The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-11-10
BACK TO The SOIL
BY SUSAN e. cLACETT,

| 1T cannot De DONE.
The speaker was one of three young
men, and his tone was emphatic. The
girl in the group leaned forward, re-
garding him with earnest eyes.
"Why not?" she asked.
Lack of money and experience" he
answered promptly. 1--WE are office
men. We know nothing of country
life. The house is barely habitable.
To make 1t livable would require more
money than can be spared"
The girls glance swept the tiny sit,
ting room, rested for an instant upon
the figure leaning against the doorway,
then came back to her elder brother.
81 think, Jack, that l could make It
home If the roof doesn't leak. The
place is ours. The rent of this apart
ment would help, and we could have
roses and Glove pinks and violets."
Hear her." Bob interrupted. "Can
we eat roses and Glove pinks, and vio-
let's? l confess to desire for a more
material diet.
The girl laughed. "They are only
the frills, Bob but am always dream
ing of them and of green grass with
white clover sprinkled through it and
the blessed sunshine coming through
the leaves of the trees. Grandfather
may Dot have made money there, but
he did make comfortable living Why
couldn't we?'
ut can't be DONE" Jack reiterated.
Jane is right" came from pleas
ant voice in the doorway, eff you two
dunderheads would listen to her. You
fright not be able to make any amount
Of money, but do you do more now?
You just about meet expenses, with a
little slowed away for emergencies.
Out there you would have no house
rent. You could have many things
that are now luxuries. There would
be Snconveniences, and committing is
not pleasant, but try it for James
sake. She needs the sunshine and
grass and Glove pinks and roses Nf
the roses ever bloou, in her cheeks
again. She has newer recovered her
strength since that attack of pneumo-
mia, although she says nothing"
Jane had turned smiling face to
him as he began to speak, but shook
her head as he finished.
Honest, Jane, don't you feel tired
out all of the timer?
Sometimes" she admitted reluc-
family.
THAT should settle It." John Gray
said. However, If you still hesitate l
should like to rent the land of you and
see what / can do with it. My car
is at the door. Pile in and we will
run out to the place and see if the plan
isn't feasible"
The two men scarcely heard. They
were looking at their sister through
the eyes of their friend. To their dis
may they realized that he had spoken
the truth and with grave faces they
followed M to the car.
An hour later they stood before the
story -and-a-half house viewing 1t
critically as a possible home. 1t had
Deen sadly neglected, but to offset the
general dllapidation were great clumps
OF lilacs, and snowballs and mock Or
ange, just bursting into bud that would
be mass of beauty few weeks later
on.
They entered the large living room
from the porch, and as John Gray
looked about he said:
IF you people will take mother and
me for the summer we will both an
preciate 1t. She would be delighted
with the place"
Jack was looking frowningly
through a back window at the evil
1ences of an old-fashioned garden. He
-urned now. "You can have the land.
Of course if you wish. Our living here
s impossible"
Before you decide, look well at
zane, the other said quietly. sTha
'irl is In desperate need of the very
hings she can get on this old farm.
Iou can take no risks with her, Try
TINS summer at least. Give her the
nance to get strong"
Inc three were watching the girl as
ne moved here and there among the
10 Hover borders. She looked up and
allied to them delightedly:
Lilies OF the valley are blooming
this corner, Jack. Do come quickly.
Ill OF YOU" But before thew Joined
er they had seen her as she really
Vas slip Of a thing with eyes too
arge for a face that held no vestige
L color and moving with an inertness
tterly unlike her usual briskness.
ack caught his breath sharply and
ohn knew he had won consent. al
hough no word was spoken.
This was in April-the middle of II.
ne first Of May found the barrels In
heir grandfather's old home. and
one TOO soon. James strength had
oddenly failed during the last DAYS in
ne apartment and they carried her in
the big living room she had so
'nged to make into home for her
oys.
IL was here John found her one eve
ing and as he stood before the omen
re, necessary for comfort during tba
ariy June nights, he felt he could no