Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-02-07

preacher took out his handkerchief;
nervously brushed away q speck of
dust from his coat sleeve; put IL back.
Brownie" the girl repeated after
time. her eyes turning back from the
river TO the plously pensive face of
the preacher. would y'u care see
err"
1T would give me the greatest pleas
ure," was his answer. In the studied
and faultless though somewhat stilted
diction Of the period.
II could talk y'u Z death about err"
Il should die happy" he answered.
The girl was so artless and I'M
spoiled that the fiattery, trite as IL
was, half pleased her. The native
eheerfulness. subdued for q moment
by thoughts OF her hapless brother.
frightened again In her eyes. She
threw her arm about her father,
dragged him up out Of the chair and
led the way to the barn.
Brownie. o beautiful dark sorrel,
with a single small patch Of white In
her forehead. hearing the girls voice.
came trotting up out Of the pasture
lot--the same through which Jack had
traiied the unknown prowler the night
before. A tall. ciean-limbed geldlng.
bright bay, with one white hind foot,
followed her almost up to the gate.
| where he stood back and half Jealous
~ watched the girl caress his mate.
"Come, Rex" the girl called, reach
ing out her hand and coaxing the tall
bay. But the horse kept his distance.
II was only after the two men had
drawn back few steps that he came
up to the gate and put his nose against
her face.
do you ride, Mr.. Hopkinsr she
called over her shoulder.
"Not especially WELL" he answered.
though do like q good horse. You
ride. of courseY'
Everybody rides In the Flatwoods
you must learn"
"W'y, yes" chimed In the old bank
or. there's Rex jist sp'ilin' rr work,
now that don't ride any more sence
these blasted fainty spells got e com.
In. Theirs nothin' e bender y'u from
takin' a ride every day. reckon
we've still got my saddle an things,
amt we. daughterT'
Saddle and bride and ALL" she an
swered. "And Il will be such q pleas
ure." she went on, turning to the
young preacher. 81 show y'u around
over our beautiful Flatwoods."
with such guide. am impatient
to 20 the earliest moment possible"
the preacher exclaimed effusively,
''this ternoon--now--if you will"
The girl glanced at her father.
"why notf' he nodded.
II don't like to leave-you."
| The old man tossed up his hand and
laughed-a raspy sort Of laugh-all
that the years had left him.
The girl turned back to the preacher.
"w'y. yes--if you WISH" she said
only you must promise not & run
away from me; Rex 10 ever o. much
faster than Brownie"
/ The preacher turned to look again
at the tall bay. standing q few feet
back from the gate. where he had
withdrawn step by step a. the minis
ter advanced.
He certainly appears to possess
great speed"
Speed" the old banker repeated. a
note In his voice common to the throat
OF every man In the Flatwoods when
speaking Of his horse or dog. next Z
Jacks Graylock at the homestead yon-
der. he's the fastest In the Flat.
woods"
"Graylock - warhope" - the tired
eyes plnched together thoughtfully-
"a remarkable young man."
Scarce as hens teeth. his breed"
the old man returned warmly. I'm
doubtin' II TIERS anybody along the
Wabash that knows the woods like he
does. unless Il might be oil Nick VIII.
fes. I've alw'ys ben glad he tuck to
EN- the way . did. aud I've encour.
aged I'm. Theirs nothln' like the
woods & make a man OF a Teller"
Some prfessors came up her rom
down the river { study what they
called Native Flora on the homestead
last year--y'u know. Tiers two thou.
sand acres Of II. most of II layin' fist
rs the Indians left II. and he keeps
eoaxin' me not Z low an az laid TO a
single sound tree. Therell be q for
tune In that oak and walnut some day.
Jack. he'd ben writin' to- these
prfessors. and they'd ben sendin' I'm
books-anyhow. they come up and
trnmped around rr nigh q week.
zone day one Of 'em was talkin' e
me. and he said Jack knowed more
about the woods than all the rest of
EN- put together. Well. that's him,
every time. ] never did know I'm q
try anything but what he got Il down
about a. fine rs the next one"
The old banker glanced IN at the
sun slipping down the west and turned
to his daughter:
We'll II y'u're goin'. y'u better be
startin'."
Long years Of active business life
had taught Banker Colin the value Of
promptness and decision--had 90
ground these traits into his nature
that they had come to function auto