Middletown transcript., 1922-12-09
Two Old Loves
and Two Young
BY JOSEPHINE CUMMINGS

w W AACSAufS NeWupApeE SynolCAto.l
From her chair on the cool, rose
shaded side porch, grandma could 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 noiselessy over the lawn to the
porch steps.
"'Lo Liza,y he whispered hoarsely.
"My soul. Toby" exclaimed grand
ma, how you scairt me!''
The old man chuckled. 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, Liar" he
asked Hot, amt it?"
Grandma glanced apprehensively to-
ward the open dining room window
Then she leaned down and spoke
| quickly in low voice.
Toby, didn't l ask you not to come
here any more for while? VIII,
| dyou do it?"
But don't you like to have me
come r asked the old man, in hurt
tone
1T isn't that, Toby, you know it isn't.
It's my granddaughter, Iizbeth. Since
she came home from tnlshin' school,
you know, her head has been filled
with queer ideas. And she thinks, Toby.
that you're not-you're-" Grandma
hesitated uncomfortably, and her face
flushed.
"Oh, l know, Liza. She thinks |
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 boardln'
school, but"
ITS that young man of hers, the one
that comes here In the big automo.
bile, you know. An her mother kind
of encourages her along in these ideas
So, of course l can't say anything
Toby"
Him, that young Teller is Squire
Beebe's son, amt he? 1 thought so
Well, if he's as shrewd at drivn' bar
gains as his dad is, l don't think shell
be doin' so bad by herself. The
'squire's a shrewd one. He nearly got
the best O me today.
Say, Liza, just dropped in to tel
ye bit of news. Thought maybe yet
be interested"
What is it. Toby?'
Il bought up the old Clarke farm
yesterday"
"Toby!' cried grandma. "Not tina
lovely, big Clarke place, out at tn,
crossways? With all the lovely or
chards, and the truck gardens, and all
Oh. Toby, I'm so glad!"
Yep, that's the place. You see, af
ter old man Clarke died, the youn,
feller never made 1t pay. I've hat
my eye on 1t for long time, an beel
saving up. The other day heard H.
wanted to sell out, and go to Denver
or somewheres. So hiked right on
yesterday and made him an offer. OIL
man Beebe heard about 1t. too, guess
for beat him out there by about hal
an hour" Toby chuckled, and fanne
himself with his hat.
81 guess Uncle Toby amt such
good-for-nought. after ALL hey?'
Course you're not, Toby. It'll b
Just fine. Think how happy you'll bt
with all those gardens and orchards !!
: mo Won't. Liza" He leaned neal
er and his voice grew suddenly ter
der. Liza, I'll never be happy till
have YOU"
"Why, Toby. You mustn't sa
| such"
Listen, Liza" He spoke earnestl,
, You're not happy here, are you? Oh
know. l can see t you don't &c
!. along well with 'em. Let's get ava,
| Think how happy we'd be out ther
/ Let's elope, Liza"
Il "Toby! Why, the idea. We're too oil
to be so silly"
I But we can't get away any otht
way" pleaded Toby. Il can't navigat
! one of them new-fangled devil wagon
but I'll bring the old carryall out hei
to the back gate tonight at eigl
O'clock and we can go right out to Pa
t son Bennet's In fine style. What sa
Is Liza?'
X Grandmas cheeks were bright pir
e and her eyes shone brightly.
a 1T sounds like foolshness for tu
n old people like us to be sitting hel
'e planning to run away and get Marie
but" she sighed, Il guess it's Il
only way, Toby"
"Oh, scamper along now," she erie
al quickly. Here comes that young NJ
te Beebe to see Marian. Don't let hi
ii see you. Good-by."
Remember, eight o'clock, Liza"
o said. He squeezed her hand quick
II and disappeared behind the hedge ju
as big black car slid up to the fro
door.