The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-07
EDening Story (,
The Farm That Wouldn't Sell.
by H. LOUIS RAYBOLD.


"Then it is understood. Miss
Andrews, that you will keep an eye on
the place and show it to prospective
buyers. I might add that in addition
to your fee as caretaker. Mr.. Gerrish
will allow you a nominal commission
if the farm is disposed of thru your
efforts" Lawyer John Pangburn but
toned his fur coat snugly about him
and turned away.
A touch on his arm arrested him.
It's rather a pity. isn't it," Margaret
Andrews questioned him. for the last
of the Gerrishes to let the property
go out of the family?"
yes, young lady" admitted Pang-
burn, lit is, undoubtedly. But, lord,
these young chaps nowadays-what'
a few, acres and bunch OF cows COM
pared to the subway rush and the
bright lights? Henry seems to think
he can set Wall street on fire with the
proceeds from the sale of the farm.
However, good-day. Miss Andrews
Abruptly he checked his comments on
what was undoubtedly his clients own
business.
Left alone, Margaret watched her
recent visitors car grow smaller and
smaller along the ribbon of road that
threaded the Woodbridge hills. But
her thoughts we're elsewhere-with
old Henry Gerrish, who few days be-
fore he had gone to join his fathers on
the hill; with young Henry Gerrish,
whom she had never seen until the
day of the funeral, and then only at a
distance as he stood muffled in his
coat, head bent. beside his fathers
grave.
For Henry had gone out to an uncle
ranch:ng it in the west some months
before Margaret's arrival in Wood
bridge and had not come home until
summoned by the death of his father.
There had followed idle speculation in
the neighborhood as to Henrys inten-
tons regarding the farm. Would he
follow his fathers and grandfather's
footsteps? Today those queries had
been answered, for Henry, Immediately
after the brief reading of his fathers
will, had instructed Pangburn to put
the old homestead on the market.
AS time passed, however, and the
place remained unsold. Margaret came
to feel for it a continually increasing
fondness. Watching the spring SOW
ing of fields rented to a neighbor,
tending the small flower gardens
about the doorways, opening the win
dows to flood with sterilizing bright
ness the unused house, dusing the
quiet rooms-alI these activities de-
veloped in her almost a sense of part
ownership with Henry Gerrish. And
more and more she waxed indignant
with him for wishing to dispose of his
inheritance.
Wouldbe purchasers happened along
I4OW anu dSd1Ils -DuI 1OT one TedSOn VI
another departed unimpressed. One
year paSSed-twO yearS-three.
Then one sunny afternoon in April
into John Pangburn's dingy office
stalked a seedy looking youth with
worried lines about his eyes. Look
here, Mr.. Pangburn," he began with
out preamble, I'm hard up. Things
haven't panned out as I hoped. What
I get in from the farm hardly pays
the taxes. The house won't rent Why
the deuce doesn't the place sell?''
Pangburn shook his head. Henry.
I don't know. It's the dickens of a
ways for me to travel down with every
Tom, Dick and Harry. but I've won
dered sometimes-do you suppose that
that Miss Andrews queers the deal?
She'll lose her little income If she sells
the farm"
Henry nodded. "Guess you've hit
it. And she stands to get the COM
mission in the end. Listen, now-Pve
an idea. The girl doesn't know me.
Send me down to look it over as a
buyer and I'll size up the situation"
Good scheme" said Pangburn, "a
COMPOUNDED good scheme!"
Three days later Margaret slipped a
letter back into its envelope, signing
as she did so. Sounds like business
| this time" she said to herself. 'I'm
afraid that idiot Henry Gerrish is go
ing to lose his gold mine
That afternoon across the fields the
last of the Gerrishes (pro tenn fol-
lowed in amazement Margaret's slim
| figure and marveled at the words
which fell from her lips. How unfair
had Pangburn been!
Cant you see it 2" she was demand
ing. <Those forty acres in corn, the
west twenty in alfalfa, that swamp
cleared and yielding little ready
cash, good utility stock in the chicken
runs, a few grade cows to start
with
This line of talk" unused Henry to
himself. bewildered, should have
nailed every customer" Aloud, II
wonder why the present owner doesn't
keep. it?" he said. why does he
Because" said Margaret promptly,
hes an idiot!''
"Oh," said Henry thoughtfully, IT
On his return to town Henry cast a
bombshe at Pangburn's feet.
Heavens. man." he cried. "She made
the place so darned attractive I'm
going to farm it myself"
One year from the day she met him
Margaret Andrews married Henry
Gerrish and came back from the little
Woodbridge church to the old house
she had tended. Standing on the
south veranda in the mellow air of an
watching Iuc
lights twinkle out in her parents home
on the hill a quarter of a mile away,
she and her husband fell to talking of
the circumstances which had brought
them together
| Funny" ruminated Henry "old
Pangburn thought maybe the place
didn't sell because you ran 1t down, or
something of&he sort"
Margaret was silent . moment.
Then, Maybe" she confessed slowly,
''he was right. You see, hated to see
old Henry Gerrish's son squander the
work of years and generations Not
that I ever actually said anything
only, we'll, could have been more en-
lthusiastici"
But why" demanded Henry. puz-
Zleds did you praise it to the skies to
lme? You didn't know it was me"
Didn't I?' laughed his bride OF an
hour. do you suppose, Henry Ger