The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-01-30

! "SPUD" GROWING
; BY MARGARET N. KEENAN,.

~A oAN
brown-eyed susans were enough to in
spfre, not alone artists, but anyone
going this way. In such a place one
would expect to find rural people, and
such they were. These quiet, loving,
country folk were o to be left to
their own devices and theory long,
once John Berry caught sight of the
little fvy-grown cottage In the valley
overlooking the river.
"Peace's throne was usurped." In
dtgnant farmers sought refuge in their
little town hall many an evening, dis
cussing John and his, or what they
thought preposterous idea of potato
growing. Yet they had to put up
with it.
1t was a balmy midsummer twilight
when from across the road could be
seen the dim outline Of someone mer-
rily whistling, evidently watching one
of the farmers transplant something.
Johns two eyes grew wistful when he
heard someone say:
Don't anyone around here grow po-
tatoes? I should think they would
grow good"
bah, potatoes!!" was the sarcastic
reply. A whispered conversation en-
sued. and then n mop of dark hair
parted the raspberry bush and with
drew quickly rs the blue eyes spied
John.
Many an evening John saw the
same figure peering, rather watching
the growth of his potatoes. So often
did he see her that he named her
his Potato Girl" He only saw her
in the evening, it is true, but he man
aged to catch her quite accidentally,
yet not without purpose, one evening;
and from then IN the acquaintance
grew. She reminded John Of someone
he had once known, but he dared not
ask her lest his dream be upset.
Summer waned, autumn likewise.
His potatoes had yielded a fairly good
crop for a first year. Nevertheless
the farmers were just as indignant as
ever. Winter followed-a long, hard
winter. Spring came at last. John
was undecided as to whether he should
grow potatoes this year or not. His
thoughts wandered back to his "Po-
tato Girl" until he finally decided he
would raise them, for her sake.
The potatoes f1ourished again, and
the "Potato Girl" r%eappeared. One
evening he boldly exclaimed:
1T Is just a year ago tonight that
l first saw you. Won't you tell me
your name?"
With a toss Of her head and a leap
across the road. she laughingly re-
piled:
ooh, Potato Girl is enough for
me-"
"Not quite" was the sober reply.
"Potatoes grow in the earth but you
don't"
ooh yes. they do grow elsewhere"
am :he prompt reply. One looked at
the o:her, hardly knowing what to say,
when John relieved the silence, boldly
saying:
IF this was leap year 1 might think
it over, hut as it isn't, is it true po-
tatoes grow down deep in your heart,
too?" She was a good runner, and
consequently John had to chase her
arounQ the well several times before
he CAPTURED her for her answer.
The wedding day was set for the
latter part of August, yet John was
not SO happy as he would have been
If he hid known her right name. He
had to comfort himself, however, with
the promise to know it the day of
the wedding. A week before the ap-
pointed lay she returned to her Win
ter home to prepare for his reception.
John was Johnny on the spot the day
of the wedding and ut an early hour
was ushered into the house by a serv-
mt. He was still just as ignorant as
ever as to her name. The revelation
came wher she descended the stairs
TO greet him. With another leap and
Il bound, this time a race around
the house, and finally the capture, he
cxcla lined:
"E:lith, how could you?" A long
story followed In which Edith told
how her uncle had praised him for his
pluck, and told her that he was the
kind of a man to have. These city
boys. said he, are no earthly use.
"John, it Is all true" she ended. II
knew l could win you back. I am
sorry I gave you up before"
A happier couple could not be found
anywhere that day. When they re.
turned to the country a week later a
shower Of potatoes greeted them.
Johc's potatoes were M grand sue:
cess They furnished their home and
the farmers around. Many a time
John goes about singing:
"I'own deep in my heart potatoes
grow" for there is such a song, so he
says.
Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspape,
syndicate.)
Reptiles as cure-AiIs.