Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-04-05
CHAPTER I.
A Crisis.


n 1BNER DANIEL leaned on the
rickety gate in front Of the
n farmhouse and glanced down
1 the roadway. He was tall,
lank, thin faced. with tuft Of gray
beard on his chin and merry twinkle
constantly in his dark eyes. Some Of
his teeth were missing. which gave to
his tanned cheeks hollow appear
ance. He was about seventy years of
age, but was as quick and active as a
man of forty.
The farmhouse belonged to Tobias
Trumbley and his wife, Martha, and
Abner, being unmarried and having
no home Of his own, boarded there
It was close to his own farm, which
Joined Trumbley's land on the east.
1t was warm summer afternoon.
A spur Of the Blue Ridge mountains
rose cool and blue in the distance.
Abner was watching graceful fig
ure approaching from the crossroads
store half mile away. 1t was Mary,
the only daughter Of the Trumbleys,
young woman Of nineteen or twenty
years Of age, Of medium weight and
height, who had a sweet face, blue
eyes and abundant chestnut hair.
II went to the store looking for
you," she said, with welcoming smile,
as she reached the gate.
$50. 500" Abner said curiously. ibid
you want anything particularT'
Yes. Mrs. Tinsley was here just
after dinner" Mary passed through
the gateway, and Abner noticed that
she sighed as she spoke. "She seemed
anxious to see you and was very much
disappointed. She wouldn't stop, but
went back home. I told her If l could
find you I'd send you over. knew
you wouldn't mind The truth is she
is greatly troubled about something.
Mother noticed 1t as we'll as L.
"Weu, Ill so over to her house," Alb
ner said. 1T must be some'n' awful
serious eff she didn't tell you two WON
en- about it.; but, to do Sister Tinsley
full credit, she never was much Of a
talker-that is, fer a woman. I reckon
she'd give quiltin' party O. cluckin'
hens a backset, but when she has
somen' to say she talks it right out
from the shoulder"
As he spoke Abner Unmatched the
gate and swung himself out into the
roadway, smiling back at Mary as she
disappeared in the house. Reaching
the bend of the road at the corner of
Trumbley's land, he saw Mrs. Tinsley,
a short, rather large woman, slowly
advancing toward him. At this mo-
ment he noticed that Mrs. Tinsley had
observed him and was walking more
rapidly. her head up, her eyes fixed
on him expectantly. When she was
quite near she pushed back her gray
sunbonnet
II was over at your house, Brother
Daniel'-it was the Methodistical form
of address to member Of the church
AN, as Mary said she thought you
might come back soon, I started over
thar ag'in.''
i've just heard you was over" be
said, IAN I was on my way to see
you"
The glance Of the woman fell to the
ground. Her face held an anxious
careworn expression, and her gnarlet
and toll stiffened fingers twitched a:
she twisted a corner of her ginghan
apron between them. You'll hardly
forgive me for comm to you with my
troubles"-she made a failure of .
smile-"but thar rally amt anybod!
else to 60 to. You always seem tt
know what is best to do in a tryin
time"
II make stab at it, He was jest
ing to put her at ease, for his sympa
thies were already stirred. "Whe1
folks are bothered any advice from
any quarter Is better n none, an OF
ten say the fust thing that pops in m
mind an hope for the BEST"
This is no jokin' matter, Brothe
Daniel" Mrs. Tinsley sighed. NV
come to see you about my boy. IT
so troubled that l can't sleep at nigh
or get it of my mind in the daytime.
"Well, you needn't bother abou
Howard, Sister Tinsley. Thar amt
young man in the state l like bette
or count more on. He's true blue. 81
will make his way up the ladder 8
sure as he's got hands an feet
"Oh, I see you don't know-yo
haven't heard
about him an Mary? Oh, yes; Nv
had my eyes on both Of 'em. They
come to an understanding some da.
Give 'em time. They are both youn,
Ell ever thar was a pair cut out fl
each other from a divine pattern it
them two. She's as bright as q ne
dollar, got good common school e.
ucation, an Howard is maxim a FIJI
newspaper man. He will be editor {
that sheet before long. Hillhouse