Gilpin observer., 1920-09-16
A New Old
Ending
By KATE EDMoNDs

kitchen. Anson Blacks letter saying
that money was scarce and that he
could not renew the mortgage note
was a bitter blow to the three. he
would give them a month to find some
one else to take the note off his
hands
ut sounds like the old story folks
always laugh abOut-the mortgage on
the farmland the old villain who will
foreclose," laughed Beth, but her voice
was not very mirthful.
"It isn't SO funny to have to live 1t
through" said her mother quietly.
s"And Anson Black amt no villain
he's close-fisted, but he's a decent,
God-fearin man and he really. needs
the money. Guess We'll have to let 1t
go. Emily-we could go to the village
and live in Genes cottage, and l
could hire out-farm help is scarce
enough!" Mr.. Gray filled his pipe
and settled back in his chair as If the
whole matter was ended. His wife
smiled at him in her encouraging way,
and they both looked at young Beth.
mot yet-father-wait one week-I
think I'll find way out Just as you
have such fine vegetable garden
! coming along, and everything engaged
for the season by Colonel Raymond
even your squashes and pumpkins sold
ahead for the fall-there must be
some way-next year you were going
to have a garden twice as big"
you mustn't go to AnsOn and beg
off," protested her father.
mo, indeed. father|I hadn't
thought of such thing. Just one
week is all l ask" pleaded Beth, her
blue eyes shining. "Now, 1 am going
to drive Daisy and Buttercup down to
the south lot-the poor things are
wild to be out. Bye!" she blew kiss
to them and then skipped toward the
barn. Out of sight of the house, she
stamped her foot impatiently and
switched her pink sunbonnet at pass
ing cat.
1.-THE dickens! The dickens" !" she
muttered fOrlornly as she let the cows
out of the stable and drove them
down the back lane toward the south
meadow. The lane belonged to her
father, and led under shady trees to
the hayfields and back lots.
Once, when the cows stopped to
crop the grass Reth pumped down
on the grass and buried her face In
her little sun-browned hands. The
pink bonnet fell from her head, re-
vealing the rich brown cur!s pinned
into some semblance of order.
Beth Gray was praying-she always
prayed for help in time Of stress, and
now. when the old roof-tree was
threatened. she sobbed as she prayed.
Gentle Daisy regarded her with
wonder and mild-eyed Buttercup
looked at her curiously and then
turned and nipped Off the heads of her
yellow namesakes. as much as to say.
"Why worry? Nothing matters"
Presently the cows moved uneasily,
for some one was coming along the.
leafy lane. very much-tanned young
man with queer instrument over his
shoulder. At sight of the lovely lane.
with the cows and the pini-clad figure
of woe, he leaned his camera against
the fence and approached the girl. His
eyes twinkled and his white teeth
parted in an amazed laugh as he
leaned over her.
"Tell me, pretty maiden" he asked,
"why the rainstorm? Is the mortgage
on the old farm due and"
Beth jumped to her feet and faced
him, her eyes blazing with wrath, her
cheeks pink and still wet with tears.
"Yes-yes. indeed. 1t isl" she cried
either-n-not-a-a-at all fu-funny!"
~ am sorry" he said gently: ~ was
only in fun-I didn't know you we're
really grieving-I wish ! didn't get
thnt way so much''
"Wh-what way?" duavered Beth,
putting her handkerchief to her face
and mopping up the dampness.
"Oh, taking things so carelessly-
that's my wny. I guess-I used to get
nwfully grumpy-old bad luck used
To sit on my shoulder all day long
then I got to laughing nj him and
laughed so much he stayed away for
good" Now he laughed again, and
Beth Joined him and. with the sun
shine back In her face and the Joy OF
youth in her eyes. she was marvellous
TO behold.
Have you had lots of bad luck ?"
she inquired. strokInG Dasy's silken
ear.
Lost my parents when was four.
tcen--at the same time was cheated
ont of my nherltance-'twnsn' much.
hut II was something to start on-and
so ! had to begin without it-getting
along fine. and along came the war
couldn't stay home with NIL that 10 he
done over there-so after four yenrs
came home and went into the pictures
and say. It's grcat-fm n camera
mnn and some shark on locations"
"Whnt are locations?" asked Beth.