The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-04
FINDING A new LIFE
BY EGBERT WARNING.

minute, Doctor Alternately spoke half
dozen words that pronounced the
seeming doom of Walter Thorne-
Within an hour the young man in ques-
ton had analysed the situation and
was philosophically resigned to it.
Within the week Thorne saw new
name on the glittering plate glass win
dows, paid up all his debts, sent to his
uncle in another city the capital he
had supplied to start him in business,
and gave up his elegant club.
Walter was sorry, but resigned. He
counted up his resources, all liquid,
and amounting to some twenty thou
sand dollars.
He had donated half of that to a
school for INDECENT juveniles. Five
| thousand dollars he had sent to
poor, remote relative. He calculated
that $1,000 would be abundant to die
on, and the other four went in indis-
criminate charity.
Walter finally settled on the Ozark
mountain region as a final destina-
ton. He approached it by slow
stages The last 100 miles he made
on foot. He felt weary at times. The
lack Of hope and ambition gave him
motiveless sensation. One thing he
noticed, however: He was eating with
an appetite now, rarity for ten years
past.
One evening he was belated by
storm between towns. He remained
within the shelter OF a mountain cave
till the rain had passed on. 1t was aft
er midnight when he reached a rail-
road junction. 1t was to view novel
and unaccustomed spectacle.
Local freight trains were standing
on different tracks, headed in various
directions. Lanterns we're flashing ev-
| erywhere, and the scene was one Of
extraordinary activity. All kinds of
vehicles were standing beside the cars,
| unloading their contents, long, low
boxes, nailed tightly and handled with
care.
What is in those boxes?" Walter
ventured to ask
Strawberries" was the explanation.
| within eighteen hours they will be on
the home tables of every big city in
the middle West!"
Then Walter knew that he was at
the main shipping point of the great
est berry producing section in the
| country
One old woman with only two cases
carried them to the cars with the aid
| Of her aged husband. Two boys had
| carried their boxes in a little wagon
to which was attached two dogs. Wal
| ter experienced renewed interest as
| he saw a common hand cart appear.
A girl navigated it, strap running
| harnesslike from the propelling
handles across her shapely shoulders.
In the weird, Pickering light about
| her she was rare picture of earnest,
healthful industry. There was a
CHEEKY token of duty and vitality in
her beautiful face that enchanted Wal
ter. He asked a man who she was.
That's Meta Oliver" was the re-
! ply; "the sweetest lassie on Beaver
| creek. Her father and mother are
both i'll, and she has buckled down to
| keeping the flour barrel full, like the
jewel she is"
Walter stopped at hotel that night,
| He could not get the face and name
of the girl he had seen out Of his
| mind. The next day he made some
| further inquiries about the Oliver fam
| lily. He found that they were too poor
| to afford horse and wagon. He pit
| led the girl, who night after night
| did the service of beast of burden,
| dragging the rackety handcart over
the uneven country roads. He made
| a whimsical resolve. Two mornings
later, seated in stout, light wapon
with sturdy horse attached, he drove
into the yard Of the little 20-aere farm
where Meta Oliver lived.
She was among the vines, wearing
a neat, cover-al1 apron. Her radiant
eyes somewhat abashed him as he
asked for her father. He found the
latter and his wife seated comfortably
on the porch of the little cottage, con-
valescing from an attack of chills and
fever.
1--WE heard of you, Mr.. Thorne,"
spoke w IteT. AIN du lufdIlu LII
quest of health. l like this spot.
Could you board me for few weeks?"
And then Walter went on to tell
that he had little money, but that
he would give the rig he had bought
for months board.
For 80 golden days Walter Thorne
found new interest in life. He be-
came a real worker-and a lover. Day
by day the gentle, lovable Meta grew
more and more precious to him. Her
parents were up and about now, and
the one desire Of the father was to Sc
cure an additional 80 acres of land.
1t would mean a fortune in time, he
claimed, and then Walter was sorry
he had given away his fortune.
| One Gay Walter went to town. He
proceeded to the office Of the leading
physician. He left it with an eager,
hopeful face.
"You are perfectly healthy man."
the doctor had said. Whatever threat
ened you two months ago, your new
life has neutralized. Only-keep away
from the wear and tear and turmoil of
office life.''
| That evening Walter asked Meta
to marry him, and she consented. He
had written to his uncle, telling him
Of his resolve to stay close to nature.