The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-31
WITH 20 LETTERS
BY JANE OSBORN.


had already spread herself under tbs
shade of the lone apple tree that was
allowed to grow unmolested In the
middle OF the newly-mown bayfield,.
ITS not my tree and It's not my
shade" the man in overalls drawled
with the unwillingness to answer o
question directly that was character
istic of that section of the country
But II 1t were mine I'd give you 0
deed for life on that particular spot
of shade. You see, Mr.. Owens owns
the farm. I'm Just"
'Of course, Mr.. Owens doesn't OBJ
ject," the girl laughed, gathering q
neat collection of stones from the
ground where she was sitting you
are Mr.. Owens new help, aren't you?
And your name is Tom Fenn," said
the girl pleasantly, opening a port
folio that was part Of her equipment
Yes, and you're Miss Betty Brown
and you are visiting your aunt at the
next farm. heard the Owens folks
talking about You this morning. But
may ask what you are going to do
with those stones?"
Certainly" the girl smiled, "and
I'll tell you. am aboet to begin my
mornings writing out here under this
tree and want the stones to keep
down the papers. The CHIEF trouble
with writing outdoors is that the pa.
pers blow about, but / simply can't
get my thoughts to work in one OF
those stuffy farmhouse rooms. can't
even read in there
The farmer had dropped the bucket
that he was carrying and had stopped
to pick up the book that lay at the
girls feet.
"You wouldn't care much for that"
she explained Il don't imagine
Ridgeway Norris is read much in this
part OF the country. In fact, /
couldn't understand him myself at
first. But he is all the rage with real
writer's. / try to read little before
start to write. He is so stimulating ="
What did you say his name was?"
The farmer had dropped the book and
stood looking eagerly at the girl. NO
guess we don't go in for anything
like that up here. He's what you'd
call highbrow, isn't he?"
"0h, decidedly" smiled the girl, be-
ginning the mornings operations By
putting long. tapering points on the
collection of pencils she had brought
with her.
THE Owens folks didn't say that
you we're writer"
The girl laughed. "They don't know
It. / never sold anything-that is, any
thing to brag about-and don't talk
much Of my ambitions. But I'm crazy
about it" The girl pressed the book
by Ridgeway Norris to her and gave
delightful little laugh OF happiness.
Just think OF what wonderful thing
1t isl Just think what man like Nor
ris can do with just those twenty-six
| little letters of the alphabet-makes
you laugh or cry, fills you with dread,
suspicion, Joy or remorse to suit his
within, and all with those funny little
twenty-six letters.
otis queer" said the farmer medi-
tatlvely. ~ never thought of writing
that way before. | have sometimes
thought"-he was cautious in the sug-
gestion-"that might do little writ
ing myself. There is one story / could
tell tina. think would make folks sit
up and take notice. If only had some
one to help me. Say" he added with
smile that fascinated Betty, may
be you'd help me? You are a begin
ner. too. Well. suppose we begin to-
gether can't get much time off,
but I'll ask Mr.. Owens about giving
me two or three hours every morning
Work is little slack anyway. ! guess
he'll let me-"
Betty knit her brows ever so
slightly and then something in the
keen young face Of the farmer reas-
sured her. Il am sure / should en-.
Joy IT," she said Even If we don't
get very far, it will at least give me
new point Of view"
The next morning at the appointed
hour Betty found her farmer collabor-
ator seated under the tree In the
shade. He was neatly putting points
on the assortment of pencils that he
explained they let him have cheap at
the general store.
'You see," he told Betty, as she
spread her cushion down on the grass
and arranged the folds Of her dainty
frock about her. II have got the
stones collected" He pointed to pile
of the most symmetrical stones he had
been able to gather in the field. $50
far, | think | am learning we'll. Now.
what is the next thing TO do? Have
you got that highbrow book that you
we're telling me about?"
Betty explained that she had de-
cided Ridgeway Norris ought to be
left at home. I'VE must forget that
anyone ever wrote story before we
did. We must fill our minds so full OF
the characters and the plot we are
writing about that wen just have to
tell our story well. II we sell it we
are to go ifty-ifty, aren't we? Now
you tell me that plot Of yours"
The farmer man was reticent. He
told Betty that 1t was the first time
In this life that he had ever spoken
to anyone of the strange stories that
! came into his thoughts And as he