Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-09
Gross Purposes
By
Ex.Coneressman VIM. H. Hinrichsen
Copyright, 1908, by Daily Story Pub. Co.

Copyright. 1908, by Daily Story Pub Coz
A MONG the bOarders at Mrs. Moul
~ tons farm that summer were Mrs
Stewart and her daughter Caroline;
Mrs. Stewart a quiet, pleasant-faceC
lady, and Caroline, beautiful girl o.
TO- There were dozen other boarders
in the house besides Harry, Mrs MOul
tons nephew, who was visitor anc
not bOarder, as his aunt told the neigh.
bOrs.
Harry had been reared on farm, anG
intended by his parents for farmer
but when they died he determined tC
sell the old place and after proper prep
aratlon embrace law as profession
He was at that time q, and had beer
graduated from an academy in neigh
boring town, so he felt himself fairly
we'll on the way to the accomplishment
OF his wish. He converted his acres
into dollars and began his studies. Five
years at college and university founc
him almost penniless. but with his pre-
cious diploma in his pocket. and he glad
ly accepted an invitation from his aunt
10 Speuu luc summer With ucI OelOle
looking for permanent location.
1T has been that lonely since youl
Uncle died that l thought l couldn''
stand it any longer" she told Harry
OF course, l don't have to take board.
ers for a living but they'll be company
and you must help entertain them"
of course. aunt said Harry, III
make myself useful"
And he did, particularly where Caro-
line Stewart was concerned. He haC
met her and her mother at the station
and driven them to the farm in carry.
all. From that day he was Caroline's
regular attendant. lie fell in love with
the beautiful, sweet tempered girl. anC
she knowing him as her landlady's
nephew. rot only accepted his services
but took possession of linn as she die
Of everything which she could make
useful
He accompanied her in her walks and
drives and always kept near her. She
showed an interest in the work of the
farm, and he was her Instructor. He
broke and gentled a horse for her use
and made himself so necessary that
she wanted him always within call She
liked the young man with his ruddy face
and stalwart figure and she often re-
marked to her mother that he was GER
tainly treasure. Size liked to exhibit
him to her friends as she met them, and
even to Mr.. Lansdow. who always came
from the city Saturday evening and re-
manned till Monday morning.
Mr.. Lans6ow appeared devoted 10
Miss Stewart. and Harry was madly
that she appeared to like his own COM
pany very much and to prefer his So
ciety to that of any other, even when
Mr.. Lansdow was present.
Mr.. Lansdow, aged 40. distinguished
looking gentleman, said to be rich,
seemed at first slightly jealous of Harry,
but after his second visit he seemed
Indifferent to Carolines apparent
fondness for the younger mans society.
and certainly showed no further sign
of jealousy.
The summer wore on. Harry's love
for Caroline grew so strong that his
aunt sid he was 'daffy" about her.
They tt Ok long walks and rides, sa: on
the gal cry in the moonlight. and she
even learned to feed the fowls and
milk the COWS under his tuition. They
talked mainly of farm topics and he. in
his infatuation, did not notice that
her education was superficial and that
literature had no charms for her. He
thought that she was determined to
give her mental powers a vacation dur
ing her summer on tie farm, and lie ad-
mired her for it. He would have ap-
proved anything she did and her
slightest wish was highest law to him
horses. cattle, hogs and sheep. of their
care and fattening and their value for
speed. draft, food and WOOL lie en-
planned the planting the cultivation and
the harvesting of grains and vegetables
and lie even found her interested in fer
tilizers and tEe rotation of crops
There were familiar subjects to him, for
he Lad absorbed agrarian information
as boy. For her amusement he built
hen coops mended the fences. repaired
the harness and gathered vegetables
and she seemed delighted with his skill
and knowledge.
AS the summer drew to close Harry
began to worry. Caroline WAS rs kind
as ever, but he had so far dared not
speak to her of love, there standing in
the way dread specter ever present.
She was rich and he was poor, and he
dared not ask her to marry him, and at
times he was misera bic.
His kind old aunt read his secret,
and she said: Don't be downhearted.
Harry. If Miss Caroline loves you, she'll
let you know it plain enough before she
goes away. She perhaps won't ask you
right out to marry her, but she'll say
something that will just force you to
propose and show you that she wants
you to-"
Harry was comforted, and lay in wait
for some suggestion that would war
rant him in asking the important cues
tion
She was to return to the city in anoth-
er week. and in the evening she suggest
ed to Harry stroll through the or