The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-03-21

Fargo was, as usual, an hour
late. An hour late was. ac-
cording to general report. the
regular time OF that train.
Eden village, as It's imaginative early
settlers had named it, was dining
station on the road, and as Landlord
Stevens, Of the hotel, thus gathered in
shekels enough to keep Linn at the
level of good nature, his patrons all
ways found him a pleasant and social
individual.
A young man who had registered as
Doctor Lawrence Of Fargo. was a
guest of the hotel, and after the meal
was finished and the train had pulled
out for the Missouri River, he inquired
OF the landlord II he could direct him
to the house OF Mr.. Elvidge.
"Old man Elvidge's place is about a
half mile straight south of the village"
the landlord said "You can't miss the
house, for it's the only one out there.
The old man owns the whole south half
of the section, and wants no neigh
bors"
You don't fatter him"
you're not q relative? No? Well,
every one here who knows old Elvidge
knows he's just that style Of a man.
He's honest, and when you say that
you've said about all you can that's
good of him without lying. He wor-
ried his wife to death, and he can't
keep help long at the ranch. About
1--we years ago he adopted an orphan
laughter of a brother of his, and seems
to have taken q fancy to her. She's
now about twenty. Elvidge has done
considerable for Miss Mary, to every
body's wonder. She has just returned
from Fargo, where she took a seminary
course. But she has to do just as her
uncle tells her or she'd be stepped on
hard. The old man hasn't a friend in
the world, except his girl. You don't
know him?"
mo; never saw him." said Law
renee; "but you have been so candid
in painting the old man that don't
mind saying l know his niece. met
her in Fargo In fact am engaged to
her"
$50? God bless you both then" the
landlord replied "And 1 may add, too,
God help you?
Doctor Lawrence easily found the
Elvidge ranch, and was warmly wei
coined by Mary, who, very likely ex-
pected him.
Mr.. Elvidge did not show himself
till supper time. He gave Doctor Law
renee a cool reception, suspecting his
mission and not approving Of it; he had
other plans for his niece's future.
"AIr. Elvidge," said Lawrence, when
an opportunity offered, Il don't know
whether your niece has given you any
information regarding the matter or
not, but / have been hoping for some
time to become your nephew-in-law,
and would be much pleased to gain
your consent to our marriage. ! have
a practice that is reasonably prosper
Gus, and the prospects for the future
are promising"
when l sent Mary away to school,
Mr.. Elvidge said, Il did not expect to
lose her, and cannot consent to this
sudden upsetting of my plans. I will
consult with her later, and write you
my decision
Doctor Lawrence shortly after took
the train for Fargo.
Mr.. Elvidge held a long and serious
session that evening with his niece
He was very much disappointed in her
TO fall in love without her uncle''
counsel was not only childish and silly
but wrong and ungrateful act Tit
idea of love w6s a relic of babyhOod
and the adult who allowed it to inter
fere with business was a fool. DR.
Lawrence was very likely a fortune
hunter. What had he to offer? Moth
ing.
Now Mr.. Workman sensible anC
appropriate name, by the way-had fo
some months before asked fer he
hand, and had received encouragement
from the uncle. Mr. Workman was oil
enough to have a seasoned mind, ant
he owned a half section adjoining tn
Elvidge ranch The union Of thes
two farms had been the uncle's dream
for long time. He would never Civ
his consent to Mary's marriage wit
any one but Mr. Workman, and sh
need not hope to change this decision
TO talk OF her lack of love or even re
spect for Mr.. Workman, and her at
lection for Doctor Lawrence, Mar.
knew would be useless and she re
nained silent Any other course woul
Lave added fuel to the fire.
Doctor Lawrence received two lei