The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-23
Bright
Idea:
By ALvAH y. GARTH
20. 1920. western. Newspaper Union,

+ . #r
II don't suppose you care to have
me drive you over to the harvest home
In the rig Uncle Justin has given me?
observed Mort Bissell, with search
ing glance at the prettiest face that
had ever shOne on .him-that Of Tes-
sic Upham.
And why n0ty' clearly and unhes1.
tatingly challenged the fair young girl,
with no trace of false pride or artful
evasion in her manner.
"Oh well, it is hardly a chariot, and
the old nag is slow and clumsy look
ing. Now, If Uncle Justin's twenty
first birthday gift had been an automo-
bile or a patent spring buggy!'
"We could have passed as>beings
with means, whereas we are both poor
as church mice. Your company is
what appreciate, Mort, and am not
ashamed to ride in an humble, modest
rig in keeping with ours circum-
staYces."
''You are a girl in a thousand,
and you make me very happy, Tessie ~
said Mort with heartiness and emo
ton. "Never mind. The old rig may
be the starting point of fortune. and
the grander things of life may come
along, if we are patient and persever-
Ing. Uncle Justin gave me some good
advice. He suggested that go to
Springfield next week, and see if can
not make an arrangement with some
manufacturer to canvass for the sale
Of his goods, and deliver with the rig
There are half a dozen fellows know
Of who have worked up fine business"
They were natures own children,
those two, and happiness was bound
to come to such sensible and harmo-
NOUS souls. Tessie was only eight
cen, but she knew more about house.
Keeping and thrift than the average
woman Of thirty. They had radiant
plans for the future, content when they
welded to occupy two rooms in the
Upham home, until they could earn
and save enough TO build a little cot
tage on a village lot Uncle Justin had
promised them.
Mort was gone for half week. He
returned one afternoon about four
O'clock, made out Tessie busy bus
Ting in the kitchen, and went to the
rear door.
Hello, lovey" he hailed, but at g
glance she discerned that he was not
enthused over his success in the city.
She did not question him, however, but
in her bright, pretty way told him how
lonesome she had been during his
brief absence and recited some of the
events that had TRANSFERRED in the
meantime.
"Well,"' he said, after; a time, IT
haven't made the connection I ex-
pected."
mop" Intercepted Tessie gently.
II suppose it takes time to get things
running right"
'"The only two houses that at all en-
couraged me-" went on Mort, "were,
one concern. that publishes music,
They expect me to go from house to
house like common peddler. The
other company had books to sell on
the installment plan. I tried that
once, and am not fitted for that kind
Of work."
''Why, Mort; you are smart enough
to do anything that anybody else can
do"
ayes, perhaps" assented Mort a
trlf1e gloomily, "but I was looking for
a strict business proposition that will
bring me in touch with people in a
commercial way, like storekeepers and
large buyers. What are you making,
Tessie 2" 30,
A lot Of bobbing, bristl4hg bits Of
airy. nothingness were visible in a
kettle Of boiling lard, and on the
kitchen table was great yellow
crock heaped high with those that
had Just been removed from the re-
ceptacle..
"vanities." replied Tessie. "Some
friends are coming over this evening
and I had some surplus dough. so
am making it up into something palat
able. Try some.'
She handed Mort well-filled plate.
He soon dispatched what 1t held, for
the filmy "vanities" had little of bulk
or substance. Then she took some
dough, with a deft twist Of her pretty
hands made it into graceful cornu-
copia, let it cook for a minute or two,
and took it to the pantry, filed It with
cream and berries and passed it to
Mort with the words:
"There is something more .substan-
tial."
To her surprise Mort gave great
start. He held the delicacy before
him, turning 1t round and round and
inspecting it with critical eyes Of sug-
gestien and enlightenment.
"Why, Tessie!" he burst forth alb
ruptly, you've made regular ice
cream cone"
"And pray what is regular ice
cream cohe?" .inq<ired ,Tessie.
"A common article of use and profit
in the city drug stores, and candy and
soda water places. We are Of the
backwoods, surely. not to have had
them introduced here long since.
Where is my list Z" and he produced 1t.
Eyes, there are over hundred places