Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-10

afford Them" Melltta said desperately.
Then to the tree man, Angus Mcclure
by name: II didn't mean straight
order when I wrote about prices and
things. II can't pay for anything
until | sell my wheat in July. Can't
you--dont you think maybe you can
sell the trees to somebody else?"
"Mlltter, I'm shocked at you. Why,
that's positively misunderstanding
what you know you have no money
for and then throwing 1t back" Mrs.
Horne cried acridly.
Sarah interposed with sour SMILE
I'VE won't let that happen. Ma, draw
q check for the gentleman. An orchard
will add bit to our security, though
| must say think planting 1t is fool
ish extravaganza"
"You needn't" said the tree man
almost brusquely. my firm amt In
the shark game; / can make 1t right
with them to wait till this young lady
is good and ready to pay"
"Mlltter! viii you let perfect
stranger do that for your" Mrs. Horne
demanded. Melitta nodded; speech
was beyond her. Sarah chimed In:
II thought the wheat was to put on a
new roof. / don't intend to stay under
this leaky one another winter" This
time 1t was Melitta who said: "You
needn't" The words were barely
spoken when there was lusty hail
from the garden gate. Doctor Phipps
shouted from his flivver: mind, Me-
litta; men are coming after options;
oil In next county; they want acreage
all round about. Ask 'em five hun
dred at least for this place; they'll
pay 1t, but offer you, maybe, twenty
five If they think you are not wise to
their game"
Melitta glowed into sudden beauty.
ard give an option on my soul, doctor,
right now" she said, 'for even hope
Of one day getting free"
The Hornes founced off in high
dudgeon. Alone with Mcclure, Melitta
felt herself suddenly unaccountably
happy. She chartered with him eager
ly as to lis errand and her adventure;
ran to show him the orchard site she
had chosen and rejolced to find he
approved it highly. They came back
to find the truck waiting. Willing
hands, summoned by the jowl Of the
big farm bell, quickly set the young
trees in place with due care and cere-
mony, Melitte herself, happy as child,
kneeling to sft fine earth among their
roots and later treadlng smooth and
firm the mounds about the trees.
you're lucky-the wind Is blowing
up raln-April rain, just what the
trees need" Mcclure said as they
stood together surveying the last row.
Then very low he added: Don't you
worry about-anythng Money least Of
all. Happens I've got stock in the
company-enough to carry you till the
trees come into bearing. And II you
like, you can double or treble this
planting. Your land is made for such
use. see you love it-and know what
to do with IT,"
"You-yov are-too kind. I can't
give securlty-there is a mortgage,
you know" Meltta faltered: "Oil Is
such long chance" stopping and
swallowing hard. "But-but 1t seems
to me I'd die two deaths to get rid
Of"
"Tll take over the mortgage-if
you'll come along with IT," the young
fellow said boldly, possessing himself
of her hand. "Never mind our being
strangers. | think this was ordered
from the beginning"
Option money was all Melitta's
share of the oil boom, but she did
not mind greatly. Her orchards,
stretching wider year by year, left
her nothing TO wish for in the way of
prosperity. And one Angus Mcclure
left her as little to wish for In the way
of husband.