Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-21

Ill just have TO do what our fathers DID,
strike out and pioneer"
'And Til 60 along" she cried eagerly.
"Our mothers pioneered, too" she reminded
him, thinking only Of her own strong, brave
spirited mother.
His face darkened. "Yes, they did And it
killed my mother No. Edna, you must stay
here and wait until get good start"
And through the long winter months they
studied the possibilities and made plans. Lon
was buoyantly confident now. He would locate
a good homestead-a crop, or at most two crops
would build the house-then- And Edna. With
wistful eyes, listened and suggested and gave
him the encouragement Of her love and faith.
One Sunday afternoon he found his father
alone, feet upon the stove hearth, paper and
pipe finished, Lon-with yearning for the
sympathy Of his own--haltingly flung out his
new purpose and its reason.
The response was a surprise-a revelation,
indeed. 80, yeve picked OF man Goodrich fer
a father-in-law?" Sam Baxter chuckled under
his tongue. "Well, ye must think heap o. the
girl! But ye're right. Yell have to go out to
Dakoty an take your turn at pioneerin' in a new
country. There'll be hardships-but there's ad-
vantages, too can't do what I'd like fer ye.
Lonnle," his rough voice softened But the
roam colts is yours ye know, an they amt a
Amer span in the country"
Ions chair dropped to four feet He had
long ago, to his mother.
''Then, there's the Toledo wagon-taint
new, but it's in good condition. When your year
is up. come home. Lon, and ye shan't start out
empty handed"
II should say not" the youth exu!ted "And
when sell my pigs I'll have nigh $400 cash,
too. ought to make 1t all right!'
Eyes the old man assented. "Yell have a
fair start an ye've got head on your shoulders.
With the help Of good GIRL like Edna, yen
make it all right the Hand O. God don't fall
on ye, like 1t done on us in hopper times"
In the fulness Of untried courage the young
ster asserted:
"I'u not take Edna's help until I have
good house ready for her-and I'll be ready for
the hoppers." too" ~.
"Ye don't know much about winnen, then
-an'-ye can't forestall natur, my boy" his
father commented dryly
But Lon was still certain Of his own wis
dom and ready to defy nature herself.
When Goodrich, as spring approached, pro-
posed a renewal Of their contract for another
year Lon told him:
IT have decided to go out to Dakota, Mr..
Goodrich. and locate homestead"
"Ye have? Well that may be good moye,'
grudgingly. "fer young fellow like YOU. Still
there's lot O. chances in farming. ye know.
Yed probably have more money at the end O.
the year staying right here at good wages and
found. III hire ye, If We want to stay--ye amt
SO dunn triflin' most O. the help nowadays"
Ions tanned face Redeemed with pleasure
Even this acknowledgement from "or man
Goodrich" was encouraging. On the strength Of
it he yentured:
"And. Mr.. Goodrich, when I've got my land
and comfortable house on it I coming
back for Edna
Like hell ye are!" The father sprang to his
feet in a rage. "So--thats it! That's the fool
ishness that's been going on right under my
nose! Put it right out O. your heads. tell ye--
Do you think I'll let my girl so out to Dakoty
to live In sod hut and wash overals? What
do ye reckon paid her school and music bills
fer? She will stay right here with her parents
until she narries that can give her a
good lvin' In civilized country"
I'm not asking her to marry me until can
give her good living" Lon spoke proudly
"Yen both be gray headed before that tine!"
Pail never consent" ma Goodrich said
when Lon reported this interview. mot that he
has thing against ye, Lonny, except that you're
poor. But as fer me- with a consoling smile, II
never knew finer woman than your mother
was-an you are like her in ways-f ye are
boy"
When the time for the parting came it was
harder than Lon had counted on. Now, at the
last. he had to argue against his own heart cry
as we'll as Edna's wstful eyes and unspoken
plea
IT couldn't bear to see you working too hard
and, maybe breaking down." he told her as he
took her into the last embrace. You know it's
because love you SO much, Edna, that
can't"
"Yes. But 1t seems wrong to me-" she pro-
tested. I'm ready want to help you get
started, Lon. Our parents and grandparents
started out in life together. with nothing. Why
should not We? When you find the right place
then you'll let come, won't you. Lon?"
Just as as can get good crop and
build a house I'll come back for you-nlaybe,"
with wild hope "itll be before next Christ
mas"
Travelling at the slow pace OF farm horses,
Lon spent three months In prospecting. He
went through freezing nights, binding rains and