Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-04-26
A Bit ST
Progress
@1
d KATHERINE RArEs

OF guanO bags GROWING the nIIie WHIT
that the man leaning against the heap
ed-up sacks could hardly believe that
IL 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 az 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 little way back
into the country, and the marshes
around these inlets gave rank, vel
low tinge to the green outlook. Now
and then pine grove not vet cleared
away led the greens to the other ex-
IRENE, TO the dark somber hue which
had little but name in common with
the brightness of the water-grass The
man on the wharf sighed as he noted
| these varying shades.
at would take me to make this pay
he said Eyes, 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
lazy southern truckers win make
their salt"
The cool sound of the incoming tide
swishing against the wharf turned his
t51oughts from the farms There would
De shade on the other side of the guano
bags; he sprang upon them and
dropped down into the shadow.
dropped down beside Ianthe Var
brough. who lolled in placid ease
against the bags.
BEG pardon, miss" said Mr.. Jerni-
gan, startled into stammer, although
hts was by no means hesitating ma
tire.
Don't mind me" said the girl calm
~. Il heard you talzin' to yo,self.
but reckon I'd let you come over II
you wanted to"
She smiled at him with indolent in
teresr and Mr.. Jernigan smiled back.
daughter of the gentleman over
thcre;" re asked. politely. waving his
hand toward cIump of pines around
small white house.
Eyes, this is pas place. From Nor
folkT'
| He swelled with the Importance Of
the man who comes from distance.
''From Wellsville, Iowa. Fine state,
Iowa"
''You are long ways from home"
she observed.
Mr.. Jernigan drew down his mus
tache
gan sunt just died down there
In Norfolk--consumpt Doctors
sent her here, no money spared, none
whatever, but / come on and buried
her week ago tomorrow. Aunt that
brought me up"
"rm cert'nly sorry she died. Ianthe
said softly.
'Lamentable, lamentable. bnt we
Pretty country you've got round here,
Miss-er- Miss2'
ibid yoa 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 filled with 1t. and
yaIluh jasmine ciimbin' over every
| thing 1t can lay vines on smclled as
sweet as it looked didn't IT."
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?'
CT reckon" she answered. Mos
folks round hero are too 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. "Pd ike TO give him few
notions about trucking"
She turned to him quickly. would
you? Oh, dc--for 20 can't PVT up with
his bein' so way behind pad like to
be-be progressive, end Pres frets
him. You see. Pres don't get on, no,
he dor't prosper, tgs' as you say"
"Is there anv-any special reason
WY he'd better be prospering?' Mr..
JerniEa.l asked. looking delica;ely
away toward Norfolk
Ianthe picked up long pole lying ON
the wharf near her she bent hack. and
looked around the corner of the wharf
prodded with Tie pole the mud
where the tide still left uncovered
oyster shells and various bits of debris.
"WeIl." she at last said frankly,
there's me-"
quite a reason" he said CALAMITY.
lie oozed at her attentiyely. and re-
peated. "quite reason
eyes. I reckon am" she agreed.
"S'pose you do give Pres some new
ldeas7 I don't knox as he could carry
them out, but he could talk Them 70
pa. and after all talk does about as
well as goin with pa You tell me
them. and I'll tell Pres
'fWell, there's English waInuts--this
sorter land and yore climate orter be