Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/189

 that he had never met Enoch in his life? Truth is a wonderful thing but it is often cruel, whereas a lie in the right place is ofttimes a blessing.

"Yes," he said, "I knew him. Used to meet him quite often down Galvey way. He always stopped to talk with me. I think you could almost say we were pretty good friends. He talked a great deal about you. Told me all the plans you and he were making together. He had his heart set on buying that ten acre piece that adjoins yours."

Linda was crying softly but there was a look in her eyes that almost made her beautiful, a glow of health seemed to return to her pallid cheeks.

"Yes," she whispered, "if he'd lived he'd o' bought it, too. His father died when he was fourteen years old. Fine man, his father, college man. Eddicated to be a civil engineer but he failed. Not because he weren't clever. He was wonderful but because his face was a few shades too dark. So here we came to this farm. And we were happy, very happy till he died.