The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-10


this thing over. We don't need more
property; what we need is a chance to
enjoy the property we already have
We have all the chance to choose now
between life and land; won't you think
it all over again and let US seek that
which is really worth while?'
NOW 1 know where Beulah got her
nonsense" he retOrted. "AIl this talk
about real life is very fine, but you
don't get much life, real or any other
kind, unless you have the cash to pay
down for it. We've done pretty well
here, as you say. but it's only begin
min to what we can do, if we set about
it, and don't wait until the cheap land
is all gone. 1 don't see why you should
go back on me at this time o. life,
Mary. We've stood together for a
long while, and I kinda figured could
count on you"
$50 you can, John; so you can to
the very last, for anything that is for
your own good, but when you set your
heart on something that means more
trouble and hardship and won't add
one iota to your happiness, I think it
is my duty to persuade you if 1 can.
We've been drifting apart lately; why
not let us both go back to the begin
ming and start over again. and by kind
ness, and fairness, and liberality, and
and sympathy, try to recover some
thing of what we have lost?"
Il have always thought 1 had been
liberal enough" he said. Didn't I
build you a good house and buy furni-
ture for it. and do I stint you IN what
you spend, either on the table or your
self? More than that. didn't put the
title to the homestead in your name?
And amt ready to do the same with
the new homestead, if that's the stick
err"
ST never thought of such a thing
she protested. "And you shouldn't
claim too much credit for putting the
homestead quarter in my name. You
know when you bought the first rail-
road land you were none too sure how
things would come out. and you
thought it might be a wise precautiOn
to have the old farm stand in your
wife's name"
That's all the thanks get" he said
bitterly 'Well, I'll take the new one
in my own name, but I'll take it just
in it you won't have to. But for the
present it's your duty to stay here and
run things till we get back"
''What are you going TO do after you
get your new farm? You can't work
two farms thousand miles apart. can
your
"Oh, 1 guess that won't worry US
long. The Americans are comm in
now with lots O. good money. was
figurin' up that this place, as a gein'
concern, ought to bring about forty
thousand dollars, and I'll bet I could
sell it inside of week"
''SeI1 it," she exclaimed. you don't
mean that you intend to sell this
farmT"
why not7 If somebody else wants
it worse'n we dc. and has the money to
pay for it. why shouldn't l sell it?''
The tears stood in her eyes as she
answered: I'm all these years while
we have been building up this home
1 never once thought Of it as some
thing to sell It was too near for that
Ia part of ourselves, Of our very life.
It seemed more Hke-Iike one of the
children, than a mere possession And
now you would sell it, just as you
might sell load OF wheat or q fat
steer. Is this place-this lone where
W. have grown old and gray-nothing
to you? Have you no sentiment that
will save it from the highest bidder?''
$Seniment is a poor affair in tusi-
ness" he answered. Property was
made t sell; money was made t buy
It with. The successful man is the
one who has his price for eEerythin'
and knows how get it. As for grow
IN old and gray on this farm. Why.