The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-10-04
M "a mn "a "a IA Pa IA We Ea III M Am
: SON OF THE SOIL - =
a BY IZoLA FORESTER. N
am bFg
ma ma IA IN Es M IA "a Ez Ea IA VI

uSuully HIS HUE lIlpTOuptu uiSScl Va
tons 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.
1.-THE government is just beginning
to realize that its wealth lies in its
SOIL" proclaimed Paxton. ave 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
in another week"
| Just Mt this point the slender girl
I'm the odd dress leaned forward from
her chair.
"What kind of seed potatoes, Mr..
Paxton?" she asked with sudden In
| terest.
"Don't notice her, Steve" interrupt
ed Charlie.
Charlie was Agatha's husband, used
principally as background for her
artistry.
"But I'm In earnest this time" the
girl insisted.
otis a rare trait nowadays, my
child" responded Charlie. "Steve Is
good boy. He was in Rhode Island,
and much of its soil adheres to him
still, theoretically"
"What part of Rhode Island?" asked
the girl, insistently.
| f,~xrf n rHTnnmhnr
where he had seen her before-not In
that lizard-colored dress with a tulle
| scarf and seGuinned 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"
81 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 met"
81 do" answered Steve promptly. u
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.
ats the truth. Do you remember me
now, Steve?" 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
ly said she had not dreamed that lit
tie "Rhody" 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.
"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
mo, I don't" replied Sheila, fatty.
II 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.
If he's a swan, so much the better;
but if he's turkey, he belongs in the
barnyard.
They were riding on Riverside
bus together just two weeks later.
When two are from the same town
understanding and intimacy ripen mar
velously in a short time. 1t was a
wonderful day.
isn't 1t rather late for your pota-
toes2" asked Sheila, little teasingly
"They're in long ago. You know
why I'm staying here. It's just on ac-
count of you-because / wanted to do
big things for you. 1t isn't an easy
thing to try to fill the measure a wom-
an like you demands Of man. You
know, Sheila-"
"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, but they're all good,
cleared land, you know"
She nodded.
81 have thlrty-ive-that old hill
farm of Uncle Abners. He left 1t to
me last year. Now, listen, Steve.
We've known each other all our lives,
in n 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 90 home tomorrow.
You can take my Land and do what
you please with It. I'll be up In har-
vest time, and If you've made good,
I'll say yes Are you willing to serve
for Rachel? Just n summer span, in
stead of seven years"
A taxi passed them, its top thrown
back. Agatha sat on the seat and
waved her hand to them.
81 wonder If she guessed from my
| face" said Shella. 81 wanted to keep
It a secret until we were sure you had
made good. | wonder what could tell
| her we were talking about"
Steves hand closed over hers tight
ly. With his other he pulled his hat
brm further down over his eyes and
smiled with the air Of conqueror al
| the ripping Hudson river.
"Tel her just 'taters," he said.
xgs 49, 49, ~. FOO
per Syndlcate.)