The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-04-12
Two Old Love.
and Two Young
By JOSEPHINE CUMMINGS
10 by Mcclure Newspaper Synaicat.N


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 chuckled. He seated
himself on the lowest step, took off his
wide-brimmed straw hat, and wiped
his perspiring forehead with large,
blue Bingham handkerchief which he.
took from inside the hat.
well, how're you today. Liar" 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 q while? Why
d'yOu do it?'
but don't you like to have me
conner asked the old man, In hurt
tone.
1t isn't that, Toby, you know it isn't.
It's my granddaughter, 'Lizbeth. Since
she came, home from finishin school,
you know, her head has been filed
with queer ideas. And she thinks. Toby,
that you're not--you're-" Grandma
hesitated uncomf0rtably, and her face
flushed
"Oh. l know, Liza. She thinks
amt proper person for you to be
'sOciatin' with. She thinks I'm q worth
less old good-for-nought. Well, may
be haven't got the hifalutin', pol
ished manners she learned at boardin'
school, but"
It's 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 can't say anything,
Toby
Him. that young Teller 10 Squire
Beebe's son, amt he? thought 80.
Well. II he's as shrewd at drivin' bar
gains as his dad is. don't think she'll
be dom so bad by herself The
| 'sQuire's shrewd one. He nearly got
the best o. me today.
"Say, Liza, just dropped In to tell
ye bit Of news. Thought maybe ye'd
be Interested"
what Is 1t, Toby1''
II bought up the old Clarke farm
yesterday"
"Toby!" cried grandma. "Not that
lovely. big Clarke place, out at the
crossways7 With ali the lovely or
chards and the truck gardens. and ALI
Oh, Toby, I'm so glad!"
yep, that's the place. You see. az
ter old man Clarke died, the young
Teller never made it pay. I've had
my eye on 1t for q long time. an been
saving up. The other day heard he
wanted to sell out, and go to Denver,
or somewheres. SO liked right out
yesterday and made him an offer. Old
man Beebe heard about Il, too, guess,
for I beat him out there by about half
an hour" Toby lchuckled, and famed
himself with his hat.
81 guess Uncle Toby amt such .
good-for-nonght, after all. heyr'
Course you're not, Toby. It'll be
just fine. Think how happy you'll be,
with all those gardens and orchards !"
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.
know. can see I You don't get
along well with 'em. Let's get away.
Think how happy we'd be out there.
Let's elope, Liza I"
"Toby! Why, the idea We're too old
to be so silly"
but we can't get away any other
way" pleaded Toby. II can't 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 60 right out to Par
son Bennet's In fine style What say.
Liar
Grandma's cheeks we're bright pink
and her eyes shone brightly.
ut sounds like foolishness for two
old people like us to be sitting here
planning to run away and get married,
but she sighed. II guess It's the
only way, Toby"
"Oh, scamper 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 disappeared 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
Of garden; the scent Of fresh-cut hay
came to her on the breeze She was
very happy.
II her eyes could have penetrated In