Graham guardian., 1911-09-01

y
Lila. So pieced out the story In this
wise: Henry was beginning to see tho
difference between her and the girls no
had met mean by her her clothes
IA certain deficiency In what city peo-
pie call chic. am not referring to
Lila as a soul. not even as body, for
In bodily beauty she would doubtless
far surpass many city girl. Well,
what do refer to? Why. clothes and
manner; that's all.
After this Henry seldom came home
during vacations. heard that he
usually went camping with his fellow
students. At any rate. lost track OF
my lovers. I was reluctantly obliged
to consider my story. II not finished. at
least passing through a stage Of inter-
ruption. Henry had become interested
In n career which would have nothing
to do with farms or farmer people.
When he was graduated learned that
be was Intending to study medicine.
.ut before he entered medical col
hge his father. who spared no expense
on his education. sent him abroad.
When I heard of all these matters,
,,hich were taking him farther and
farther away from provincialism and
his provincial sweetheart. groaned In
spirit. for I saw that my love story
was likely TO end In nothing.
II was some time before Henry was
10 leave the medical college that I
heard bad news Of Lila. They said
she had some trouble that was drag
ging her down. but the doctors could
not discover what It was. They could
not diagnose it--that Is what they call.
ed II. Her father sent to the city and
brought doctor to the farm especial
" to see IL he couldn't tell what was
the matter with her. The doctor said
he couldn't find my organic trouble.
whatever that means, and the only
remedy he thought might benefit her
was change of scene. He advised her
father to take her on trip. But
Farmer Bunker couldn't afford to do
that, and Lila didn't care to 60.
considered this merely part OF
my love story. II was plain to me
that Henry Morse, had drifted away
from the little girl had seen him go
Ing by our house with when they were
children. and the parting was killing
her.
They say story writer's often fall in
love with their imaginary characters.
Therefore It's not strange that a story
creator like myself should fall In love
with a real person OF flesh and blood.
had always known the Bunkers. so
went to see Lila. That was In. the
spring May. I think. found her sit
ting In an easy chair at her window.
pale. languid and without interest In
anything. 1t may I've that she devined
by my bearing toward her that knew
what was the matter With her. At
any rate, when ! went M to her. took
her hand aud drew her head down on
my shoulder she left 1t there and seem.
ed to get relief from the tears that
came.
While she was weeping on my shout.
der / was thinking. Not having any
lover TO bring back for myself. wish
ell could bring back one for this poor
! girl. And formed plan.
But II was some time before car
ried II out. not till summer came.
Then told Lila's parents that J
thought II would do her good to come
I, and make me visit. Since Lila said
she would like to do SO. they consent.
ed. and within few days she was In
my room. the room from which had
| first seen her 60 by with her child
lover. | said nothing about Henry
Morse either as boy or man any more
than II he didn't exist. But when
put Lila in an easy chair ut the very
window from which used TO watch
| her and him and thought Of her as she
| was then and saw her as she was now
I made up my mind that II was so
Ing to make good. real story Of bet
case couldn't rely on things to hap
them about myself.
was thinking. too. that my love
story had been going on long enough
: and II was time II was brought to {
: close. Besides Lila was 50 weak thu
I feared In her condition she'd contrac
/ some real disease. So l wrote DR.
Henry Morse. who had Just been ad
mitted to practice. that had a patien
In my family who was dying Of SOM
disease that none of our country doc
tors could tell anything about and
would pay him whatever he asked II h
would make flying trip and diagnos
II spelled II diagknous-the case.
He wrote back thar he remembers,
me very well and would run down In
few days
or course didn't let on to Lila wha
had done She. poor child. WASH
dreaming what an influence my seeln
her 20 by my window NO many year
before would have on her life. hope
Henry would come az soon as possible
for she was dropping more and NOR
every day.
Well. one morning he came. He sal
i he had answered my call utter hi
arrival even before going home.
was glad of this. for was fearful he
hear something that might interfer
with my plan. just led him upstair
opened the door. and he went In an
I closed II behind him.
I reckon he didn't make as long
call as that on a patient for goo
many years. don't know what hal
pcned between them--didn't see th
surprise Of either Of them. All kno'
J Is that when he came out two or thre
hours after he went In he looked Mt m
as though be was going to say SOM
thing, but pressed my hand instea,