The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-03


the longest one the Lord ever made
from the chin to the little knot she
wears on top, an begin to think it's
got sense in it. She contended that
Texas wasn't a bit better fer a man
with wife an whole raft O. children
than this section Well, that went on
till she finally agreed to let me go see
what it was like. I had mule an a
horse both, an I sold the mule for
enough to buy round trip prospector's
ticket. Then I bought a new suit O
c1othes-this un I got o1-from Tarp
In thar on credit an started off, an
had rotten luck from the START
When Baker left him Towards NOR
bid discontinue increased. The mans
account had quite completed his disiI-
IuSionment over his project. His bet
ter judgment told him that he had been
wrong in making such an important
decision in anger, and yet he had too
much pride to admit his error. Heidi
not want to leave home now, but he
saw no way out of it.
On the corner of the street he sud-
denly met Mary Trumbley. She flush
ed slightly, dropped her eyes and then
smiledssweetly.
'eEarly for me to get in, isn't it?'
she asked. tfUncle Alb was coming and
brought me along in his buggy. have
some things to buy for mother"
He took her hand and experienced a
certain reluctance to releasing it. She
had often comforted him in trouble.
and he yearned now to open his heart
to the boundless sympathy he knew
she would have for him.
''I looked for you at the dance last
night he said, turning and walking
along with her. @1 thought you were
to be there"
'sMr. Tarp asked me, but I was too
tired to go,'' she said. ct had worked
hard all day making a dress for my
mother. At the last minute sent him
word not to come for me. I was COM
pIeteIy tagged out. The ride would
have finished me. I could not have
danced a step. I did not know till
today that it was given partly in your
honor or else should have come. I
thought it was intended wholly for
that Atlanta girl
whom you never liked" he smiled
significantly.
81 hardly know her" Mary averted
her eyes. Her tone was cold and her.
pretty lips were set sensitively 'HThe
O1y WILL yOO dL LuG <AOI01
heard her say she had no use for wom-
en-that she liked only men, am
not finding fault, but can't get on
with girl who talks like that. She
had an eye for everything had on
my poor clothes.''
"Oh, you girls, you girlsp' Howard
laughed. tYou don't want to under
stand one another. Cora Langham is
not bit like that, and I've no doubt
that she may misiudge you also''
81 shan't tell you all I think about
her." Mary answered. ,'It would do
no good, anyway, since you are going
away"
81 knew you think she is a firt,"
Howard returned half tentatively.
'fYou limited at something of the sort
when she first came to barley"
Mary shrugged her shoulders, and her
lip curled slightly why are we al
ways discussing herr" She demanded
coldly "Is there nothing else, for us
to talk about the day before you leave?
You are coming out to see your mother
before you go, aren't you, Howard?''
Eyes; oh, yes he said, with frown,
land my father too. Lam not going
to part with him in anger if I can
help it,
"Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say
that" Mary's eyes shone as if from
rising tears! after all, he is your IA
Their and cannot help feeling as he
does. He belongs to an earlier age
than ours, Howard"
They were now at the door OF Tarp's
lively establishment. The young pro-
prietor, a man of medium height and
weight, was directing two clerks in ar
ranging great stacks of dress goods on
the sidewalks He was partly bald,
wore a brown mustache and had a
merry, active air. Seeing the two
friends, he greeted them smilingIy,
shaking hands with Mary with a slight
touch Of awkwardness.
(To Be Continueo.)