Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-09-19

found himself the next afternoon a
the depot of the little town OF Cherry
dale, some 40 miles from home.
After making some inquiries at-th,
country tavern he decided TO begin op
erations at once, so as to end the dis
agreeable task as soon as 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. at the tavern
He found an old.fashionsd country
place-a big. homclike house sur
rounded with great trees in the midst
OF farm Of great natural beauty
rolling meadows and fruitful fields
trayersed by ripping brook.
In response 10 the knocker a grim
old woman opened the front door far
enough TO let the major 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 to thwart the edict Of the law,
and inwardly fumlng at the trivial ne.
cesslty 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. 1t was perfect
type OF budding womanhood, the
major noted briefly, just before his
eyes rested on her face. Then with q
start the hat dropped from his hand
and he grasped the railing for sup.
port.
AMY" he gasped, his hand seeking
his brow with gesture OF bewilder.
ment. 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 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 prime OF life? He stood
transfxed, with 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 a friend OF mammals,
then2" inquired the girl. "Her name
was Amy Lester"
"Yes; she was once very dear
friend Of mine" replied the major,
gravely.
The girl, who had been standing de.
family, with eyes flashing, softened
visibly.
"Oh. I'm so glad you came. I'm In
the most dreadful trouble, and they
are trying to take the old place away
from me; but they won't do Il. III
never let them. I'll 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 to combat all those men
| need friend Indeed do, and you
were a friend OF mammals you will be
my friend; ! know you will. You will
help me, won't your You are so big
and strong. And you know all about
these horrid business things; l know
you do. And-and you--you are kind
and honest; know you are. Tell
me what TO do"
Tell me all about IT," he said, with
a trerhor In his voice.
They sat down on the rustic bench
together and the majors tall, sol.
iierly figure thrilled AZ 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.
thetic story-how she had been left
an orphan to her grandfather's care,
and how he had died year ago in the
midst OF quarrel with big land syn.
dicate that sought to acquire his prop.
erty, and had told her that the nego.
,iations had not been closed, although
some papers had passed. lie warned
ler never to yield possession Of the
Then there had been law.
suits, and now they were trying 90
G ject 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.
ty, and discovered how great injus.
tlce had been wrought
"Do not he afraid" said he, rising alb.
ruptly. "You will be harassed no
more"
He went straight back to the city,
and there was an interview with Van.
delmeier the stormiest, II 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 Vandel
meier aud the deed TO the Fletcher
estate passed 10 Amy Fletcher.
There was the glow OF loug-defe eferred
youth ON his face and the agility Of a
boy In his soldierly carriage as he
,praug mp the steps with the deeds in
his pocket. She did not entertain him
,n the Nerauda this time, aud before
,he day was over she invited him to en-.