The Washington herald., 1921-09-04
By ROSEL. HLERBE

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and bought . COW and brood SOW. thers
was nothing Ieft-even . trip homo v.s not
to be thought Of
Ednais dissppointment when she learned
that he would not Be st home for Christmas
tempted young Barter. for the nrst time, 10
consider asking for q loan He was half
way 70 the railroad station. twenty milss
away. with the letter TO his father. before
he tore n up and turned back. falling him
self sharply:
II wont begin borrgvfng sven win ps-
nrst thing I know IN be asking or man
Goodrich to help ms out-or mortsasins
my teamr
And he husxed the bsisef that he v1s suf-
fering In . righteous cause. In spits of D5-
mas wounded plea: I believe ia sooner
you'd steal the money. n you won't borrow
It rather than not to have you come hons
at all
His Christmas boz and thu Proxssrr tm>
key did not wipe out his keen sense Of tzil-
ure over the years results- Yet the sturdy.
boyish spirtt could not Be long dspressed
soon. sure that the coming year would bring
better luck. Lon vas making plans for III
ing an his acreage except the slough A
FIRST omen Of good fortune came through
Saul Previtt an old neighbor. who was nov
the CHIEF merchant and stoek buyer at the
railway station He offered transportation
to Chicago, with . few dayS stopove- AZ
home. IN return for pflotnE . carload of
hoEs to ths stoesyard. Lon Jumped al this
ehancs
He had never before sean . large city
but no nights could hold him, when his bu,s-
ness was ended He vss imparently eager.
thu train cravled, until the station names
grew familiar. Two stops from Grindon.
the bankers wife from homs-hs had known
her an his nfe-entered his car. As hs
started To speak to her. he caught hight -
kh bare. ehapped WRIT he was wearing
the same suit Of clothes hs had worn away
from Grtndon, now shabby and sutErewn.
A glance told him, his hat stn bore marks
ot his freight car Journey; his svercoat
was soiled and frayed He sank back
into his seat pulling at hi, coat sissves
awkward, miserable Edna might well be
sshamed Of htmi She was meeting wen
dressed men - men who could give her
comforts and pleasures; while be. after twe
year., was coming back to her with nothing
but unfuih1ed promtses. Panic stricken -
va, the last 10 leave the car when tho train
pulled into hin stattsn
A hs cana slsvty down the step.. hs
vaguely a~ familiar faee.- Then Edna wss
in front Of him. her arms were about his
neck. her lps On hiA Doubt and misery
were sponged out In q great throbeing heart.
beat az hs gathered her closa
When he let her 60. his father Eripped hs
hand: "A welcoms nks that is vlIth comtl'
home 70. al. sonr
You bst your sws>t NE n w.s ths
spontaneous eutburst q tun heart Edn.
laughed IN shear jay II the words
peA, shs said tsndsrty. Ysu-rs growing old
too fast, Lon You work tso hard II hnt
fat-I ought To - sut there. looking aftsr
you Let ms 20 back with you"
n only cpuld-h dared he rrosned
hooking At hr with hungry longing shs
was round and suppls, h4s Edna. with nash-
ing nEhts tn her syss and nrnhins eolors tn
hr faea. Yst there was q suggestion Of fra
gnfty about her that reminded him Of his
mother. He shook his he.d mo, Edna, I
can't take you out thsrs % that durout-
You DON'T think I I'm - sf.vs a. Mony
Prosssr and Annis Lamar
He had written her Of Morys Fsy s1ped-
srt. ana - MA Tx,..- h-IA. -. -
brought her ptano With her Il 90 nnsd
their single room that Nick svor, hs slept
doubled up, and Annis hossted that shs could
Ett on the stool and play Little Buttsreuy.
and fry potatoes n ths sams tina
u know you'd stand nrs better than any
Of EN- he cried -Its me that's thu eov.rr
You 20. know how d might end-and they
DON'T yet
on she broke our. n only my f.th9
wers IKE other menI He could tuss n vsn
give NJ the money to bu1d q house now a.
let It an watt until hs b Eone!-.
Yes. But I'd rather bufld my own hcusa
don't want to give him any show for thinh-
ing I'm marrying you for his money! And q
things 20 right this year. IN be ready 10
once again
AT home. Sam Baxter led the way 70 the
little eubicle OF the kitchen and opened the
old black trunk where the family treasures
had always been kept Lon watched him mn
out dress and . shawl HIS mother hAl
worn. and take out some heavy sheets.
Give these to Edna his father ssid
and tell her your ma wovs .'em with her
own hands-and this he added a brooch