The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-01-13

concern. ought TO bring about forty
thousand dollars, and I'll bet could
sell II inside of a week"
Sell it?" she exclaimed. "YOu don't
mean that you intend TO sell this
faru?"
why not? II somebody else wants
Ii werse'n we do. and has the money 20
pay fer II. why shouldn't | sell it?"
The tears stood IN her eyes rs she
answered: I'm all these years while
We have been building up this home
! never snce thought Of II as some
thing To sell. Ii was TOO near for that
"a part of ourselves. OF our very life.
II seemed more like--like one Of the
children. than mere possession. And
now you would sell it. just as you
might sell load of wheat or a fat
steer Ii this place--this home where
We have grown old and gray-nOthing
10 you? Have you no sentiment that
will save II from the highest bidder?"
Sentiment is n poor affair In bust
ness" he answered. property was
made Z sell money was made I buy
it with. The successfui man is the
one who has his price for everythin',
and knows how L get II. As for grow
In old and gray on this farm. why,
THAT'S grudge have against il,
though | don't thin I'm very gray and
| don't feel very old. Aud II | get my
price. why shouldn't I sell?"
Very we'll" she answered. "I'ye
nothing more TO say. Sell Ii if you
mast, hut remember one thing won't
be here To see IL pass into the hands
OF strangers" She Strengthened her
self up, and there was fire in her
eye that reminded him of the day when
she had elected ia share with him the
hsrdshps OF the wilderness. and in
spite Of himself some of his old pride
Iva her returned. II leave tomorrow for
a visit, and ! may be gone some time.
You reminded me Of your liberality q
few minutes ago; prove II now by
writing me a check for my expenses.
Remember. will expect to travel like
the wife OF prosperous farmer. q man
whose holdings are worth forty thou
sand dollars cash"
"Ss that's your decision, is IL? You
set me at defiance; you try t wreck
ray plans by your own stubbOrnueSs.
Yeu break up my family piece by
piece, until all ! have left Is Allan.
ThaRk God. the boy. al least, Is sound.
Well, yeu shall have yeur check, and
I'll make IL y big one that IL may carry
Yea farther"
Even in the teeth OF his bitterness
the mention OF Allan's name strained
the mothers heart beyond ser power
of resistance, and she turned with out
stretched arms towards her husband.
For a moment he wavered. the fame
Of love, still smouldering In his breast,
leaping up before the breath OF her re-
Spouse. But II was for moment oaly.
Weakness would have meant surren-
der. and surrender was the one thing
of which Harris was incapable. So he
checked the impulse TO take her In his
arms. and walked stoidly to his desk
In the parlor.
He returned shortly and placed
check In her hands She looked at II
through misty eyes, and read that It
was for $500. II represented a two
hundredth part OF their joint earnings,
and yet he thought he was dealing lib
orally with her; he half expected, In
fact. that his magnanimlty would break
her down where his firmness had
failed. But she only whispered faint
Thank you" and slowly folded the
paper in her fingers. He waited for
minute. suspecting that she was over
come, but as she said nothing more he
at length turned and left the house.
saying gruffly as he went out, "When
that's done I'll send you more II you
write for It,"
II was now 10 M night. and almost
dark. but Harris footsteps instructive
ly turned down the road toward Riles'.
Al the gate he met Allan. returning
home from spending social hour
with the Grant boys.
"where going, Dadf' the younger
man demanded.
"Oh. thought I'd take walk over
T. Riles'. There's a lot o. things { talk
about"
whats the matter. DadT' The
strained composure OF his fathers
voice had not escaped him.
"Nothin' nights well tell
you now; you'll know IL in little
while anyway. Your mother Is
gOin' away-on n visit"
like Beulah's visit, suppose. SCI
it's come to this. I've seen II for some
time. Dad, and you must We seen II
too. But you're not really goin' to let
her go2 Come back to the house witt
me-surely you two can get together
on this thing. II you try"
tTo BE CoNTINUEDJ