Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-11-15
CHAPTER ~
Three Candies.

f
Three Candida
The last fare OF sunset had followed
the Wabash out under the rim Of the
west by the time Jack warhope came
back along the orchard path to the
red-roofed cottage.
From the porch nj the front of the
house came the drone OF the bankers
voice, broken occasionally by the
preachers precise. jerky sentences.
Warhope listened for moment.
The money-lender was taking about
q Quarter-section that he had fore
closed on the day before. The woods
man had heard many an hour OF that
talk. with q shrug OF his shoulders.
he pushed the gate open and walked
around to the kitchen door.
With a step that the woods had
made light as q falling leaf he slipped
In and stood motionless. The portly.
pudgy form Of Mrs. Curry. the house
keeper. was bent over the cook stove.
busy with the supper.
The nit of a shadow and the ciink
Of dishes In the adjoining dining room
told the grinning intruder that Tsxis
was "settin'" the table. For such an
occasion there would be white cloth.
the best silver would be- out. and there
would be three candles instead Of one.
The clink OF the dishes ceased and
the Girl appeared In the doorway be-
tween the two rooms. Seeing Jack. she
paused. tried to look severe. but
failed.
snow look at thatr"
Mra Curry Strengthened. and OF.
claimed;
"Big Jacki Mercy. how you can slip
up on body"
"Put I'm Z work. Mis- Curry. We
don't low no loafers. do wef"
The housekeeper In reply was inter.
ruptcd by misbehaving skillet and
she turned back to the stove.
supper was ON the table. The woods
man took his place with the others.
The banker dropped his hands In HIS
lap. nodding toward the preacher. and
bowed HIS head.
The traditions OF the Fiatwoods
called for long and sonorous grace
a sort OF sermonette--when the preach.
or was a guest. but the new minister
seemed never TO have heard of any
such tradition. The grace he said was
40 short 80 direct and concise. yet 20
beautiful In thought and dlction that
the banker looked at him In pleased
surprise.
Supper over there fell a moment OF
sllence--the delicious breath OF repose
that almost always follows the evening
meal In quiet country homes. The old
money.lender sat marking ON the table
cloth with his fork. AZ II mapping out
the boundary lines Of other quarter
sections that he hoped 10 have the
chance to foreclose In short time
The girl seized the favorable mo-
ment, and leaning forward. said;
"Now, Mr. Hopkins. tell us about
my brother--ken. I've ben wishln'
all evening 4 ask y'u."
Her father stopped marking on the
tablecloth and sat very still; the
housekeeper crossed her knife and
fork on her plate. as the Christians
OF Spain used to do In the days OF
Moorish domination; the woodsman let
his thoughts revel In the fauitless pro-
nle OF the girls face The preacher
caught the wistful look In her eyes
the subdued eagcrness Of one who
could not resist the desire to ask. Jet
dreaded the answer. He fumbled his
napkin.
Really. Miss--Colin. there 10 very
little TO tell Your brother was the
almost pushing psychological prob
lem that I ever tried 60 solve. lie
could have been one OF the most bril-
liant scholars the institution ever
turned out. He literally drank up ev-
erything the college had 20 give. and
that without apparent effort-as the
desert drinks the dew. His penman-
ship; his drawing; his command Of
Engilsh--very remarkable. was his
roommate and classmats. and yet I
never saw him apply himself seri-
susiy 10 study. don't think he did
And that was probably his limitation
learning came too easy to him. n
can. yeu know
He stopped, a. n he had no more to
ny; stared az his napkin and folded
n with careful precision.
The presidents letter said that
that-r