The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-09-24
N.x Old
4"
Ending.
By KATE EDMoNDsf

that money was OSAA ~
could not renew the mortgage no.e'
was a bitter blow to the three. nc
would give them month to nnd some
one else to take the note OH MS
hands ..v,
"It sounds like the old story foiks
always laugh about-the mortgage w
fhe farmland the old villain WIZ Wall
foreclose." laughed Beth, but her voice
was not very mirthful.
"Yt isn't SO funny to have to i've IL
through" said her mother quietly.
"And Arson Black amt no villain
he's close-fisted. but he's decent
God-fearin' man and he really neeus
the money. Guess we'll have to let IL
90, Emiy-we could go to the village
and live In Genes cottage, anu 1
coutd hire out--farm help is scarce
enouxh!" Mr.. Gray filed ms pipe
and settled back in his chair as the
whole matter was ended His wire
sailed at him in her encouraging way.
and they both looked at young beth.
a4Set yet-father-wait one week.
think I'll find a way out! Just as you
have such fine vegetable garden
cousing along, and everything engaged
for the season by Colonel Raymond
even your squashes and pumpkins SOLO
ahead for the fall-there must De
some way-next year you were going
to have a garden twice as big
"You mustn't go to Arson ana peg
or" protested her father.
mo, indeed. father hadn't
thought of such a 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, sne
stamped her foot impatently and
switched her pink sunbonnet at pass
ing cat.
"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, Beth pumped down
on the grass ana buried her face in
her little sun-browned hands. The
pink bonnet fell from her head. re-
vealing the rich brown ourls pinned
into some semblance OF order.
Beth Gray was, praying-she always
prayed for help In time Of stress, aho
now, when the old roof-tree was
threatened, she sobbe as she prayed
Gentle Daisy regarded her with
wonder and mIldeyed ButtercuT
looked at her >curiously and then
turned and nipped of the heads OF hel
yellow >namesakes, as much as to say
"Why worry? Nothing matters"
Presently the cows moYed uneasily
fer some one was coming along the
leafy lane, a very much-tanhed young
man with a queer instrument over nj:
shoulder. At sight Of the lovely Ane
with the cows and the pink-ciad figure
of woe, he leaned his camera agains
the fence and approached the girl. HI!
eyes twinkled and his white teetl
uarted in an amazed laugh as HI
leaned over her.
Tell me, pretty maiden" he asked
~why,the rainster1np Is the mortgage
on the old farm due and"
Beth Jumped to her feet and face'
him. her eyes blazing with wrath, he
cheeks pink and still wet With tears.
"Yes-yes, indeed, it Isl" she crie'
dOiantiy; land it isn't a bit funny
eIther-n-not-a-a-at ALL fu-funnyt"
Il am sorry" he said gently; Il wa
onw in fun didn't know you wer
really grieving-I wish 1 didn't ge
that way so muchT"
"Wh-what way?" Quavered Beth
rutting her handkerchief to her fac
and hopping up the dampness.
"Oh, taking things so carelessly-
that's nv way, guess-I used to &c
awfully grumpy-Old bad luck use
to sit on my shoulder all day long
then got to laughing at him and
laughed so much he stayed away 70
good" Now he laughed again, an
Beth Joined him and, with the SUI
shine back In her face and the joy Q
youth In her eyes, she was marvelou
to behold.
'Have you had lots of bad luck
Sshe inquired. stroking Daisy's silke
ear
Lost my parents when / was foul
teen-at the same time was cheate
out of my inheritance-'twasn't mucl
but it was something to start on-an
Sc l had to begin without it-gettin