Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-30
A SON OF THE SOIL.
CBy IzoLA FoRREsTERl

noSious that evening. Even Agatha had founi
him bore. and usually his little
impromptu dissertations amused her. She
leaned back now in the winged armchair AMI
closed her eyes to shut out his eager young
face Surely energy was one of the most
tiring things in the world. Just when they
had all wanted to relax and listen to Ovens
beautiful music he had insisted on talking OF
subsois and fertilizers
"The government is just beginning to re-
alize that its wealth lies in its SOIL pro-
claimed Paxton. "Ive got little old ten
acre lot up in Rhode Island that l haven't 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 ga in tho
old dress leaned forward from her chair.
What kind OF seed potatoes, Mr.. Pax
toni'' she asked with sudden interest, Just
as il Agathas beautiful studio and its oe-
eupants had suddenly slipped from her range
OF vision, leaving only Steve Paxton.
Don't notice her, Steve, interrupted
Charlie
Charlie was Agatha's husband used
prlnClphly as "a bhckBIuuhu ioi ANA
Sho is not interested in the culture OF the
soil She is probably only studying the
marvellous display Of expression on your mo,
bile countenance. This artless looking child
is one OF our best known illustrators
but | am in earnest this time, Charlie,
the girl insisted, ''and think that Mr.. Pax
ton is, too Besides, he hasn't good face
at all for sketchng. His brow is too ex'
pansive | think he's too much in earnest.
- 'Tis rare trait nowadays, my child,
responded Charlie steve is good boy.
He was in Rhode Island, and much OF It's
soil adheres to him still, theoretically
..What part Of Rhode Island - asked the
girl, insistently.
Paxton was trying TO remember where
he had seen her before-not in that lizard.
colorcd dress with tulle scarf and sequinned
belt but somewhere in the open.
-Four miles from Neponsit, and then you
take the boat over to Farwell Island. There
used to be little school there
II know it," sighed the girl, laughing
too. New York is the funniest little
provincial place ever lived in. You re al
ways running into people you've known
somewhere else Do you remember mel 2
II do" answered Steve promptly. ~
met YOU on the northwest corner OF the RAIN
bow in the golden age
You did not" she retorted. Here II
New York sign my stuff sheIia dardy on
, I'm Lidy Peek"
MY dear" called Charlie, ''forbear
You're doing this OF your own free will.
"Oh [ don't care Shella answered 1T
| the truth DO you remember me now SteveE
Steve promptly got down from his perch OF
the window seat and eliminated the rest o
the party from his consciousness They talked
of home until Agatha laughingly said she ha'
not dreamt that little ''Rhody' could pos
| sibly have produced two such geniuses.
what are you doing herei asked She'll
eagerly.
Steve looked thotful and Agatha rumple'
un his hair with maternal touch.
"He has not found his meter as yet. II
graciously consents to give few hours eac!
day in working for the press"
"Wntingl" asked sheha.
'.No. multigraphing, responded Stew
gloomily. I'm a little dinky printing hous
over here on University place. 1t pays m
room rent, and I've enough for those see
potatoes. I've been trying to get up couras
| for weeks to 60 back up there and live OF
the o!d farm. Maybe I'd really find time T.
write, il | did"
The next day Agatha had a long talk witt
the girl they called Sheils telling her q
steve and Of all that he seemed TO miss Il
life.
''Charlie and / have Dcen so Interested u
the boy All he needs is encouragement Som
one to believe in him, don't you knowf'
''No. | don t." replied Sheila, flatly. -
don't believe in prodding and Snoring u
genius. Ny mother used to say up home
wait patiently after the eggs were hatche
instead Of trying TO guess what they wer
beforehand. II he's swan, so much tn
better; but II he's a turkey he belongs !
the barnyard. / think New York is deadl
in its effect on mere geniuses. l don't thin
he's getting anywhere working that multi
graph machine when he's dying to write.
he'd 20 up homo there he d still be earnin
a living and stiu have time TO work on some
thing he really wanted to-"
"Oh, but there's no atmosphere there
dearie,' said Agatha.
"oh. yes, there is" laughed the cir
"You just try TO cross the Hogsback at hig
tido and you'll get all tho atmosphere yo
want. l hope no has the courage to follo'
those potatoes
They were riding on a Riverside bus tC
gether just two weeks later. When two ar
from the same town understanding and in
timacy ripen marvelously in q short time.
was q wonderful day.
isn't it rather late for your potstoesi >
asked Sheila little teasingly.
They re in long ago. You know why Nv
stayed on here. It's Just on account OF you
because l wanted TO do big things for YOU
1, isn't an easy thing to try TO fill tn
measure a woman like you demands OF a mar
You know, Sheila---''
"oh, drop that and call me Lydy as yo
used to-" she laughed. They all do bac