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About The Springfield news. (Springfield, Lane County, Or.) 1916-2006 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1921)
PAGE SIX THE SPMNT.FIKLI) NEWS jf JQ ROBERT J. C y STEAD Homesteader - ' Atttftmr mt T On Copyright. All Right Reserved runri r.n "YES; HE'S CONE." Pyrtopsls P'Mitlfle1 trve.-soa ef the seeiiilntly barren outlook of Ms ro lion a ni'tiool teacher In a I'anadmn town, Jutin Harris deter mines to leave It. lKe up land ln Manitoba and become a "home aieader " Mary, the girl whom ha loves, declares aha will accompany him. They ara married anJ set out for the unknown country. They select a homesteud. build a home and put In a crop. Returning, from selling hia Drat crop, Harris And his wife almost Insane from loneli ness and with Immediate eipecta ttou of becoming a mother. A son Is born anJ they name him Allan The atory now Jumps forward 24 years Harris is prosperous and all lor getting rich. Mary Is toil-worn and saddened over the change In ler husband. Allan works on tha farm. lieulah. the pretty daugh ter, la rebellious at the snut-ln farm life, Jim Travers is an un usual hired man aud be la tn love with Beulah. CHAPTER V Continued. "We'll hurry up tlie plowing. Dad, and run west before tlie harvest Is on us," Allan said as they rode home through the darkness. "We can file our lund and get back for the fall work. Then we will go out for the winter and commence our duties. The only question Is. can they prow any thing on that lund out there?" That's what they used to ask when we came to Manitoba." said his fa ther. "And there were years when I doubted the answer myself. Some parts were froze out year after year, and they're among the best In the coun try now. and never think of frost. The same thlng'il happen out there, and we might as well be In the game." To do him Justice, It was not alto pether the desire for more wealth that prompted Harris. It was the call of new land ; the call he had heard and answered In the early eighties; the old eppetite that hud lain dormant for a quarter of a century, but was still In his blood, waiting only a suggestion of the open spaces, a whiff from dry grass on the wlni-swept plains, the zigzag of a wagon-trail streaking afar Into the horizon, to set it tingling again. So this morning father and son were especially anxious that not a moment of their plowing weather -.hould be lost, and It won particularly aggravat ing when the hired man's long delay resulted In a bubbling sputter followed ty a dry hiss from the Injector, warn- ing the engineer that the water-tank was empty. Allan shot an anxious glance down the road to the coulee, but the water team was not In sight. Seizing the whistle cord, he sent Its peremptory summons Into the air. Harris looked up from the plows, and the two exchanged frowns of annoy ance. I5ut the water stood high In .the glass, and Allan did not reduce the speed, although he cut the link action another notch to get every ounce of advantage from the expansion. But the water went down, down Id the glass, and still there was no sign of a further supply. Allan again cut the air with his whistle, and at length, with a muttered Imprecation, be slammed the throttle shut and Jumped from the engine. "Keep a keen eye on yonr fire," said Harris, "and I'll go down nnd see what's wrong with him." So the farm er strode off aerons tlie plowed field. The delay annoyed him, end he felt unreasonably cross with Travers. As fie plodded on through the heavy soil Ms temper did not Improve, and he was talking to himself by the time he came upon Travers, giving his team their wind at the top of the hill lead ing up from the creek. "TVhat kept you?" he demanded when lie came within a rod of tin wagon. "Here's the outfit shut down waiting for water, and you" "I'm sorry, Mr. Harris " That ain't what I nsked you. Ton can't make steam with sorrow. What have you been fool In' about?" "I haven't been fooling. As to what delayed me well, you're delaying me now. Better Jump on and ride up with me." "So you won't tell me, eh? You think you can do what you like with vaj leom and my time, and It's none of my business. We'll see whose busi ness It Is." Harrln came threateningly toward the wagon, but was met only by the Imperturbable smile of his hired man. He thrust his foot on a spoke of the wheel and prepared to spring onto 'tin tank, hut at that moment the horxes Stirred and his foot slipped. Seeing that the farmer was about to full , Travers seized hltn by the collar of 1 his shirt, hut In no doing he Icnmtl and lost Ms oikti balance, when ttu weight of the filling man came upon him, and the two tumbled onto tha grass In each other's arms. Allan, having satisfied hlniM'If that the engine would take no harm, had followed Tils rather', and came over the crest of the ridge above the coulee Just In time to see Jim apparently strike his employer nnd the two strug gling on the grass together. In nn In stant the young man's hot blood was In hl bend; he rushed forward, and Just as Jim had rlon to his knees he struck him a stinging blow I- the face that mensured him ngsln In the gross. It was only for an Instant. Travers sprang to his feet, a red line slowly stretching down bis cheek as he did so. Allan came upon him swinging a tremendous blow at the Jaw; but Jim ruard.'d skilfully, and msverd with n smash from the shoulder straight on the chin, which laid his adversary's six feet prostrate before htm. AHnn rose slowly, sober but r'eter mlned. and for a moment It looked at though n battle' royal were to he fought on the spot, both men strong, lean, rigid, hard as Iron, and quick as steel; hn angry, careless, furious; Jim ratm. cocC bnf, and still smiling. But Harris rushed between them and seized 1 Is son by the arms. "Stop It, Allan; stop, I mt. Von mustn't fight. Jim didn't bit me I'll say that for him. Now -quit It As for you" (turning to Jim), "I'm sorry for this, but yrui have yourself (o blame. I'll give you one more chance to answer me what kept you?" "I don't choose to answer," was Jim's reply, spoken In the most casual tone. Ills eye was rapidly closing where Allan's blow had fallen on It, hut his white teeth still glistened be hind a smile. "All right." said Ilftrrls. "Ton can go to the house and tell Mrs. Ibirrls to pay you what Is coining." And the farmer climbed onto the wagon and took tie reins himself. Whin Jim entered the kitchen he was received with astonishment by Mrs. Harris Hnd Beulnti. "Why, what ever has happened?" thev exclaimed. "Has there been on accident? ' You're hurt !" But Jim sm'-'ed, and said: "No ac cident at nil. I have merely decided to go homestendlng." And he went up the stairs to pack his belongings. CHAPTER VI. Into -the Night Harris and Allan drove strulyln to the engine, never looking back to see what became of the hired man. On the way the farmer explained to his son what bad taken place; that words had passed between them, but no blows had been struck, until Allan appeared on the scene. "I can't make out what got Into Jim, that he wouldn't answer a civil question. Jim was a good man, too." I'erhaps the disturbing suggestion en tered Harris' mind that the question hnd Leen none too civil, and he was really beginning to feel that after all Jim might be the aggrieved party. But he crushed down such mental se dition promptly. "It don't matter how good a man he was," he declared, "as long as I pay the piper I'm golu' to call the tune." "It puts us up against It for a wa terman, though," said Allan, thought fully. "So It does," admitted Harris, who up to that moment had not reflected that his hasty action in dismissing Travers would result In much more delay than anything else that had oc curred. "Well, we'll have to get some body else. We'll manage till noon, nnd then you better ride over to Grant's or Morrison's. They'll be able to lend a nmn or one of the boys for a day or two." At noon Jim's chair was vacant, and the family sat down to dinner amid a depressing silence. No mention was made of the morning's Incident until the meal was well advanced, when Harris, feeling that lie ought In some way to Introduce the subject, said: "Is Jim gone?" "Yes, he's gone," Mazed Beulah. "You didn't expect he'd wait to klsi you good by, did you?" "One In the family Is enough for that treatment," put In Allan, whose swollen chin and stiff neck still biased him against Travers. "He didn't, either. And If he did It's none of your business, you big;" she looked lu r brother strulght In the luce, her swollen "j'S telling their i.wn story, him! repealed deliberately, "iil big '...iii.' Allan bit !.!.- ! i,. . 3 "Jim's quite a I ero, nil right. It's too bad he's gone." "It's a good Job ho'a gone," snld Harris. "By the way Beulah talks things have gon far enough. I don't w ant my daughter marrying n farmer." "Her grandmother's daughter did,' snld Mrs. Harris. "Yes, I know, but things are differ ent now. I look for something better for Bcutnh." It was characteristic of Harris, sa of" thousands nf others, tlmt, although a farmer himself, he looked for "some thing better" for bis daughter. He was resigned to Allan being n farmer; his Intimate, dully relntlonsh'p with his von shrank from any poNstblbty of separation. But for his daugh'er no. He hnd mapped out no enreer for hir; she might marry a doctor, lawyer, merchant, tradesman, even a minister, but not a fanner. It U u IHK-ullarlty of the agriculturist that, among all professions, be holds bis own In the worst repute. In later years has come a grndnnlly broaden ing conception that farming, after nil, He Rushed Forward, and Just at Jim Had Risen to His Knees Ha Struck Him a Stinging Blow in the Face. cnlls for brain ns well as muscle, and that the man who can wrestle a suc cessful living from nntnre has as much right to hold up his head In the world as the experimenter In medicine or the lawyer playing blde-and seek with Justice through the cracks In ti e crim inal code. Herein Is a germ of the cityward migration: the farmer him self Is looking for "something better" for bis children. "Jim was a good .nan." persisted his wife. "Iion't you think you were well, lerhnps, a little hasty with him?" Harris sat back. It was fits wlftj's business to agree. For twenty years and more she had been faithful In the discharge of that duty. That she should suggest an opinion out of har mony with his Indicated a lack of dis cipline, not very serious, :iorhnps hut a seed which, if permitted to flourish, might develop to dangerous I ropor tlons. "So you're goln' to take his part, too? It's a strange thing If I can't handle my hired help without advice from the house." Mary flushed at the remark. Any open quarrel with her husband, espe- QUAINT OLD-WORLD CUSTOMS Whitsuntide Superstition In Parts of England Annual "Cheese RolU Ing" In Small Village. An old superstition still lingers In some parts of Bnglund, notably Derby shire, and Induces people to rise un usually early on Whitsuntide morn ing In order that they may see the sun rise, for they frankly believe that whatsoever request Is profferod the Almighty at that particular moment Is certain to be granted. The county of Northampton relo brates an old custom, dating from the time of Queen Kllzaheth, once In 20 years. The scene of It Is the village of C'arby. Very early on White Monday, bands of men are stationed at the by-wuys of the parish, who demand toll of all pedestrians. Khould they refuse, they mm jms mm clally hefore the children -'or she still (bought of the man nnd woman lo her left and right ns "the chlldien" was more painful lo her thnii nny submission could have been. It would be so much easier to change the sub ject, to follow the line of least resist mice, and forgoi the Incident its quick ly ns possible. But of lute the convic tion had been coming lioinu to her that soon time, somewhere, she must liinke a stand. And. quite unbidden, n strange surge of defiance welled In her when her husband so frankly told her lo mind her own business, "I was miller the Impression we were managing this farm tngethisr, you and I. John," she snld, very calm ly, but with n strange ring In her voice. "When we came West I under stood It was to build our boi.ie. I didn't know It was Just to be your home." The look of surprise with which Harris greeted her words was abso lutely genuine, A hot, stinging retort sprang to his lips, but by n sudden effort he suppressed It. "We will talk about that some other time. Mary," hs snld. "If Jlnt had answered my ques tion fairly, as he bad n right to. In stead of bentln' n round the bush, I tnlcM 've let him off. But when I wanted to know what kept him he simply parried me, inakln' a foot of me end rtibbln' It In with thnt Infer nal smile of his." "So that's what started It!" et chtlmed Bcutnh. "Well. I ll tell vim what kept til us. If he wouldn't. Tha cattle got Into the cats through s break In the fence, nnd I couldn't get them out, nnd the dog went kl yl In over the prairie after n rabbit, and lust ns 1 wns beginning to to con dense over It Jim came up nnd saved I lie slttintlon. What If be ill. I keep your old engine uniting? There are more Important things tlinri plowing. "Ahn!" snld Harris, knowingly. "Well. I guess It's Just as well It hap pened as It did. Jim was getltn' al together too good at runiiln' nt your heels." "That's nil the thanks be gets for working Inte nnd early, like no other hired tunn In the district.' All right. You and Allan can milk the cows to night, for I won't see?" "You sea, they're lieiaf and we're Slitting." HO UK CH.N1 INL'Kli I Color Bllndnrts. It nmy come ni'n surprise to mnny to learn thnt fewer than fifty five eo ple lo every thousand lire more or less color blind. The coinnii.nest form of color blindness Is not - ns Is usually supposed the Inability to d'stlngulsh red ntid green. 'Mint affects one jier. son In fifty five. The most usiinl symptom Is to get mlied between blue nnd green. One person In sixty enn tiot distinguish between brown nnd green. Color blindness Is more com mon among educn'cd than among un educated people, ami Is far more usual nmong men than women. Only nbout one woman In n thoti"andl badly color blind. A vers odd fnc Is thnt musicians are more liable to this affec tion than nny other class or profes sion. Illness nfny ennse color blind ness. There Is a case of a woman w ho became VntlrHy color blind after a form of ear dl"ense, while a signal man who bad suffered nun lockjaw or tetanus became equally unable to distinguish color. Ants Guard Trees. The Pecropris nre remarkable im-c. very widely distributed throughout the tropics. Their slender trunks are crowned with four leaves at the ends of the hran'-li"M. , few active nnts run continually along the branches and leaves, but If the treo Is slinken slightly an Hrmy of ants rush nut by small apertures, ready for a savage as sault on the Intruder. This U the most terrible guardian that the tree hits retained to protect It from Its most formidable enemy the "leaf cutter" ant. The defenders rarely leave their retreat, where they live on small whltl-di egg-shaped bodies about one-twelfth of an Inch long, known as Mueller's corpuscles. are sel.ed, hoisted on n stout pole, rind carried to the village amidst the cheers and Jeers of the spectators. The origin of the "clieesi" rolling" which takes place yearly In the quiet little vhlngo of Blrdllp, In the Chel tenham district, Is lost, like many more, In the mists of antiquity, but local sentiment forbids It dying out, A substantial round cheese In set rolling down a sleep hill with all the young and active members of the population In hot pursuit. Beroro It can he cap tured many of the men are rolling af ter, but the cheese evades the ma jority of them, and usually falls to the lot of one of the company who has managed lo keep his feet. About the Same. "My father occupied the chair o( ,i(i plied physics at ('uinhrldge." "Data nutllu': mine occupied the seat of applied electricity at Sing rilntf." Mumsik husetta Tech. Voo Hoo, If It's anything In paint w hava It Preservative Paints AND Glidden Varnishes The very best the kind that lasts longer. Make our store your headquarters In Portland. Preservative Guaranteed PAINTS 10 Color., cn gallon yJ.UV Ptck tod Floor I AIMS 10 Colors, CO OC gallon pO.LO If you cannot como In reml for color turd. Order by m:tll. Mall nrJcrs filled same day ns received. ' Yea Cm Cct ll Al Beet." The Beebe Company Cor. 1st. and We.K. Sla. Portland, - Oregon DON'T IIAVF. A WISH BONE WHERE YOUK BACK HONE OUGHT 1 0 BE If ymi tirti not .iimriri with your l mi-lit I fl I' O Ml S ilnni wish for x.mr tiling- l-rlli-r t till n ll fc"-t Irmly lor sollirlMlig lrl trr ami uu will ft ll! Will Mi ii-rtit t t ac 1 1 wiim roittlntia? S'ii i.ur knows. Iiut It Is iet liHly. If Hot, i ii will uoti ha looking for aornnthiiis; Willi I't-ltrr nr. Irl us t"ll )ini how )on run ij'iallfy In a short Unix tor tha nrwmt lii .1 fualent giuwliig ji of rlor A I.V I InN luy or nlglil i-liissra tron rt-scrvli-a Kirn i.mv :t uu i ' T tiiniilli (or rdu a- tlotlttl plltpon.n DUUKEY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION H liix'l r Arrotinull) a 10t-lv; Nollh l.lrtrnlli htrrrl Poll; 11.1. 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