Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-06-23
A MATTER OFF
CHOICE
By ALVAH J. GARTH

MY dnDltlon Is to see the
world"
Action Is what 1 wish to exner,-
7 ence," spoke Bert Haywood. '.business
society, politics, and such so that 7
gain training that fits me for INV
final mission In life"
Adventure for meP' chirped Aleck
Martin doughtily. Battle wild ami.
mas. aviation. fighting outlaws or
craliing animals. The daring and
thrilling Is my forte"
And then Reuben Merle and the
three who had spoken looked at Cliff.
ton Bross inquiringly.
Come, speak up, Clifton !" ordered
bluf, hearty Reuben Merle. SLOW do
your inclinations runY
II can say II In a word" came the
careful measured reply, education"
and the old man looked impressed. the
others amused.
AS If six years In college hadn't
given you surfeit OF that" 1eered
Martin.
well, wish to use 1t In a practi-
cal way out In the world" supple
mented Bross.
Take your fling, lads" broke In
Merle. "You have the time to demon.
strate your various preferences. Then
come back and settle down, and there's
room enough and money In this lonely
old house for all of you-and four
pretty, CHEEKY wives In the bargain, II
you chooser'
He was a quaint old fellow, this
Reuben Merle, and he had been like an
own father to the quartette of lads
he had adopted from an orphan asy-
lum eight years previous and develop
ed into manly, Intelligent young fell
lows. He had now started them out
on an independent test" as he called
1t.
Come back satisfied; that is all
ask" he told them, and although he
missed them from the first he consoled
himself by philosophizing that few
months ION their own hook" would
vastly expand their ideas.
1t was three months to day when
Robert Wayne one morning burst I'm
upon Merle with hearty handshake
and a CHEEKY note of gladness.
you'll" he tried to joke. swell, I've
had my fill of travel. On the way to
the slope we were nearly frozen to
death and starved, stalled In a snow
drift. Tried to get to Honolulu.
Steamer wrecked and lost all my be-
longings Intend to do my travelling
right around this comfortable dear old
home and study law with purpose"
"Goodp commended Merle heartily.
you're settled then. Wonder who
will be the next oneT'
1t was Haywood and he little
resembled the spick and span young
knight Grant who had left home with
such lofty ambitions.
aTm through l' he reported with de-
finiteness. Action? I got 1t with
vengeance. Thought had business
head and Joined In with promoter
He got my money at the beginning
and have been hanging around wait
ing for the gorgeous DIVIDENDS ever
since. eat humble pie, / do, and II
youTl let me rest a bit I'll put up my
single as a doctor and find my action
with surgical experiments and ACIDS.
you're welcome. can tell you
that said Reuben Merle. and was
| tender and indulgent as loving snep
herd welcoming stray lambs BACK 10
| the home fold
Tt was Just a month after that when
Alecx Martin put in an appearance
They scarcely recognized him. he
had half-healed scar on his cneeR'
one arm in sling. and lfmpeo-
| adventure" he explained briefly.
ST got II in mining camp "nen
joyful cowboy flung bowie knlle a.
that cheek. A playful encounter WI"
! a grizzly did the rest
| lavender what has become or CHI
ron Rross and his quest for practicai
| EDUCATION? ?" more than once suggesleo
| Merle and one day he walked IN
| whereas. he had been naturally pare
and slight looking, he was nov
hronzad and husky. He greeted I'll
i h.nds with n new self-assurance tna'
1850 na- s,ccass. or at least satisfac-
| ton. a ,n a
1000 nav aGoodl I have solved
the problem of practical eoucauon'
am pleased to say. nave
maintained, you know, tnat -u"
| NAV be a gentleman farmer or ~, q
-o,e,+,fic carpenter, If he mas tne
sro,ns Fellows, I've learned mort
ot,o,,+ aoriculture in eight months tnan
co,,Id have acquired by STUDY IN o.
voars Dear old patron Irieno
- sdonted fatherI have come DaeN
az a. as,T Won to put me in charge OF tne
j farm here" ,,ar,e IN
i aWelli wellT comments 80.
a gratifed way. How dlu 10 yJ harvest-
To take UP the plowshare anu nA- =,
orY' C1;f