The Washington herald., 1921-09-04

the next dry season. It wa now harvst
time. By exchanging work with Prosser and
Lane, Baxter had their aid IN cutting and
stacking his wheat He was driving the
moving machine one scorching August fore
noon. A. he looked back over the even riffs
Of straw he was thinking:
n nothing happens IN come cut ahead At
last this season. Bdnan b giad.
And then he began TO think. When had
Edna's last Isttsr eomel why" In sudden
realization. that lsttsr v.s before haytns!
She hasnt answered my last lstter-it wasn't
really worth answsrtnc-tust . note. T.
maybe she's got tired 1t last I couldn't
blame her
He drove on, conscious now Of the heat the
dust, the sting Of char and perspdration-
What was the use Of all this grinding work
II II were not for Ednar" He tried to think
st nfs without Edna-what would happen n
she bad really changed her mtndf AT last
he could stand this new fear no longer. He
was ahead Of the rake. He left his team
standing and went to the house. He found
her last letter and read II over. It was brtst.
1t answered nons Of the questions In his
mind.
Edna, darling" he wrote, MS . long
time since your last letter: you haven't an
swered my last nots I know you can't Be
sick or my father would lot ne know. am
afraid-maybs you have made up your mind
not to wait any longer. I couldn't blame you
for that. I know I haven't done right
keeping you waiting for me- % long. And I
haven't even written to you IKE ought
Somehow I couldn't tell you how hard thinss
were. sonetimes It has seemed ~ n Il was
no uss. rd have to give up and 20 baek 10
hiring out. It looks Ike . fair Yield tiis
year, and then-but I don't dare make any
more promises. I have broken % many-I
want you to be happy. Edna More than
anything else 1 want that. II you have
found some other man that can make you
happier than can won't say word. Only.
shall always love you'll try to stand tt
but can't think about #"
That night, when the iast obors was done.
Lon Baxter started for the nearest post
enice, nine mflss away. He would not put
this ADDED burden on his faithful horses.
wearfly he ploddsd on, through soft dark
which be had not put ON the paper-perhaps
they reached Ednas heart just the same.
The long years Of her waiting had not been
easy for Edna Her father had never ceased
his reyiling Of Lon and ugly comments upon
her foofishness. A. time went on his anger
became constant and iharassins. At nrst
Edna, living IN her own world OF happy
dreams, beard him indiferently. She spent
her spars hours In pseparing against her
bridal days the dainty things no real girl will
rtve up. She pieosd quilts. sswsd carpet
rays, she saved feathers for her pillows
snd bed; with her mother's aid she aoeumn-
lated bed and table linen. Gradually her
trunk and box were nrsd to ovsrnowtns.
Aftsr the third year her father insisted
that he would have no more Of this nonsense.
Here's Lem Randall ready TO marry ~ At
ths word. He's got $40 acres ~ good land
~ there is in the state Of Iowsy. and IN give
him another quarter when you are married:
You take him and GIT into homs Of your
own. tell YOU
Lem thinks . lot more about that quarter
section Of land than he does about me, "
,ndna rstortsd You can give him the land
you want to. but I'm not . prize package
TO 90 with Il"
/. He swors at her. Why ain't you sensible
!, Nhs Miny and Gracsf Look at Miny. I'd
Bssson has Just bought new farm-thas
makes him hun section-nish an clear
Hen Be rich man before many years.-
Yes. And look sk AnliH what good does
his hand Do hsrf h Won't even buy her q
washing machine She's an old woman q
ehtrty-thrss.. Edna responded with sparit
And what Do you think youI BE- sisv'
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