The Press., 1921-02-10
A New Old
 }, Ending
 . c & By KATE EDMoNDS

kitchen. A0SOu OAdSA 70 AN that money was scarce and that ne could not renew the mortgage nOte' was a bitter blow to the three. lie u.onId give them a month to find some ana else tO take the note on ms hands
 "Tt sounds like the old story folks always laugh about--the mortgage on the farm-and the old villain wno VIII foreclose," laughed Beth, but her voice was not very mirthful. " :,
 "It isn't so funny to have to live IL through" said her mother quietly.
 "And Anson Black ain't no villain he's clOse-fisted, but he's oecent' God-fearin' man and he really needs the money. Guess we'll have to let It 20 Emily-we could go to the village and live in Gene's cottage, and could hire out-farm help is scarce enough!" Mir. Gray filled his pipe and settled back in his chair as If the whole matter was ended. His Whe smiled at him in her encouraging way and they both looked at young Beth'
 "NOt yet-father-wait one week. think I'll find a way out! Just as you have such a fine vegetable garden coming along, and everything engaged for the season by Colonel Raymond even your squashes~ and pumpkins sold ahead for the fall-there must be some way-next year you were going to have a garden twice as big"
 "YOu mustn't go to AnsOn and beg off" protested her father.
 "NO. indeed, father-I hadn't thought of such thing. Just one week is all l ask" pleaded Beth. her blue eyes shining. Now. l am going to drive Daisy and Buttercup >dOwn to the south lOt-the poor things are wild to he out. Bye!" she blew kiss to them, and then skipped toward. the barn. Out of sight of the house. she stamped her foot impatiently and switched her pink sunbOnnet at pass ing cat.
 "The dickens! The dickens!" she muttered fOrlornly as she let the cows out of the stable and drove them down the back lane toward the south meadow. The lane belonged to her l father, and led under shady trees to ; tno naYnelOS 8uu DdLh tOISs Once, when the cows stopped to crop the grass, Reth TfGmped down e:. the grass and buried her face in her little sun-browned hands. The pink bonnet fell from her head, re- 1 vealing the rich brown cur!s pinned into some semblance of order.
 Beth Gray was praying-she always prayed for help in time of stress, and now, when the old roof-tree was threatened, she sobbed as she prayed.
 Gentle Daisy regarded her with wonder and mild-eyed Buttercup looked at her curfOusly and then turned and nipped off the heads of her 1 yellow namesakes, as much as to say, i ''Why worry? Nothing matters" Presently the cows moved uneasily, 1 for some one was coming along the l leafy lane, very much-tanned young man with a queer instrument over his shoulder. At sight of the lovely lane, with the cows and the pink-clad figure : of woe, he leaned his camera against the fence and approached the girl. His eyes twinkled and his white teeth parted in an amazed laugh as he leaned over her.
 "Tell me, pretty maiden" he asked, "why the ralnstorm? Is the mortgage on the old farm due and"
 Beth jumped to her feet and faced ?; him, her eyes blazing with wrath. her i cheeks pink and still wet with tears.
 ''Yes-yes, indeed. it is!" she cried ! O funny ! either-n-nOt-a-a-at all fu-funny!" | II am sorry" he said gently; II was only in fun-I didn't know you were really grieving-I wish l didn't get that way so much '"
 1 "Wh-what way?" quav"red Beth, putting her handkerchief to her face and mopping up the dampness. . "Oh. taking things so carelesSly- l that's my way. guess--l used to get awfully grumpy-Old bad luck used to sit on my shoulder all day long then I got to laughing at him and laughed so much he stayed away for good" Now he laughed again. and Beth joined him and. with the sun shine back in her face~and the joy or youth in her eyes. she was marvellous to behold. r-
 "Have you had lots of had luck?' she inquired. strOking Daisy's silken ear
 "LOst my parents when was four teen-at the same time was cheated 1 out of my inheritance-'twasn't much but 1t was something to start On-hnd so l had tG begin without it-getting along fine. and along came the war couldn't stay home with all that 10 be done over there-SO after four years came home and went into the pictures -and say, it's great-I'm a camera mah and some shark on lOcatiOns!
 'What are locatiOns?' asked Beth and he explained; then Beth told him the story of their particular mort gage. and she called AnsOn Black a ''darling old villain" "I was praying for help.' she ended.
 And along came in answer. to the prayer" declared Dick Harper.
 "Y0u?"
 1 ''Yps'm. Our cOmpany's over yOn-
 der behind the grove of waInuts. I'm
 looking for rustic setting-old farm hou:," -"Ows-milkmaiden -. chickens
 ,,''-,' anything to make good set.
 ting for our picture. Let LIS ust lhe fafM-amI the mortgage note will be I paid-pront0! Our director is a good fellow a5id GTips gold. Co":c yn1 weep again for pictureP" He smiled down at hey in genial fHshinn
 "Cry again?'' Beth laughed mer
 rily. If we can keen the old place shall never be able to spill even tiny
 tear again !'r
 ''Then we'll have to make gou cry
 somehow-I want that in the picture
 well. we won't quarrel. Ready now?'
 'sYes."
 Dick lifted whistle. to his lips and
 blew three times. Presently a stream