The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-12-08
Two Old Loves
and Two Young
By JOSEPHINE CUMMINGS
10 BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l

| shaded size porch, grandma coulu see
Toby coming slowly down the road.
She became greatly absorbed in her
book. Toby lodged behind the tall
hedge. and STOPPING, crept along be-
hind its cover until he came within
ten yards of the porch. Then he tip
toed noiselessly over the lawn to the
porch steps.
"'Lo, Liza" he whispered hoarsely.
MY soul, Toby" exclaimed grand
ma, how you scairt me Y
The old man chuckIed He seated
himself on the lowest step, took off his
wide-brimmed straw hat, and wiped
his perspiring forehead with a large,
blue gingham handkerchief which he
took from inside the hat.
well, how're you today, Liza?" he
asked. Hot, amt it?"
Grandma glanced apprehenslvely to-
ward the open dining room window.
Then she leaned down and spoke
quickly in low voice.
Toby, didn't / ask you not to come
here any more for a while? Why
d'you do it?"
But don't you like to have me
Gomez" asked the old maa, in hurt
tone.
1T isn't that, Toby. yos. know it isn't.
It's my granddaughter Lizbeth. Since
she came home from finishin' school,
| you know, her head has been filled
with queer ideas. And she thinks, Toby,
that you're not-you're-p Grandma
nesitated uncomfortably, and her face
| flushed.
sOh, know, Liza. She thinks l
amt proper person for you to be
'sociatin' with. She thinks I'm worth
less old good-for-nought. Well. may
be l haven't got the hifalutin', pol
ished manners she learned at boardin'
school, but"
ITS that young man of hers, the one
that comes here in the big automo-
Of encourages her along in these ideas.
So, Of course can't say anything,
Toby"
"Him, that young Teller is Squire
Beebe'sMson, amt he? | thought so.
Well. if he's as shrewd at drivin' bar
gains as his dad is, don't think she'll
be doin so bad by herself. The
'squire's shrewd one. He nearly got
the best O. me today.
Say, Liza, just dropped in to tell
We bit of news. Thought maybe ye'd
be interested"
WHIST is it, Toby?"
81 bought UP the old Clarke farm
yesterday
.gTobyl' cried grandma. mot that
lovely. big Clarke place.. out at the
crossways? With all the lovely or
chards, and the truck gardens, and all?
Oh, Toby, I'm so gladr'
"Yep, that's the place. You see, af-
ter old man Clarke died, the young
Teller never made it pay. I've had
my eye on it for long time, anil been
saving up. The other day heard he
wanted to sell out, and go to Denver,
or somewheres. SO l hiked right out
yesterday and made him an offer. Old
man Beebe heard about it, too, / guess,
for beat him out there by about half
an hour" Toby chuckled, and famed
himself with his hat
81 guess Uncle Toby amt such a
good for-nought, after ALL hey?"
course you're not, Toby. It'll be
just fine. Think how happy you'll be,
with all those gardens and orchards y
mo won't, Liza" He leaned near
er and his voice grew suddenly ten
der. Liza, I'll never be happy till
have YOU
'Why, Toby. You mustn't say
| such"
Listen, Liza" He spoke earnestly.
You're not happy here, are you? Oh,
| l know. can see t you don't get
along well with 'em. Let's get away.
Think how happy we'd be out there.
Let's elope, Lizal"
toby! Why, the idea. We're too old
to be so silly"
."But we can't get away any other
way, PICuuCu 1UUJ. 4 SttA navigate
one Of them new-fangled devil wagons,
but I'll bring the old carryall out here
to the back gate tonight at eight
o'clock, and we can go right out to Par
son Bennet's in fine style. What say,
Liza?"
Grandma's cheeks were bright pink
and her eyes shone brightls.
1T sounds like foolishness for two
old people like us to be sitting here
planning to run away and get married,
but" she sighed. Il guess it's the
only way, Toby"
.'Oh, scarnper along now" she cried,
quickly. "Here comes that young Mr..
Beebe to see Marian. Don't let him
see YOU Good-by."
Remember, eight O'Clock. Liza" he
said. He squeezed her hand quickly
and disappa cared behind the hedge just
as big black ear slid up to the front
door.
Grandma sat still long time upon
/ the rose-covered porch. dreaming hap
PLY of wide, full orchards and acres
ne ,rorfon. Tho ccanf nf fraShc,,t hoy,