Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-08-09
A Bit @
Progress
@@
BY KATHERINE BATES
HT<|V~<F1S|3SF|F3NFS8F1 F1aref|StStFSS1
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure Eewspa.
per Syndicate)

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
ach, all in yerdant strife. The river
ducked in here and there, flinging clear,
shimmer,ng streams a little way back
into the country, and the marshes
around these inlets gave a rank, yell
low tinge to the green outlook. Now
and then a 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
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 will make
their salt"
The cool sound of the incoming tide
swishing 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
brough, 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 na'
ture.
Don't mind me-" said the girl calm
ly. ~ heard you talkin' TO yo'self.
you wanted to-"
She smiled at him with indolent in
terest and Mr.. Jernigan smiled back.
daughter of the gentleman over
theref" he asked, politely, waving his
hand toward a clump Of pines around
small white house.
"Yes, this is pas place. From Nor
folk?"
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-consumptio Doctors
sent her here, no money spared, none
whatever, hut I come on and buried
her a week ago tomorrow. Aunt that
brought me up"
; I'm cert'nly sorry she died." Ianthe
. said softly.
; "Lamentahle, lamentahle. hut we
must all die, and she was past sixty
Pretty country you've got round here
Miss-er-MiSs?"
ibid you walk down yonder road?'
she asked with sudden increase al
interest "Sweet honeysuckles is al
In bloom over there, gullies on each
side the road Jus filled with it, and
yalluh Jasmine Climbin' over every
thing It can lay vines on-smelled a!
! sweet as It looked. didn't it,"
every nice smell. very nice, indeed.
agreed Mr.. Jcrnigan. "but amt yor'
pa goin' to he little late with hi
kale for the Boston and New Yorl
markets."
! 'T reckon" she answered. "ios
folks round here ore too late for tn,
markets" She laughed little as sh,
added: pres Lewis, who has til,
truck patch next our, never does ge
anything to market in time"
II infer ne don't prosper" said MI
Jernigan. "Id like to give him few
notions about trucking"
She turned to him quickly. "Woul'
your Oh, dO-for pa can't put up wit
\ his bein' so way behind; pad like t
be-be progressive, and Pres fret
\ him. You see, Pres don't get on, nc
he don't prosper, JUS as you say"
: els there any-any special reaso
why he'u Dett'T ne pE"SPeIlHe' MI
4 Jernigan asked, looking delicatel
away toward Norfolk.
Ianthe picked up long pole lying o
the wharf near her; she bent back, an
looked around the corner of the whar
prodded with the pole the mu
I where the tide still left uncovere
oyster shells and various bits OF debris
"WeM," she at last said frank!
there's me-"
I "Quite a reason" he said gallantl!
\ He looked at her attentively, and r,