Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-09-16

could not renew the mortgage note
was a bitter blow to the three. He
would give them a month to lind some
one else to take the note on his
| hands
1T sounds like the old story folks
always laugh about-the mortgage ON
the farmland the old villain who VIII
foreclose." laughed Beth, but her voice
was not very mirthful.
at isn't so funny to have to live 1t
through" said her mother quietly.
"And Arson Black amt no villain
he's close-fsted, 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 90 to the village
and live in Genes cottage, and l
could hire out-farm help is scarce
enough I" 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.
Not yet-father-wait one week.
think I'll find a way out! Just as you
have such a 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 Arson and beg
off" protested her father.
mo, indeed, father hadn't
thought of such thing. Just one
week is all l ask" pleaded Beth, her
blue eyes shining. "Now, l 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.
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 hayfieds and back lots.
Once, when the cows stopped to
crop the grass. Reth pumped down
OF 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 a queer instrument over his
shoulder. At sight of the lovely lane,
with the cows and the pink-cud figure
of woe, he leaned his camera against
the fence and approached the girl. His
ewes 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, it is" she cried
defiantly; "and it isn't bit funny,
all fu-funny!
~ am sorry" he said gently; Il was
only in fun didn't know you were
really grieving-I wish l didn't get
that way so much J"
"Wh-what way?' quavered Beth,
putting her handkerchief to her face
and hopping up the dampness.
3 "Oh, taking things so carelessly-
that's my way, l guess-1 used to get
awfully grumpy-old bad luck used
70 sit on my shoulder all day long
then | got to laughing at him and l
laughed so much he stayed away for
good. ~ NOW lie lduSHtu dSdlll, anu
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 Daisy's silken
ear.
Lost my parents when / was four
teen--at the same time was cheated
out of my inheritance-'twasn't much.
but it 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 all that TO be
done over theresa after four years
came home and went into the pictures
and say, it's great-Pm a camera
man and some shark on locations y
"What are locations" asked Beth,
and he explained; then Beth told him
the story of their particular mort
gage, and she called Arson Black
darling old villain" ~ was praying
FOR help" she ended.
"And along ! came In answer to the