The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-27
Eocning Story
A New Old Ending.
BY KATE EDMONDs.

kitchen. Arson Blacks letter saying
that money was scarece and that he
could not renew the mortgage note,
was a bitter blow to the three. He
would give them month to find some
one else to take the note off his
hands
1T sounds like the old stofy-folks
always laugh abeut-the mortgage on
the farmland the old villain who will
foreclose,' laughed Beth, but her voice
was not very mirthful.
1T isn't so funny to have TO live
it thru" said her mother quietly.
And Arson Black amt no villain
he's close-fisted, but he's decent,
Godfearin' man and he really needs
the money. Guess wen have to let it
go, Emily-we could go to the village
and live in Genes cottage, and I could
hire out-farm help is scare enough"
Mr.. Gray filled his pipe and settled
back in Shis chair as If the whole mat
ter 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 garden twice as Big
You mustn't go to Arson and beg
off" protested her father.
mo, indeed, father II hadn't
thought of such a thing. Just one
week is all I ask" pleaded Beth, her
blue eyes shining. Now, I am going
to drive Daisy and Buttercup down to
the south let-the poor things are
wild to be out. Byei" she blew q 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
"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 and buried her face in
her little sunbrowned hands. The pink
bonnet fell from her head. revealing
the rich brown curls pinned into some
senblance 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 Won
der and nild-eyed Buttercup looked
at her curiously and then turned and
nipped off the heads of her yellow
nam esakes, as much as to say, why
worry? Nothing matters"
Presently the cows moved uneasily,
for some one was coming along the
leafy lane. a very much-tanned young
man with a queer instrument over his
shoulder. At sight of the lovely lane,
with the cows and the. pink-clad fig
ure- 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 mort
gage 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
defiantly; land it isn't a bit funny,
Northumberland al-l-l fu-funny!"
81 am sorry" he said gently; IT was
only in fun didn't know you were
really grieving-I wish 1 didn't get
that way so muchi"
what way?" quavered Beth,
putting her handkerchief to her face
and hopping up the dampness-
"Oh, taking things so carelessly-
that's my way. guess-I used to get
awfully grumPy-old bad luck used to
sit on my shoulder all day long-then
I got to laughing at him and I laughed
so much he stayed away for good"
Now he laughed again, and Beth
Joined him and with the sunshine 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 nheritsnce-'twasn't much,
but it was something to start on
and so I had to begin without it
getting along fine, and along came the
war-couldn't stay home with all that
to be done over there-so after four
years came home and went into the
pictures-and say, it's great m
camera man and some shark on loca-
tionsi"
what are locations? ?" asked Beth,
and he explained; then Beth told him
the story of their particular mort
gage, and she called Arson Black a
darling old villain" II was praying
for help she ended
And along I came in answer to
the prayer" declared Dick Harper.
"You?"
"Yesm. Our cempany's over yon-
der behind the grove of walnuts. I'm
out looking for a rustic setting-old
farm house--cows-- nnilkmaiden-- chick
ns-pigs-anything to make a good
SettlHS AOF our picture. Let u Use thO
farmland the mortgage note will be
paid-prontoi Our director is
good fellow and drips gold. Could
you weep again for picture 2 He
smiled at her in a genial fashion.
Cry AGAIN." Beth laughed mer-
rily. IF we can keep the old place
I shall never be able to spill even a
tiny tear again.
'sThen wen have to make you cry
somehow want that in the picture
well, we won't quarrel. Ready,
now"
Yes"
Dick lifted a whistle to his lips and
| blew three times. Presently a stream
/ of people and automobiles came into
] IL