The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-05-19
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FlADlHG 4 NEW LIFE
BY EoBERr wARRlNo.

4 IT,
e dozen words that pronounced the
seeming doom of Walter Thorne
Within an hour the young man in ques
tion 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 q
school for INDECENT juveniles, Five
thousand dollars he had sent to a
poor. remote relative He calculated
that $1,000 would be abundant to die
on, and the other four went In indis-
criminate charity. N
Walter finally settled on the Ozark
mountain region as 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 q
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 mountain cave
till the rain had passed on. 1t was aft
er midnight when he reached a rail-
road junction. It was to view a novel
and unaccustomed spectacle.
Local freight trains were standing
on different tracks, headed in various
directions. Lanterns were flashing ev-
erywhere, and the scene was one OF
extraordinary activity. All kinds of
vehicles we're 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 Vest"
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 little wagon
to which was attached two dogs. Wal,
ter experienced renewed interest as
he saw common hand cart appear.
A girl navigated 1t. 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 enchained Wal.
ter. He asked man who she was.
That's Meta Oliver was the re-
ply; "the sweetest lassie on Beaver
creek. Her father and mother are
both Ill, 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
fly. He found that they we're 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
q whimsical resolve. Two mornings
later, seated in stout, light wagon |
with sturdy horse attached, he drove (
into the yard of the little 20-acre farm
where Meta Oliver lived.
She was among the vines, wearing
a neat, cover-all 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-
from an attack Of chills and
fever.
"I've heard of you, Mr.. Thorne,"
spoke Walter. Il am an invalid in
quest. of health. like this spot
Could you board me for few weeks? |
And then Walter went on to tell I
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 real worker-and a lover. Day
by day the gentle, loyable Meta grew
more and more precious to him. Her
were up and about now, and
The one desire Of the father was to's
cure an additional 80 acres Of land.
1t would mean fortune In time, he
claimed, and then Walter was sorry
he had given away HIS fortune.
One day Walter went to town. He
to the office of the leading ,
physician. He left It with an eager.
hopeful face.
"You are perfectly healthy man." /
he doctor had said. Whatever threat I
sned you two months ago, your new 7
lie has neutralized. Oniy-keep away r
rom the wear and tear and turmoil OF
,ffice life."
That evening Walter asked Meta S