Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-10

ulONt ONGI W lnC AhdNLOldlA VA
the Wolverine. She carried $50 In her
pocket, and that was practically all
the money Marthy possessed and had
been saved for the debts that harassed
her. She gave the money to Billy Lou
ise's mother and said that it was q
present for Billy Louise and meant for
'school money" She said that she
hadn't any girl of her own to spend
the money on and that Billy Louise
was a good girl and a smart girl, and
she wanted to do little something to-
ward her schooling.
A woman will sacrifice more pride
than you would believe if she sees
way toward helping her children to an
education. Mrs. Macdonald took the
money, and she promised secrecy-with
feeling Of relief that Marthy wished
it. she was astonished to find that
Marthy had any feelings not directly
connected with work or the shOrtcom-
ings of Jase but she never suspected
that Marthy had made any sacrifice for
Billy Louise.
So Billy Louise went away to school
and never knew whose money had
made 1t possible to go, and Marthy
worked harder and drove Jase more
relentlessly to make up that $50. She
never mentioned the matter to any one.
The next year it was the same. When
in August she questioned Billy Louise
clumsily upon the subject of finances
and learned that daddy stin talked
about debts and interest and didn't
know where the money was coming
from she drove over again with money
for the schooling. And again she ex-
tracted a promise of silence.
She did this for four years, and not a
soul knew that it cost her anything in
the way Of extra work and extra
harassment of mind. She bought more
cattle and cut more hay and went deep
er into debt, for as Billy Louise grew
older and prettier and more accustom-
ed to the ways of town she needed
more money, and the August gift grew
proportionately larger. The mother
was thankful beyond the point of ques-
tioning. An August without Marthy
and Marthy's gift of money would have
been a tragedy, and so selfish is mother
love sometimes that she would have
accepted the gift even If she had known
what it cost the giver.
At eighteen, then, Billy Louise knew
some things not taught by the wide
plains and the wild hills around her
She was not spoiled by her little learn.
ing, which was a good thing. And
when her father died tragically be.
meath an overturned load of poles from
the mountain at the head of the can
yon Billy Louise came home. The Billy
of her tried to take his place and the
Louise of her attempted to take care
of her mother, who was untitled bott
by nature and habit to take care of her
self. Which was, after all, a rather
big thing for any one to attempt.
Jase began to complain of having
"all gone feelings during the winter
after Billy Louise came home and tool
up the whole burden of the Wolverin,
ranch. He complained to Billy Louis,
when she rode over one clear, sum!
day in January. He said that he wa
getting old, which was perfectly true
and that he was not as ablebodied a
he might be and didn't expect to las
much longer. Billy Louise spoke of i
to Marthy. and Marthy snorted.
Hes ablebodied enough at meal
times. notice." she retorted. 'Tv
heard that tune ever since 1 knowe'
him. He can't fool mer'
Jase maundered in at that moment
and Marthy turned and glared at Jas
with what Billy Louise considered
perfectly uncalled for animosity. Il
reality, Marthy was covertly lookin
for visible symptoms of the all-gont
ness She shut her harsh lips togethe
tightly at what she saw. Jase certain
ly was puffy under his watery, pin
trimmed eyes, and the withered cheek
above his thin graying beard really di
have pasty gray look.
'D'you turn them calves out into th
corral?' she demanded, her voice hare
er because Of her secret uneasiness.
II was goin' to, but the wind
changed into the north, m | though
mebby you wouldn't want 'em out