The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-10-18
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SON OF THE SOIL F:
sy izoLA FoRREsrER.
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usually his little impromptu disserta-
tfons amused her. Just when they had
all wanted to relax and listen, to
Ovens beautiful music he had insist
ed on talking of subsoils and fertil-
! izers.
THE government Is just beginning
ito realize that it's wealth lies in Its
soil" proclaimed Paxton. I've got
little old ten-acre lot up in Rhode Is
land that / haven't even looked at in
years. Now I'm shipping up some seed
potatoes. and I'll probably follow them
in another week.
Just at this point the slender girl
In the odd dress leaned forward from
her chair.
'what kind of seed potatoes, Mr..
PaxtonT' she asked with sudden in
terest
Don't notice her, Steve" interrupt
ed Charlie
Charlie was Agafha's husband. used
principally as background for her
artistry.
.But I'm in earnest this time" the
girl insisted.
"'Tis rare trait nowadays. my
child" responded Charlie. "Steve is
good boy. He was In Rhode Island,
still. theoretically"
"what part of Rhode Isiand7" asked
the girl. insistently.
Paxton was trying to remember
where he had seen her before-not in
that Manufactured dress with n tulle
scarf and sequinned belt, but some
where in the open.
-Four miles from Naponsit. and
then you take the boat over to Fare
well island. There used to be little
school there
II know it," sighed the girl. laugh
ing. too. New York is the funniest
little place l ever lived in. You're
always running into people you've
known somewhere else. Do you re-
member ne?"
II do answered Steve promptly. Il
met you on the northwest corner of
the rainbow hack in the golden age
you did not" she retorted. Here
in New York I sign my stuff Sheila
Gariy. but Tn Lidy Peck"
My dear" called Charlie. 'forbear.
You're doing this of your own free
will
..oh. I don't care" Sheiia answered
aIt's the truth. Do you remember me
now, Stevef" Steve promptly got
down from his perch on the window
scat and eliminated the rest of the
party from his consciousness They
talked OF home until Agatha laughing
iy said she had not dreamed that lit
tie 'sRhody" could possibly have pro-
duced two such geniuses.
The next day Agatha had long
talk with the girl they called Sheila.
telling her Of Steve and of all that
he seemed to miss In life.
I, Charlie and I have been so inter
ested In the boy. All he needs is en-
enlargement Someone to believe In
him. don't you knowT"
"Nc. I don't" replied Sheilh. fatty.
II don't believe in propping and shor-
: Ing up genius. Ny mother used to say
up home to wait patiently after the
eggs were Matched instead of trying
TO guess what they were beforehand.
+ II he's a swan. so much the better;
hut II he's a turkey. he belongs In the
harnyard.
They were riding on a Riverside
bus together just two weeks later.
When two are from the same town
I understanding and intimacy ripen mar
veIousiy in short time. 1t was
wonderful day.
: isn't II rather late for your pota-
3 toes1" asked SheIla. little teasingly.
They're in long ago. You know
/ why Tn staying here. It's just on ac-
count of you-becnuse ] wanted to do
+ big things for you. II isn't an easy
thing to try TO I'LL the measure a wom-
an like you demands of n man. You
+ know. Sheiia-"
"oh. drop that. and call me Lydy as
you used to-" she laughed. "They all
do back home. How many acres are
there at your placer"
( about ten. hut they're all good,
cleared land. you know"
She nodded.
Il have thirty,fve-that old hill
me last year. Now. listen. Steve.
/ We've known each other all our lives.
In a way. but really only In these last
{ two weeks like New York. and I've
succeeded here. hut after all it's the
home acres that pull you back where
! you belong. You go home tomorrow.
You can take my land and do what
1 you please with II. I'll he UP In har-
/ vest timc. aud II you've made good.
! I'll say yes. Are you willing to serve
I for Racheig Just summer span. In
stead Of seven years"
+ A taxi passed them. its top thrown
back. Agatha sat on the seat and
waved her hand 70 them.
~ wonder II she guessed from my
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