The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-05-26
LUKE AND HIS LEGACY
BY MERTON LEE pANFoRTH.

Copyright 1915. by w. G. ChHpman)
"Oh. Luke!" cried Vera, Il hope you
haven't parted with the price of our
whole future happiness p
Vera" spoke her lover gravely, "if
you measure love and happiness with
dollars. l am afraid you will never
find much in life. My uncle left me
five hundred dollars There was
poor consumptive cousin who had
come to the reading of the will expect
ing a legacy. He was left nothing.
His doctor had told him that only
change to another climate would save
his life. Vera, If you'd seen the tears
run down his cheeks at his disappoint.
ment, you'd feel sorry. as | did"
Vera tossed her head angrily.
Anyhow, | got talking with him.
He was an honest, truthful man. 1t
seems that he had been for years liv'
ing on a small ten-acre place in a
town called Benham 1t had a pretty
good cottage on 1t. but he said that
his Ill health and lack OF capital had
prevented him from working the place.
He eked out a mere existence working
as a fiagman for a railroad. He told
me frankly that the place was scarcely
salable at any price. as It was located
near an old abandoned colllery. Well.
l bought 1t. That's all"
And l suppose" hRred up Vera.
you expect me to go and live in that
outlandish placer"
"Or rent IT," replied Luke quietly.
He left the house OF his sweetheart
that night pretty web disillusioned as
to the amiable qualities of Miss Vera
Moore. She had treated him coolly.
He doubted II she had ever really
loved him. The next time he called,
her sister Norma informed him that
Vera was not at home, She made 1t
pleasant for him the brief time he
stayed. Luke could not but notice
that she was trying to apologize for
her high-tempered sister and cheer
him up at the same time.
She was older than Vera, but for the
first time he observed her gentle. sym
pathetic face. She talked to him about
the little home he had bought. and
said wistfully:
Il do hope Vera will come around
to finding love in a cottage a real hap.
piness," but Luke doubted that
He heard later that Vera had been
out promenading with two young men
OF the town She was insolently neg
lectful OF him at times. Then came
bad news. The little cottage at Ben
ham had burned down. No Insurance.
Two days later Luke received brief
note. It was from Vera, and 1t ran:
81 ask to be released from our en-
gagement."
Luke Maydwell read the note with
satisfaction and was ashamed of him.
self-further, with a sense OF relief.
and was surprised He made a gen
tlemanly reply to the note in harmony
with the wishes OF his imperlous lady
love Of the past. He called upon Vera
and in a frank manly fashion tried to
make her feel that he did not blame
her.
I'm pretty poor that's a fact" he
told her. but ! would have worked
for you my hardest"
A young man called Just then to
take Vera out driving. She put on her
things and left Luke with heartless
nod
Norma will entertain you, Luke"
she said, and, turning to the sister in
question, Luke saw shining in her
tender eyes a trace Of tears.
81 am ashamed OF her, Luke she
spoke quite Indignantly. You are too
good for her"
It was wonderful how well they got
on. A natural sequence resulted.
Within a month Luke Maydwell was
the happiest man in the world. He
had found real love at last Vera had
become engaged TO a new flame Six
months later Luke and Norma were
arranging for their wedding.
She had Induced him to go down to
Benham and arrange to build a new
cottage.
Norma met him at the door when
he returned from his visit to Benham.
His honest heart warmed as he con-
trasted the glad welcome she gave
him with that past, forgotten and for
given reception awarded him by her
sister on a previous occasion.
We'll, dear?" she chirped happily