Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-09-13
SON OF THE SOIL

BY lola FORESTER.


Ovens beautiful music he had insist.
ed on talking Of subsolls and fertil-
izers.
"The government Is Just beginning
TO realize that It's wealth lies in its
soil proclaimed Paxton. "rve got a
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
ID 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..
PsxtonT she asked with sudden in
terest.
Don't notice her, Steve" interrupt
ed Charlie.
Charlie was Agatha's husband, used
principally as a background for her
artistry.
But I'm in earnest this time" the
girl insisted.
"'Tis a rare trait nowadays, my
child" responded Charlie. "Steve is
a good boy. He was in Rhode Island,
and much Of its soil adheres to him
still. theoretically"
"what part Of Rhode IslandT" asked
the girl, mistakenly.
Paxton was trying to remember
where lie had seen her before-not in
that lizard-colOred dress with q tulle
scarf and sequinned belt but some
where in the open.
-Four miles from NapOnsit, and
aheu you take the boat over to Fare
well island. There used to be little
school there"
Il know it," sighed the girl, laugh
ing. too. New York is the funniest
little place / ever lived in. You're
always running into people you've
known somewhere else. Do you re-
member mel"
u do" answered Steve promptly. II
met you on the northwest corner of
The rainbow back in the golden age"
-You did not" she retorted. "Here
in New York sign my stuff Sheila
Gardy, but I'm Lidy Peck"
My dear" called Charlie, "forbear.
You're doing this Of your own free
will"
"Oh, I don't care" Sheila answered.
IT'S the truth Do you remember me
now. SteveT" Steve promptly got
down from his perch on the window
seat and eliminated the rest of the
party from his consciousness. They
talked of home until Agatha laughing
~ said she had not dreamed that lit
de @Rhody' could possibly have pro-
duced two such geniuses.
The next day Agatha had a long
talk with the girl they called Sheila,
telling her of Steve and of all that
he seemed to miss in life.
Charlie and have been so inter-
ested in the boy. All he needs is en-
enlargement. Someone TO believe In
him, don't you known
; NO, l don't" replied Sheila, fatty.
Il don't believe in propping and shor-
ing up genius. My mother used to say
up home to wait patiently after the
eggs were Matched instead of trying
to guess what they were beforehand.
n he's a swan, so much the better;
but If he's a turkey, he belongs in the
karnyard.
They were riding on a Riverside
hos together just two weeks later.
When two are from the same town
understanding and intimacy ripen mar
EelousIy in a short time. 1t was a
wonderful day. ~----s,-~'~~'.
Isn't 1t rather late for your pota!
tOes?" asked Sheila, little teaslngly. |
They're In long ago. You know
Shy I'm staying here. It's just on ac-
count of you-beeause / wanted TO do
big things for you. II isn't an easy |
thing to try to fill the measure a wom-
m like you demands Of man. You
know, Sheila-"
@oh, drop that, and call me Lydy as
JOu used to-" she laughed. "They all
no back home. How many acres are
fhere at your placer"
About ten, but they're all good,
cleared land, you know"
She nodded.
Il have thirty-fve-that old hill
farm Of Uncle Abner's. He left II to
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, but 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
you please with II. I'll be up in har-
vest time, and II you've made good.
III say yes. Are you willing to serve
for RacheI2 Just a summer span, In
stead OF seven years" II
a taxi passed them, its top thrown
BACK. Agatha sat on the seat aud
waved her hand to them.
II wonder II she guessed from my
face.s said Shella. II wanted to keep
II a secret until we were sure you had