Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-06-26
1T WAS GREAT JOKE
Engaged to Daughter, Fortune
Seeker Changes Mind and
Marries Girls Mother.
BY 3. J. kROM Err.

lowing his graduation from college.
had not erased from his mind and
heart the memory Of dainty care-frec
Laura Tolman, his old sweetheart Of
the college days.
He had suspected this before he re-
turned to the old scenes; now that
he was here the conviction. came to
him with crushing force. Every
shaded walk. every leafy retreat,
every part Of. the old college build
ings and the campus seemed to be
alive with her presence. AS he
walked the old familiar paths he
seemed to hear the music of her girl
lsh voice and to catch the very aroma
Of her sweet presence.
With a groan he admitted THE
had failed utterly in the task he had
set himself out to perform. He had
gone away that day when her en-
gagement to Bently was announced
determined to forget her. The strug-
gle that afternoon had been hard
one, and many times he had thought
Of the river as the most peaceful
haven he could find. Finally his
pride had triumphed. and. setting his
teeth with that peculiar gritty motion
the fellows on the gridiron knew SO
well, he had said to himself:
Claude Belknap. brace up. Where
is the spirit of your forebears? Are
you to let a chit Of a girl ruin your
life-especially a girl who throws you
over for a fellow who is only after
her money!"
And so he had gone bravely away
with a song on his lips. but with
gloom in his heart. He had worked
hard. and not without success. The
very whole-heartedness with which he
threw himself into his work and
which was born Of his desire to so
occupy himself that he would forget
the laughing face and saucy eyes OF
his college sweetheart, drove him on
to success. He had taken up a siren
uous profession, and II had carried
him to many climes and into much
danger.
In the stress and heat OF the bat
tie with fortune he had fattered him
self that the old wound had healed.
and finding himself in the near vicin-
ity OF the college town, he had RASH
ly decided to revisit the old scenes.
Then like the rush OF the tide came
the realization that he ever would love
the sweetheart Of his youth. wherever
she was and whatever her condition
or relationship. The realization
frightened him when the thought
flashed across his mind that she was
the wife Of another.
Heartsick with his own reflections.
he sought to escape them by calling
on Miss Carrie Sample. who still lived
in the town, and who had been a
great chum In the old days. He was
given SO warm welcome as to make
him forget for the moment the bitter
pain in his heart. The conversation
naturally reverted to the old college
days and the old boys and girls. Bel.
knap had been abroad so long and so
occupied with business that he had
lost track OF them to a considerable
extent, but Miss Sample, having lived
all the years under the very caves OF
the old college. and being a gossipy
lady, knew where nearly all the old
classmates were, who they married,
how they were prospering. and all the
other details which so delight the
feminine heart.
The conversation was animated and
extended. and Belknap for the time
being forgot his heartache under the
magic Of this clever and friendly lit.
tie woman.
II was when she dragged forth from
a sacred drawer bundle OF old class
photographs that he was most pain.
fully recalled to his great sorrow.
"oh, but do you remember this pic.
mic we had" she exclaimed, showing
a photograph in front OF his very
nose.
Did he remember The blood
rushed back into his heart at the
memory until he thought he would
faint. II was snapshot OF a grour
at a picnic. the girls adorned with
the boys hats. and the boys wearing
the feminine millinery. II was jus,
outside an apple orchard surrounded
by high stone fence, over which bu,
at perilous height hung a bough Of
luscious fruit. In the very center Of
the picture was Belknap. and perchet
audaciously upon his shoulder was
Laura Tolman, supported by his stronr
and steady arm. picking the apples and
throwing them down to the laughIns
comrades below. Did he remembe,
that picnic7 II was the day when
maddened by the contact with he,
dainty self. he had poured forth hi,
love and then, frightened at his owr
audacity. had stammered and failed
to ask the vital question.
The photograph brought back MI
tho memories Of the afternoon, ant
aroused all his latent passion. Al h,
gazed at II he felt the full tide Of hi,
passion sweep through him until i
seemed that he must burst
Miss Sample chattered on.
I'VE all thought you were awful,
sweet on Laura Tolman." she said
Really. wo did. In fact. tho Who'll,
class thought II was n match. and wa,
all nred up. II was perfectly paraiys
Ing when. after commencement yos