The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1935-06-07
Old Sans Advice
BY E. L. GILL
g, Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

he grasped Old Sam Matthias Dy the
shoulder and pointed 1t out. Old Sam
grunted in noncommittal fashion.
Young Bill had not been a cheerful
companion to Old Sam on this last
trip and Old Sam was showing his dis
appointment Young Bill, for his part,
was both definitely disappointed and
irritated with Old Sam. He had come
to the mountain shack of the old
guide, seeking sympathy and help In
the major crisis of his twenty-five
years But Old Sam was bored. Count
less times before the boy had taken
his problems to the unlettered, weather
beaten old guide In the hills, and al
ways before Old Sam had set him
Alright.
The old mans attitude deepened
Bills resentment toward the world In
general-and Betty In particular. The
entire trouble, of course, was Betty.
1t was an ancient story that Bill told
Old Sam-a story OF the magnificent
love of a boy for a girl; the boy I'M
bued with the idealism Of the age Of
chlvalry hopelessly, fantastically In
love with a fascinating bit of girl sud
denly irked by the restraint Of old
fashioned standards and "out to find
what life Is all about"
1t was not, BIZ often told himself,
that he had any desire whatever for
the young lady's affection any longer.
The maddening thing was that he
couldn't rid his heart and mind and
soul Of her.
i wouldn't know what to say to that,
son, Old Sam condescended once or
twice during the day. Nothing more.
And when night had settled and they
sat on the porch of the mountain shack,
Old Sam talked Of trout.
I'm going to bed, the youth said.
"Got a little somethin' I'd might like
to do tonight, been a thinkin' Of that
flower we saw back there in the swamp
today Somethin' sort Of queer about
that Don't banker much for sleep
myself and have a mind to take the
lantern and have a look. Better come
along, you'll sleep the better for it,
The old mans suggestion sounded
silly to the distracted youngster, who
nevertheless consented, grudgingly
The swamp was little more than a
ten minute walk along the trail. Old
Sam, boots drawn to his hips, led the
way, carrying the lantern. The youth
followed, flashlight In hand At the
/ edge of the water they stopped and,
at Old SAINTS direction, Bill searched
the surface Of the swamp until the flash
light caught the white flower
I'm bit curious about that flower,
Bill; I'm agoln' to get it out and take
1t back to the shack looks to me like a
lily and Old Sam started into the
swamp, sinking knee-deep In the mire.
Its some sort OF lily, sure as you
live SON." he called back to Bill
Back in the shack Ma Matthias
/ rustled an old bucket, grumbling the
while at these consarn fool notions.
Bill was dispatched to fiji the bucket
/ with clean rich earth and Old Sam set
to work to repIant his lily, talking the
while In quiet, soothing tones. as he
might have to a sick wayfarer.
Brave little lady-had a right tough
time of It out there In that swamp,
/ reckon.
Can't figure out how you come to be
in such vile smellin place mighty
bad company you was in.
Seemed to like 1t right smart at that
/ stubborn as an old mule about com
In out-guess you didn't knew them
weeds was a-goin' to choke you In time
There she Is now, Ma, good as new
and amt she a beauty! Reckon she
feels lot better, too-suspect If she
could talk she would be a-tellin' us that
she's mighty happy to get out of that
swamp"
But Old Sam got no further with his
4 monologue. Young Bill Holland was
dashing out through the open doorway
Of the shack.
Betty was dancing lightly from table
to table, regaling the party with 9
song. Bill stood, unnoticed, watching
He waited until Betty's solo dance
brought her close to where he stood
AS she whirled, he caught her upraiset
ain III pllluS grip a youth TuSnel
forward to resent the indignity. Bnl's
fist caught the point of his chin.
The merry makers confronted BIZ
en- masse at the doorway, denouncins
him in shrill outbursts. Meanwhile
Bill was delivering eloquent If dis
jointed references to poisonous weeds
and filthy water
Betty was subdued young lady
The first flush of fiery indignation
passed as quickly as it came. 1t MAJ
have been an expression on Bill Hol
lands face; it may have been some
thing else.
She was quite ready to go TO the CA
with Bill. Meekly, she allowed hersel
TO be led up the steps Of the record
er's home. Meekly, too, aided by Bilri
gruff promptings, SHE answered tn,
necessary questions.
When they were again In the road
ster and Bill had pocketed the docu
ment given him by the recorder, Bett,
laid her head on Bills shoulder and
W0mpn-likn nriad oraut