The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-08

fee, Of course, hut you've got To go.
You know how important II Is to our
general plan that we get possession. %
The result was that Maj. Gillespie
found himself the next afternoon at
the depot Of the little town of Cherry
dale, some 40 miles from home.
After making some inquiries at the
country tavern he decided to begin OPP
erations at once. so as to end the dis
agreeable task as soon rs possible. and
was driven to the Fletcher homestead
on the outskirts OF the town. He went
TO get the lay of the land and left the
officers sent with him. n, the tavern.
lie found an old-fashioned country
place big. homelike house sur
rounded with great trees in the mids {
of farm of great natural beauty,
rolling meadows and fruitful fields
ira"ersed by ripping brook.
by George, don't blame anybody
for wanting tn keep such n place." said
the major 10 himself, as he left his
carriage and walked up the shrub
lined lane.
In response TO the knocker grim
old woman opened the front door far
enough TO let the ma ior see that II was
fastened with chain inside, and in re.
sponse to his request to see Miss
Fletcher was told to wait on the porch
and she would see him there. As the
major stood smiling at the crude at.
tempt 10 thwart the edict of the law.
and inwardly fuming at the trivial ne
cessity for taking him so far from his
snug bachelor apartments, the door
opened and Immediately he heard the
chain rattle into place again. Turn
ing. he lifted his hat to the girlish fig
ure in the doorway. II was n perfect
type of budding womanhood, the
major noted briefly, just before his
eyes rested on her face. Then with a
start the hat dropped from his hand
and he grasped the railing for sup
port.
Amy" he gasped. his hand seeking
his brow with a gesture of bewilder-
mcnt. For there before him in the
flesh stood Amy Lester, the sweet
heart of his boybood. just as she had
looked on the day he had left her to
go to the war. Not a day older. not
a feature changed! And he knew she
had died these ten years ago. Had he
lost his mind? Had paresis overtaken
him in the p-ime of life? He stood
transfixed, vitG trembling limbs and
staring eyes.
"Amy Fletcher. II YOU please, sir
replied the young woman, with some
spirit. "And what is your business
here. may ] ask?"
81 must beg your pardon" said he,
with courtly grace. "You reminded
me SO strongly of an old and very dear
friend"
"You were friend of mamma $,
them" inquired the girl. Her name
was Amy Lester"
'Yes, she was once very dear
friend OF mine" replied the major
gravcly.
The girl. who had been standing de.
family, with eyes flashing, sof,ened
visibly.
"Oh. I'm so glad you came. I'm In
the most dreadful trouble. and they
a., trying to take the old place away
from me; but they won't do II. II
never let them. III die first. Grand
pa told me never TO let them do 1t. and
that they had no right, and won't
But it's so hard for girl who don't
know anything about business or law
or anything 20 combat all those men
] need friend. Indeed do. and II yor
were a friend OF mammals you will be
my friend; know you will. You will
help me, won't you? You are so big
and strong. And you know all about
these horrid business things; I know
you do. And-and you--you are kind
and honest; I know you are. Tel
me-tell me what to do"
The major looked at her In amaze
ment. Here was situation indeed.
"Tell me all about It," he said, with
n tremor in his voice.
They sat down on the rustic bench
together-and the majors tall, sol
dierly figure thrilled us II had not for
20 years, and he could not realize that
II was not the other woman-the won.
an Of 20 years ago-who was seated be-
side him. as she had been so often In
the old days. She told him her pa
theiic story-how she had been left
an orphan to her grandfather's care,
and how he had died year ago in the
midst Of a quarrel with big land syn.
dicate that sought to acquire his prop,
erty, ana had told her that the nego.
tiations had not been closed, although
some papers had passed. He warned
her never To yield possession of the
property. Then there had been law.
suits. and now they were irving "a
eject her from the house in which she
was born and To deprive her Of all she
had in the world. Going further into
the matter, the major learned many
things that had puzzled him during the
trial of the case involving the proper,
~. and discovered how a great injus.
tice had been wrought.
rupily. "You will be harassed no
more"
lie went straight back to the city,
and there was an interview with Na-.
delmeier-the stormiest, u Is said
that ever occurred In the majors old.
fashioned back room-and the result
was that certain checks bearing the
majors signature passed to Vsndel
meier and the deed 10 the Fletcher
estate passed to Amy Fletcher.
There was the glow Of long g-deferred
youth on his face and the agility Of q
boy In his soldierly carriage as he
sprang mp the steps with the deeds in
his pocket. She did not entertain him
on the veranda this time, and before
the day was over she invited him Ia en-,
low N short 4 an aan a,, tha Al a . N 4, N IA l. m 4