The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-10-08
For sallie
By AUGUST s. sHERwIN

body loved her; a friend to all man
kind.
At ten JSallle was motherless> and
grew up with father who allowed
her to run Wild. She roamed the
woods veritable nomad, she knew the
favorite haunts of game and fish, she
was familiar with every shrub and
flower. When her father died the poor
furniture of the lowiy home had TO
be sold to pay his debts. She had left
only two relatives In the world that
she knew Ola half uncle in the city.
John Traynor, and Mark Randall, her
dead mothers brother. old and infirm.
who eked out bare living working
fora smaH brick plant.
Her first thoughts turned to the lat
ter. He was q simple-minded, gentle
hammered person whom twice Sallie had
nursed through severe spells Of sick
ness out Of sheer pity. and to whom
she carried mile away part OF her
regular Saturday baking Of bread and
cake. Saliie was taken In temporarily
by kind-hearted neighbor. Two days
later there appeared the rich relative
from the city and the poor one from
Brook Hollow.
Facts" proclaimed John Traynor ut
once. II have come to scan them and
make a decision. We are blood rela-
lions, child. but you have no particular
call on my charity"
Have l asked ltr' demanded Sal.
lie, resentfully. 81 would not accept
IT from you or anybody else"
well, I can give you home and
good one, but can't be expected
to dress you as l do my daughters.
or waste lot of money in, educating
you. You'll be comfortable, but
you've got to earn that comfort"
Don't 20 with him, Sallier plead
ed Mark Randall brokenly. "It isn't
much down at my poor old shack. but
your being there would make II a pal
nee to me, The little have will he
gladly shared. Come" and he opened
his arms, and Sallie ran into them and
glared defiantly at the shocked and
angry John Traynor.
Thus 1t Yves that Sallie chose her
new home and was happy in It. She
had scrubbed and calcinined and reno.
waited until the interior was snug and
sanitary and the little garden the envy
Of more opulent amateurs. She had
genius for making things grow, and
air and sunshine kept her cheeks
abloom and her eyes bright. until now,
grown to maiden quite. Sallie had
half the youth Of the village adoring
her.
II have no time 10 waste over
beaux," she told them bluntly, all but
Ellis Doane. He was shy. retiring
young fellow. but true as steel. He
did not seek to spoon" or act roman.
tic, and seemed content to follow Sal
lie about the place when he called,
busy as herself with spade and rake.
She liked his quiet, practical ways and
missed him when he secured a clerk
ship in the town. Next to the Randall
place man had built, perfect dream
Of bungalow. Failing health had
taken him t. another part OF the coun-
try, just before Sallies father had
died. A sign had been tackled to a
neat, ornamental fence surrounding
the place, reading "For Sale. by Wade
& Ellis" and IL Sallie had been asked
to express the one dearest wish Of her
heart 1t would have been to possess
Brier cottage, as IT was, called. There
were few applicants for the purchase
Of the place. 1t was finally offered
for half, and then for considerably less
than one-third OF Its original cost.
"Oh, Uncle Mark" 1t was thus that |
she called Mr.. Randall cant we
find some way to earn and save money
enough to buy Brier cettageT but the |
old man shook his head sorrowfuliy, as
hes.referred to his age and meager
earnings
1--WE started a savings bank &C
count" observed Ellis Doane one day." !
Perhaps some time can buy the place
for you" and for the first time Sallie |
detected an eager glow in his eyes that !
ELLIS Doane has given up his posi- |
ton and gone to the city" fell as a |
shock on Sallie's ears from a neigh |
boris lips little after that She did |
not betray the acute interest and anxi-
ETY. she experienced. No word or let
ter came from young Doane. Her cusS
tomary vivacity began to dim. She
would arise early and take solitary |
strolls. One morning she was passing |
BrIer cottage, when from some bushes
there emerged Ellis, radiant and smil-
Ing.
How you startled mel" mSrmured
Sallie, and then, to cover her emotions,
she added why, what are you doing |
with the old sale sign?"
Ellis bore half Of 1t in his hand.
The other half lay at his feet.
"Oh, just getting ready surprise
for you" and he set the upper half |
Of the sign in place. "For Sale" had
been changed to For Sallie."
IL don't understand" began Sal
lie.
"why, / went away to get legacy |
left 10 me Unexpectedly, and hurried
back to buy Brier cottage for you. Are |
you happy--and Will you make me so.
toof Then let us add this"