to Lloydville, and the
station agent reports no trace OF 1t
have so set my heart on having Il
for my birthday! Why. half our pro
gram depends on the piano!"
Ransom was at once interested.
IF you can spare me for the day.
spoke Ransom. after a thoughtfu
glance at Lesbia's troubled face, g
might drive down to Lloydville ant
see II l can't learn something NOR
definite.'
"Oh. IL you would. Ransom crie'
Lesbia eagerly. and Ransom thrillel
as her pretty hand clasped his arr
gratefully.
II was afternoon when Ransor
reached the little station. He kne'
the man in charge and soon had tn
wires busy.
We'll, / declarel" suddenly e'
claimed the station man. as he took
final message. Il might have though
Of that before"
! what's that?" inquired Ransom.
: why, by some error the piano wa
shipped TO the Lloydville across coul
$ try, in another county, and on anothe
J. line. Been there in storage for tw
! days"
y How long would II take 20 get
l. here?" asked Ransom.
y Several days. for the two road
have no connection this side OF II
+ transfer belt line, a hundred mile
y away"
= Ransom reached ''the other LlOy
L Vile" shortly before midnight.
. rain had set in and Ransom wi
3 soaked through. A chill wind ha
< come up. He felt repaid for all b
81 arduous efforts. however. in fact, fai
= " exultant. as he started back HON
u wards. with the piano well braced an
'r covered with all the old blankets an
le tarpaulins he could bribe the sleeT
g station agent to secure.
re They told a great story OF the e
suing Eve hours. the cambridge neig
bors, for many a day after that: Ho
Ransom's horse had fallen into a n
SA was tameus luTutu ioOsef anu loI u
p last iive miles OF his weary journe
III Ransom. between the shafts tugge
at strained and strove 10 pull that hea'
IL load directly into the Bainbrid
barnyard-and then tainted de-
m away
sc II was two weeks later that a fir
en- CLEAN of normal consciousness !
or turned to him. Mrs. cambridge. b
'e- anxious nurse. told him OF the wa
ny ing fever that had made life a de
sir blank TO him through fourteen lo
ee days and nights. Twenty-four hou
later they allowed him TO ask q Z,
ut questions.
hg The piano?--yes. he had deliver
an It in time, but Lesbia. in tears at I
gu distressing results OF his selfsacrii
ne ing nardihood. had refused TO have {
Oh party.
IN And the favored suitor7 Oh. l.
TO bia had placed his photograph on I
Of the piano, and that had settled