The Winslow mail., 1917-10-05

go out to FarborOugh to attend to some
business regarding the country place
which had passed into other hands. On
her return her mother began to tell her
of the evening dress she had been plan
ming for her which really could be
managed under a hundred, and other
interesting details of needed wardrobe,
when Brenda broke in with: Mother !!
you know that little house Of ours up
by TayIor's?"
eyes, it's a wonder the creditors
didn't grab that" exclaimed the elder
woman bitterly. "But | suppose it
wasn't worth the trouble. l wonder if
we could rent it for a few dollars a
month"
mo, but think we could live in it."
Give in it!' shrieked Mrs. Ward in
genuine horror. "That little old
shack. That laborer's shanty! Are
you crazy?"
'Now listen, dearie," coaxed Brenda.
"Tve been looking it over, and less
than hundred dollars will make it
real cozy. I've been to workmen and
got the figures"
what about that horrid sand pile
we'd have to look at all day."
''Well, I'd rather look at sand pile
than the faces of relatives who are
giving me my board and keep. Besides
we own the sand, and l may do some
thing with it,"
'While we are residing in that pala-
tial abode, how do you propose to pro-
vide board and keep'?" asked Mrs.
Ward with stinging sarcasm.
ooh, I'm going to open a little shop
and sell papers, magazines candies
and all sorts of things to the school
children. It's so near the schoolhouse,
you know"
When Mrs. Ward sufficiently recov-
cred from state of speechless stupe-
faction to be heard, she said: "You
don't mean you'd have a shop in the
house?"
"Of course" responded Brenda cheer
fully. eve would live back of it, and
over it."
1t was no easy matter to reconcile
the elder lady to the plan but when
Brenda was determined to try it alone,
her mother consented and in less than
six weeks, the Wards were in their new
home, and the shop opened. Brenda
had discovered herself. She was ex-
ecutive and efficient. The little house
was even attractive, and the business,
though on small scale, began to pros
per. But there were days when Brenda
wondered why Blake Farrar never had
found his way to the little house oppO-
site the sand pile. Perhaps he was
like the others, thinking of those in
his own "set," or money and position.
If he were like that, she told herself,
she was glad she knew, though the
knowledge was bitter in the gaining.
One day from her shop window, be-
hind the lollypops and papers, she no.
ticed two men standing over by the
sand pile looking at it, and occasionally
glancing toward the house. Finally
one entered the shop and made known
his errand. He wanted to know if she
owned the sand pile and if so could he
buy the sand. Brenda's short business
experience had sharpened her wits, and
before committing herself she en-
deavored to find out what it was want
ed for Building material, the man
said, and wanted to know her price.
Brenda said she would have to think
it over, whereupon he said he would
send the boss to negotiate.
The next day car drove up and
young man stepped briskly into the
shop. Brenda Ward !" he exclaimed.
why no one seemed to know where
you were!"
ut wouldn't have been so very hard
to find out" she said quietly.
But I've been up in the northwest
till about a month ago and terribly
busy ever since organizing this COM
pany. We're going to put up a plant
near by-that is if we can buy that
sand"
Brenda thought he could, though the
price he offered seemed out of all pro-
portion to the value, but he insisted it
was only reasonable. 1t seemed to re-
quire q good many visits to conclude
the business, and then the visits went
on. One Gay Farrar asked her to 20
with him in the car to look at q piece
OF ground he intended buying.
"Oh, it is beautiful y she exclaimed.
II want to build a home there" he
said, "but never unless it is for Won"