OCR Text |
Show JPQDS9 gJDCOO (Copyright, 1905. by Dally Story rub. Co.) "If anybody's namo ever wns n misfit, mis-fit, it's mine. Deulnh moans 'married,' and I'm an old ,mnld qulto a little gray and almost 40. More polite, 1 suppose, to say bachelor maid, but I bcllevo In calling a spade a spado. Whoovor wrote that hymn about 'Sweet Beulah land, ought to sco what hind of land mine Is rocks and birch and that dreadful frog pond. I can't oven make my Httlo garden all In one spot, but havo to plant tomatoes In ono placo and hunt up another for tho squushes. They do look pretty, though, climbing over tho rocks and It snves mo tho troublo of piling a heap of stones togothor nnd calling It a rockery. rock-ery. Ughl how thoso frogs croak tonight; to-night; I could hear them a mllo away. I wish It was winter and they wero asleep In tho mud."1 And Miss Beulah, drawing her shoulder shawl tightly, went Into her lonely house. Sho was said to havo had a "disappointment." "dis-appointment." Amos Hathaway had wanted her and she had loved him, but thoy must wait until ho could mako a Utile homo for her, and ho bent all his energy to that end. It was hard toll, digging and dolvlug on a rocky Now England farm. Tho dawn, with Its flush of amber and pearl, meant potatoes to bo dug, and tho glory of tho sunset told of cows to bo milked. But at last Amos had enough for their slmplo wants. "Beulah, dear girl," ho Bald, '.'tho Httlo homo Is all ready." t ... "I know, Amos, but I can't como-f como-f cannot, I ought not to leave father ind mother." "You aro crazy, Beulah! I have wanted vnu for pis years and lived and worked In tho hopo of It. Is this what has made you look and act so Urangoly?" t "Yes, you thought It was becnuso of lister Emily, but that was not aM. I know when sho died thero would bo ao ono left but mo to take care of lather and mother. I've tried so many times to tell you, but I novo? could ( cannot leave tborri," "Then, jou don't really love mc, Oeulabl" It was a storm of passion and the .unilng back of tho hopes of years, ind Amos, In tho bitterness of his soul, vhen all his' pleading proved In vain, old her to go her way and ho would 10 his ho never would, never ak tor to corao to him again. And away to wont to tho mining region of the lorthwest to make his fortune Beulah used to think of him winter lights whon tho wind shrieked in tho :hlmncy and rocked tho old house. 3ho had given tho most devoted enro .o her fathor and mother, to tho end )f their IIvcb, and now sho was alono. Her tiny house and gardon were her main support, but lately sho had been droil with zeal to strlko out In a new direction and add to her Income. Tho new trolley was on everybody's tongue. ton-gue. It was an air line between a largo town end a city, and tho Httlo farming hamlet whore Beulah lived I Wit "Then, you don't really love me, Beulah!" lay In Its track aud was waklug up to Its opportunities. - , "Why can't I soil something as well as tho roBt and earn enough for n now dress," said MIbs Boulah, tossing toss-ing on hor uneasy pillow. "I haven't any farm produco and, I novor hnd any luck with chickens. Thgre! 1'vo hoard that frog's legs wero good to eat, and I've frogs enough to fill up a regl' merit." "Do it now I" wns Miss Boulah's wntchword, nnd next morning sho took the '.rolloy for tho city nnd never roatod until slo, had goo. thd general buyer for a fine hotel and ongugod to bring a Bnmplo lot of "frog saddles, i Tired but triumphant, she enmo home unmindful of tho keen Rcmtlny of a fellow traveler, who eyed her first with a puzzled look, then with a satisfied satis-fied air swung himself off at tho same stopping placo. Next morning, bright and early, MIsb Beulah mndo an amphibious toilet nnd Btnrted for tho frog pond. Stopping carefully on tho floating not-work not-work of branches and logs sho spied the bright, green head nnd mottled body of a splendid great fellow and crept cautiously closo to him. "I'vo got you now!" sho oxclnlraod, putting out her hand and making a tremendous grnb. But ho was too "I don't want to be engaged In a frog Dond." quick and dashed back into the water. "I'll have you yet," sho cried, and, bending eagerly forward, lost her bnl-nnco bnl-nnco nnd fell nplnshlng among tho frightened frogs. "Hold on, I'll help you," shouted a masterful voice, which thrilled her hear, and a tall, athletic man came resolutely toward her and lifted her dripping form. "Coino, Boulah hold tight don't bo afraid como with mo." "Amos Hathaway! I'd know your volco at tho North Pole I" "Yes, Beulah, I was waiting for the proper tlrao In the day to call, and camo around by tho old pond. You know, dear, I vowed I'd never ask you to como to mo again, but I'vo Just said It." "Don't say another word, Amos, until un-til wo get ashore, I don't want to be engaged In a frog pond." |