, 1918-04-25

The sunlight fell so holly on the pile
Of guano bags crowding the little wharf
that the man leaning against the heap
ed-up sacks could hardly believe that
1t was May, and not July. He drew
his eyelids together and through his
lashes looked down the cleaning river
toward Norfolk, three miles away. On
either side of the river truck farms
stretched away toward the pine forests
farther inland; just now the farms
were at their %greenest, strawberry
fields. cabbage patches, acres of spin
nch, all in verdant strife. The river
ducked in here and there, flinging clear,
shimmering streams n little way back
into the country, Inc the marshes
around these inlets gave a rank, yell
low tinge to the green outlook. Now
and then n pine grove not yet cleared
away led the green's to the other ex-
treme, to the dark somber hue which
had little but name in common with
the brightness of the water-grass. The
mar on the wharf sighed as he noted
these varying shades.
at would take me to make this pay"
he said. "Yes, sir, what this here fer
tile patch of old Virginia needs is an
iowa mani. Archibald Jernigan could
make his pile here, but none of these
lnZy Southern truckers will make
their salt"
The cool SOUND of the incoming tide
swishjng against the wharf turned his
thoughts from the farms. There would
be shade on the other side of the guano
bags; he sprang upon them and
dropped down into the shadow,
dropped down beside Ianthe Var
orough, who lolled in placid ease
against the bags.
BEG pardon, miss" said Mr.. Jerni-
gan, startled into a stammer. although
his was by no means a hesitating ma
ture.
"Don't mind me-" said the girl calm
ly. 81 heard you talkin' to yo'self,
but I reckon I'd let you come over II
you wanted to-"
She smiled at. him with indolent in
terest and Mr.. Jernigan smiled back.
Daughter of the gentleman over
therei" he asked, politely, waving his
hand toward a clump of pines around
a small white house.
"Yes, this is pas place. From Nor
tolk?"
He swelled with the Importance of
the man who comes from a distance.
From Wellsville, Iowa. Fine state,
Iowa"
"You are a long ways from home"
she observed.
Mr.. Jernigan drew down his mus
tache.
IAN aunt Just died down there
in Norfolk-consumption. Doctors
sent her here, no money spared. none
whatever, but l come on and buried
her a week ago tomorrow. Aunt that
brought me up"
I'm cert'nly sorry she died." Ianthe
said softly.
"Lamentable, lamentable, but we
must all die, and she was past sixty.
Pretty country you've got round here,
Miss-er-Mlss?"
"Did you walk down yonder road?'
she asked with a sudden increase of
interest. "Sweet honeysuckles is all
In bloom over there, gullies on each
side the road JUS filed with 1t, and
yalluh jasmine cllmbin' over every
thing 1t can lay vines on-smelled as
sweet as 1t looked, didn't It'll"
every nice smell, very nice, indeed
agreed Mr.. Jernigan, but amt yore
pa goin' to be a little late with his
kale for the Boston and New York
markets?"
81 reckon" she answered. MOS
folks round here are o. late for the
markets." She laughed a little as she
added: "Pres' Lewis, who has the
truck patch next our, never does get
anything to market in time"
81 infer he don't prosper" said Mr.
JernIgan. "rd like to give him a few
notions about trucking"
She turned to him quickly. "Woulf
you? Oh. do-for pa can't put up witt
his bein' so way behind pad like tC
be-be progressive, and Pres frets
him. You see, Pres don't get on, no
he don't prosper, JUS as you say"
SIS there any-any special reason
why he'd better be prospering?" Mr.
J~etnigan asked, looking delicatel.
away toward Norfolk.
Ianthe picked up n long pole lying or
the wharf near her she bent back. ant
looked around the corner of the wharf
prodded with the pole the mud
where the tide still left uncovered
oyster shells and various bits of debris
"well," she at last said frankly
there's me-"
"Quite a reason" he said CALAMITY
He looked at her attentively, and re
peated. ''qulte a reason"
Eyes, I reckon I am" she agreed
"S'pose you do give Pres tome new
ideas? 1 don't know as he could carr,
them out, but he could talk them t