River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-08-22

When she did get chance to visit
her lot again, she could hardly wait
for the car to stop to let her off. Her
radishes would be ready to eat and her
corn would be foot high, she felt sure
of it. What a shock she got when she
arrived! What had once been bright,
green leaves were black and dead. Her
corn and beans were hardly recogniz-
able. The radishes looked blighted and
the lettuce looked as if it had been
eaten off. Chickens! She blamed them
instantly. What else could have done
it but chickens? That was Albert Bed
dome's way of getting back at her for
sighting him as she had done. The
wretch!
1T is a sorry sight, isn't it," Gwen
doline was too excited to distinguish
the note of sympathy in Albert's voice.
She grabbed her spade, which happen
cd to be the first thing handy to clutch,
and faced him, with eyes blazing.
"It is your wretched chickens" she
blurted angrily. How dare you allow
them out!"
My chickens haven't been out" he
said. This time she could not mistake
the kindness in his tone. '"The frost
last night did this damage. It came on
unexpectedly or would have been able
to save them for you. I covered your
corn and beans with newspapers about
midnight, but the frost had preceded
me. It IS rather early to SOW corn and
beans, you know"
1T must have taken hours to cover
all that ground with papers. Did you
come here specially to do it,"
''It was nothing" he laughed, in en-
barrassment. "You would have done
the same thing if our positions had
been reversed. I have had bad luck,
too. My chickens are dying at an
alarming rate"
what do you feed them?" Gwendo-
line asked, her mind off her own mis-
fortune instantly.
He explained his methods.
"That is all wrong" she declared en-
phatically. II learned a lot on my
uncle's farm. 1 will tell you just what
to do"
Before she had finished telling him
they had decided upon a partnership.
Albert was to assist her with her gar
dening and she was to help him with
his poultry. 1t was surprising how
enthusiastic they became over the
prospect of 1t.
The results were much better than
they dreamed. The new seeds that
they planted just seemed to spring
from the ground and form big healthy
plants No more chickens died. They
were ready for the market earlier than
most spring fowl and brought big
prices. The time spent at the lots
didn't seem to be wearisome now to
their vacation at the same time so that
they could put every minute of it in
aid Of greater production. Somehow
a vacation spent for the ''good of the
cause" was a pleasant one.
After everything had been harvested
and the last chicken parted with, the
producers viewed the deserted lots
sadly.
"What if we don't get lots together
next year?" Gwendollne ventured.
s'I own this lot and I'm thinking of
buying the one next to it," Albert said.
whatever do you want with two
lots?" Gwendoline cried in surprise.
st am thinking of building, some day.
Wouldn't it be a splendid place to live?
Just look at that view!"
"a suburban home would be lovely
with a garden and chickens and every
thing" Gwendoline declared, as she
gazed over the landscape.
It was a wonderful opportunity for
Albert. The beautiful autumn sun was
going down behind the hills, and he
spoke the few words that brought the
answer that made them "the happfest
pair in the world"