Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-03-27

looked back. Miriam sat on the high
gate, Alexander Murdoch steadying
her with one hand, while he swung
the gate beneath her with the other.
Their father smiling, waved farewell.
"Poor father" mourned Ginger.
'What would you call 1t but preachers
luck, to lose his eyes just when there's
the most to see?"
A dull supper at the parsonage, fol-
lowed by the usual evening service at
the church.
Tub Andrews hurried up to them
after the service, offering himself as
an escort home-a mere formality for
those few safe intervening feet.
II don't think we ought to-" objected
Marjory. "You see, the minister is
staying with us-and ! think we ought
Il don't think it would look well for
US to 60 Off and leave him"
"Ginger can take him." suggested
Tub generously. "She can give him
pointers on running a church-Ginger
can give pointers on running any
thing"
"But Ginger Is so young" STAN
mered Marjory. 81 feel that I am
rather the head Of the house now,
and"
Hiram Buckworth himself appeared
at that moment. "Girls, If you Will
excuse me-" he said gravely, II will
walk over with Mr.. Westbury. We
are discussing some church business"
Murray for Jop," chimed Tub,
'that suits me to T. We've got
some church business of our own to
talk about"
Hiram hesitated q moment, biting
his lip as though he felt annoyance,
but nodded at last, and went away,
not without reluctance. And Mar
jory yielded her smiles to Tub An
drews, clinging meanwhile to Ginger
to ensure her accompaniment, as they
walked slowly hOmeward. On the IA
miliar old veranda, Tub started at
once, cheerfully, in the direction OF
the hammock.
"You can't stay tonight, Tub" said
Marjory, with smile warm enough to
soften her dismissal. 81 have to send
you right straight home. / have been
under the weather for day or two,
and Miss Jenkins didn't want me to
20 to church at all. She has ordered
me to bed"
Tub, complaining loudly, submitted
perforce to this election, and sauntered
away, whistling lugubriously.
Marjory still chung to her sisters
hand.
"Ginger, wait a minute. Sh! Don't
let him hear you. Let's sit In the
hammock WHILE"
They sat down, huddled together
and waited in silence until the sound
of Tubs footsteps, and Tubs whistling
subsidized into the darkness. "Ginger
1 want to ask you something. viii
you Just sit here with me, and tall
until-Mr. Buckworth comes home
And Ginger, if he comes over, and sits
down-he always does, you know
would you mind-would you just a:
lief You wouldn't mind, would
you"
go to bed, you meanp
. "Well, you see, Ginger, l want t.
ask him about something"
, 81 see. I'm to talk my head off unit
he gets here, and then I'm to go t.
, bed"
, MarjOry squeezed her arm about he
sisters waist.
? "You see Well, you see, Ginger
It is like this. You remember tina
night when you crept downstairs
3 how long ago 1t seems land he ha'
q his arm around me. Well, Ginger,
\ didn't care a bit because you saw II
|, It didn't make any difference to me
But I think it embarrassed him, o
! made him angry, or something, for h
hasn't so much as looked at Inc since.
). II see," said Ginger duly.
r 81 want to tell him that you-yo
Q didn't think thing of it-a littl
thing like that. l think maybe b
thinks / feel bad about it."
q "You don't, do your"
a "No." Marjory's voice sank to
b whisper. "Not a bit. I like him."
So the two girls sat, and waite'
and presently from the church, the
heard the two men, coming slOwl
g talking as they walked. MarjOry clun
!, to Ginger's hand, and held her breat
g At the end of the flagstOne path the
/ stood for while before they sal
d good night and parted.
:. "Y-you talk" whispered MarjOry.
: Ginger talked. 81 think it's sue
t a silly name for farm" said Ginge
/ "Just like Eddy Jackson. Who ell!
3 would do such a dumb thing? Pa
8 Dirt. Everybody knows farm
nothing but dirt, and If 1t didn't pa
T nobody would farm 1t. Oh, hello. NJ
n Buckworth. Home so soon? II
Q lovely tonight. Won't you come al
talk to u.s."
L "Not tonight, thanks, am tire
e Pleasant dreams" And he passed
side.
q The girls sat very still for m
i ment. They heard him say good mig
to Miss jenkins, and go up the stall
N Marjory's tense arm about Ginger
lie waist relaxed suddenly. Her quivt