An Idyl of a Chicken Ranch [pp. 482-491]

AN IDYL OF A CHICKEN RANCH.
"Then of course we'd have to buy one
of those machines for hatching the eggs.
What do you call them?"
Incubators?"
That's it. They're awfully dear,
but I suppose they'd pay in the time
they'd save."
"Time?"
Yes, hatch the chickens a lotquicker,
you know."
Sawyer exploded, " That's right, my
boy. Raise a second crop while the hens
are still fussing over the first."
Tom looked surprised at Sawyer's
merriment, laughed with him a bit doubtfully, and went on, "Of course I don't
know much about'em, yet, but I mean
to study poultry books a lot this spring."
"In the spring a young man's fancy
Lightly turns to thoughts ofchickens. i don't know but it's a good
plan, Tom. Study it up well before you
begin. Let me know if I can help you.
I might lend you the money for that incubator."
"Thanks. You're generous as usual,
but I think the governor will advance it.
I'm going home this summer and 1'11
talk him into it then." And carefully
knocking the ashes out of his briar-wood,
Tom reached for his mackintosh. "Awfully nasty weather. 1 "11 be glad when
the rain's over."
"Or the vacation," suggested Sawyer.
"JACK dear," said Mrs. Sawyer one
night in May, as they sat on the porch
watching the moon through a fretwork
of locust blossoms, " is n't it interesting
to watch a love story?"
"Now, my dear, dynamite has never
been considered a safe plaything, and
matchmaking-"
"What a horrid word! I have only
watched. I have n't assisted at all. But
it is interesting. I think it will be very,
very nice. I want Tom to marry an
American girl."
"Oh, Tom?"
"Yes, of course Tom. Who else
could I have meant?"
"I thought you referred to Jos&'s frequent visits to the kitchen." And Mr.
Sawyer laughed. " But seriously, Mary,
I should be sorry to see Miss Rowan
marry Tom. He lacks backbone. He's
clever and entertaining, but I doubt if he
will ever be able to make aliving. His
intentions are good enough, but - well
there, we've no right to discuss the affair till we're asked to."
"Mr. Sawyer," said Tom next day,
"is it thirty day's notice you require?"
"Notice? What's the matter? Going to quit? Why, I can't get along
without you."
"Well, it's this way, Mr. Sawyer;
Miss Rowan - I - er - well, to cut it
short, Miss Rowan has promised to marry
me, and I've got to go home to make arrangements about it. Can't explain that
sort of thing in letters, you know." And
Tom beamed happily, though conscious
that his explanation was rather bungled.
"I congratulate you, old man. Miss
Rowan is a fine girl. You're a lucky
dog. Oh, if necessary I can let you go
on fifteen day's notice."
Two weeks later, Tom was in Monterey, on what he called dress parade inspection, with Mrs. Rowan as reviewing
officer. Tom found her a charming
woman, and after a day or two of probation, she quite approved of him, and made
his visit a delightful one. Mrs. Rowan
knew every nook of the sleepy old town
dozing peacefully on the beautiful curved
shore of the bay, and through their walks
here and there, Tom caught many
glimpses of the old Spanish days, of the
life which Elsie he called her that now
-had described to him. He sketched
the picturesque fishing village, the Mission, the quaint old Spanish houses, while
Mrs. Rowan sat beside him, and in her
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