The Tomahawk., 1919-10-30
put, and good-natured gray eyes.

laughing, ''this is Mr.. Morse. 1 was
just returning from the store with the
milk and I ran straight into him turn
ing the corner. Most of the milk land
ed on: his coat, so the least could do
was to offer to clean it off,"
Mrs. Browning shook hands with
the young man. He told her he was
spending short vacation in the city.
"You don't need to tell me you're
from the country" she said; "your
color gives you away. Sit down and
tell us what the country looks like
this time of the year. We were long
ing only this morning to be there.
We own little house at Stonehill.
upstate, and we hope some day to be
able to buy q few more acres and
start market garden. It's our pipe
dream"
Morse hardly waited fof Mrs. Brown
ing to finish speaking. "That's my
work, market gardening! Just at pres
ent I'm managing a millionaire's farm
out in Westchester county, but I've
saved money enough to buy a place
Of my own, and I'm on the lookout
for one."
"Stay to dinner with us, won't you,
Mr.. Morse" said Mrs. Browning, "and
we can have the time of our lives,
talking farm
The young man looked his accept
ance as the mother continued: "We'll
fry the oysters; they'll be just as good
that way"
All through the dinner young Morse
talked mostly to the mother, but his
eyes, somehow, turned oftener to the
daughter. He was much interested in
the acres adjoining the Brown1ngs'
little country place, and inquired wha
owned them. Then, waxing brave, he
told how lonesome he had been during
his stay in the city, and wondered
whether, If he should get the tickets,
they would 60 to a play with him.
And before the visitor left 1t was
arranged.
It was the evening before his va
cation ended that Anthony Morse
walked thoughtfully from the subway
to the Brownings' apartment. He had
q piece of news to tell and PROPOSE
tion to make.
The mother had been so wonder.
fully good to him, a total strangerj J
And that she longed to get away from
school life, he was sure. But the
daughter? How did she regard him?
That was the question. She had been
pleasant and friendly, to be sure,
but
The door of the apartment opened
when Anthony had gone thus far in
his thoughts and Rena greeted him !:
"Good evening, Mr.. Morse. have to
apologize for mothers absence, but
she will be in shortly. There is q
lecture at her school tonight"
Though Rena did her best to en-.
tertain him, Anthony was preoccupied.
At one Of his absent-minded replies
the girl laughed. "What's the matter1
Your mind seems miles away"
1T is. It's at Stonehill. I bought
the land next to your place today. ]
have a proposal to make to you" An
thony was visibly nervous.
"You mean to mother, don't your
asked Rena demurely, but with q
laughing CLINT in her eyes. Morse
flushed, but somehow gathered cour'
age. NO." he said boldly, "the pro-
posal is to you, but I have a proposi'
tion to offer your mother. I want
you both to help me run a market
garden at Stonehill on shares"
Mother is fine at that sort of thing.
I'm sure she'll be delighted. But
where does my share Of running It
come in?" asked the girl naively.
"You can run me If you'll take the
job"
"Why, if you think can do al
good a one running you as did Of
running into you-well-Tll try"