The Green Forest tribune., 1915-10-15
LEsBIA'S PIANO
By ROBERT WADE BURTON.


 bridge" repi..d Ransom Deane 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, hart eyes.
 What are you thinking of. Silas?' inquired his wife, and she looked keenly into his own.
 "That lad" was the reply. "He's a good one, too. You know how we toke about Lesbia's four lovers? You know. too, how everybody says thai on her birthday, day after tomorrow she is going to take her pick. I sort of joked Ransom for being in the group. He won't have it--says he don't count"
 "Silas," exclaimed Mrs. Bainbridge her face earnest and working, T wish he did!"
 Mary" replied Silas, quite as in- tensely. 'I 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 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 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 it's value.
 Wednesday was Lesbia's nineteenth birthday The week before she had declared she would marshal her b. ave knights errant at her birthday party to give a definite answer to their re- spective pleas.
 It 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
 "Oh, father!" she said flutteringly, "the piano has not come. I have just telephoned over to Lloydville, and the station agent reports no trace of it. I 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 thoughtful glance at Lesbia's troubled face, T might drive down to Lloydville and see if I can't learn something more definite.''
 "Oh, if you would, Ransom" cried Lesbia eagerly, and Ransom thrilled as her pretty hand clasped his arm gratefully.
 It was afternoon when Ransom reached the little station. He knew the man in charge and soon had the wires busy.
 "WeIl, I declarei" suddenly ex- claimed the station man, as he took a final message "I might have thought of that before"
 What's that?" inquired Ransom.
 "Why, by some error the piano was shipped to the Lloydville across coun- try, in another county, and on another line. Been there in storage for two days"
 How long would it take to get it here" asked Ransom.
 Several days, for the two roads have no connection this side of the transfer belt line, hundred miles away
 Ransom reached "the other Lloyd ville' shortly before midnight. A rain had set in and Ransom was soaked through. A chill wind had come up. He felt repaid for all his arduous efforts however, in fact fair Iy exultant. as he started back home wards, with the piano we'll braced and covered with all the old blankets and tarpaulins he could bribe the sleepy station agent to secure
 They told great story of the en- suing five hours, the Bainbridge neigh bors, for many day after that: How Ransom's horse had fallen into a rut, was lamed, turned loose, and, for the last five miles of his weary journey, Ransom, between the shafts tugged, strained and strove to pull that heavy load directly into the Bainbridge barnyard-and then tainted dead away!
 It was two weeks later that a first gleam of normal consciousness re- turned to him. Mrs. Bainbridge, his anxious nurse, told him of the vast ing fever that had made life a dead blank to him through fourteen long days and nights. Twent7-four hours later they allowed him to ask few questions.
 The piano?-yes, he had delivered 1t in time, but Lesbia, in tears at the distressing results of his self sacrifice ing nardihood, had refused to have the party.
 And the favored suitor? Oh, Les bia had placed his photograph on top of the piano, and that had settled it.
 Was he strong enough to come