The herald., 1919-04-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
"SPUD" GROWING
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY MARGARET M. KEENAN,.

river The town was insignificant .
enough in name, and would have been
more 50 had not nature taken hand
in the matter. Her swaying, sweeping
willows, radiant fields Of wheat and
corn, gentle, nodding blucbciiS; Grim .
son walls of Virginia margucrites and
brOwn-eyed susanS were enough to in
spire. 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 not to be left 10
their own devices and theory long,
once John Berry caught sight of the
little ivy-grown cottage in the valley
overlooking the river.
"Peace's throne was uSurpcd." In
dignant 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 balmy midsummer twilight
when from across the road could he
seen the Gin outline of someone mer-
rily whisllng, 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. \ whispered conversation en-
sued, and then 4 mop of dark hair
parted the raspberry bush and with
! drew quickly as 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 on 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 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 fiourished again, and
the "Potato Girl" reappeared. One
evening he boldly exclaimed:
1T is just a year ago tonight that
first saw you. Won't you tell me
your name?'
With a toss of her head and 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
came the prompt reply. One looked al
the other, hardly knowing what TO say
when John relieved the silence, boldly
saying:
"If this was leap year might think
1t over, but as 1t isn't, is it true pc
tatoes grow down deep in your heart
too?" She was good runner, an(
: consequently John had to chase hel
around the we'll several times before
he captured her for her answer.
The wedding day was set for TIT
latter part Of August, yet John wa
not so happy as he would have beef
IL he had known her right name. HI
had to comfort himself, however, witt
? the promise to know 1t the day o
+ the wedding. A week before the ap
pointed day she returned to her win
E ter home to prepare for his reception
1 John was Johnny on the spot the da
. of the wedding and at an early hOu
! was ushered into the house by a sery
{ ant. He was still just as ignorant q
I ever as TO her name. The revelation
= came when she descended the stair
to greet him. With another leap an
a bound, this time race aroun
the house, and finally the capture, h
exclaimed:
Edith. how could you?" A ION
story followed in which Edith toll
how her uncle had praised him for hi
pluck. and told her that he was tn
kind of man to have. These cit
boys, said he, are no earthly use.
"JohD it is all true" she ended.
knew I could win you back. l al
sorry l gave you up before"
happier couple could not be foun
a anywhere that day. When they r.
q turned to the country a week later
8 shower of potatoes greeted ther
q Johns potatoes were one grand su
(: cess. They furnished their home an
q the farmers around. Many a tin
& John goes about singing:
4 Down deep In my heart potato'
u grow" for there is such song. so
Il says.
& Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspap
& Syndicate)
81 Reptiles as cure-AlIs.
d Dried lizards are said to be an a
| !. To- Il,