The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-02-26

"Ha! he has struck your fancy, eh?"
snarled the old man.
The girl blushed holly, but she said,
with girlish ''gnity'
The memory OF the poor brother
who died bios me be kind to the stran-
ger.
The old man grumbled, but his COM
panion held TO her point. He exacted
a promise from her that she would see
Il the suitcase did not contain some
belongings that might be sold to pay
the way for his unwelcome guest.
1t did not take long for Ralph to
understand that the niiserly G%albraith,
as he learned his name to be, was a
miser for whom his niece shaved. He
had some bushes in the city in the
scrap-iron line.
Within two days Ralph was able to
sit up. Then the girl, Ottila, in some
way got a pair OF crutches. and inside
Of a week he was able to move to a
bench outside the house and hobble
around.
He had unpacked his belongings
from the suitcase Recalling the con
versation he had overheard, he did up
the dress suit that had done vast sery-
ice in his society reportorial expert
ence. He asked Ottila to dispose of It.
The sale brought a pitiful sum but it
quoted old Galbraith for a day or two.
Then Ralph handed her the watch he
wore, a cheap silver timepiece that did
not 90. She seemed embarrassed as
these negotiations showed the niggard,
ly persistency Of her uncle and placed
her in a false position with the guest
whose respect she cherished,
Ralph was panied to note the sharp
corners she had to cut in order to pro
! vide'the meals from the narrow amount
= her uncle allowed her 1t could not be
otherwise that day by day the sterling
qualities Of his devoted nurse wooed
. his mind from all thoughts save inter.
! est, and then deep gratitude and finally
I love.
. After the sale Of the watch he OBJ.
> served that Galbraith was more favor
ably disposed towards him. Then he
j accidentally learned the secret of this
He missed a gold necklace that Ottila
had once worn. He was sure that she
had disposed Of this and that the pro
. ceeds had gone to Galbraith as if com
ing from their patient. His soul wai
> stirred to their depths.
That evening Galbraith came HON,
= in a great state Of excitement. HI
showed Ralph a newspaper advertise
i, ment stating that one missing Ralpl
Norton would learn Of something de
cidedly to his advantage by communi
eating with a certain law firm With
J in t~wenty-four hours Ralph learner
that his uncle had died leaving him a.
independent fortune.
1t was a happy day for Ralph whe
he sent Galbraith a check for a III
eral amount. Then there was a roys
gift for his faithful nurse. Accom-
panying it was a letter, telling her G
p his love.
There came a brief note. 1t babe hi
4 forget the obscure girl so far remove
[ from his social circle 1t hoped h
= would find some fitting bride in hi
1 own class and that they would b
1 happy.
When Ralph went in quest Of tn
Galbraiths he found the old house o
the river deserted and abandoned,
For a year he watched, waited an
hoped. Wealth had not its anticipate
charm, with his thoughts fixed eve
4 and always upon the n woman VIII
had befriended him in his distress an
Z whose loyalty and simplicity had wo
his devotion.
Then one day, just a year after h
first meeting with Ottila, an amazin
RI visitor came to Ralph. It was Ga
M braith, but a new Galbraith. He wa
Nd arrayed decently, almost gorgeously,
90 Il sold out my business" he clicke
ira with a shrewd grin, hence, SON
oil profit. It was for the sake Of n
70 niece. You remember ottila?"
IN 81 shall never forget herr erie
I'M Ralph, starting from his seat. "Whel
where is she?"
"You would see herr" question:
Galbraith.
q have been searching for her 4
a whole year"
And your mind has not change
concerning herr"
1T lever will! Speak out, man.
49, where is she?
Come with me" said Galbraith, al
as they walked along he told Of he
/, ottila had been at a school studyil
for a year, how she was now at Il
ne comfortable home he had provid
for her.
IA 1T was a test" said the old ma
Inn "ottlla wished for education, to WI
a year, and see II you still remember
her. See, neither Of you are poor no
and she is a jewell"
At. And within the hour Ralph Mort
fondly folded in his arms his darlin
,he Copyright, 1914, by W. G. Chapman.
Memories Of Vanished Happiness,
W LING UnparinpIv langufshingly