The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-16
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FINDIne 4 new LIFE
Nv EeeERT WARNING

downright 1915. by W: u S fiitting
Within the space of brief hi'.'ne
minute. Doctor Alternately spoke u .sa
dozen words that pronounced lne
seeming doom of waiter onas.
within an hour the young man In que
t;on had analysed the situation az.
VAS philosophically resigned u ~,
within the week Thorne sa" q ns ,n
name on the glittering plate glass w." s;s
dows, paid up all his debts seht " y, I ha
uncla In another city the capitai NC
had supplied to start him in business
and gave up his elegant cluo' III
walter was sorry, but resigned: ne
counted up his resources. all i'qu,u'
and amounting to some twenty 'hou
sand dollars. It,. q. =.
He had donated half of that 10
school for INDECENT Juveniles r"e
thousand dollars he had sent 10 a
moor. remote relative. He calcuiateu
that $1,000 would be abundant 10 uie
on, and the other four went IN ihu''
criminate charity.
Walter finally settled on the ozarh
mountain region as a final destina'
ton. He approached 1t BY $40"
| stages. The last 100 miles he mace
on foot. He felt weary at times. Inc
lack of hope and ambition gave MIN
motiveless sensation. One thing ne
noticed. however: He was eating WIN
an appetite now, a rarity for ten years
! past.
, One evening he was belated by
! storm between towns. He remaineu
! within the shelter Of mountain cave
! till the rain had passed on. 1t was a1t-
er midnight when he reached ran,
road junction. 1t was to view a mover
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 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 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, a 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 unclaimed Wal.
ter. He asked a man who she was.
That's Meta Oliver" was the re.
ply; the sweetest Iassie 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 a 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 a horse and wagon. He pit.
led the girl, who night after night
did the service of a beast Of burden,
dragging the rackety handcart over
the uneven country roads. He made
a whimsical resolve. Two mornings
later. seated in a 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.
valescing from an attack Of chills and
fever.
I've heard Of you. Mr.. Thorne."
spoke Walter. II am an invalid in
quest Of health. I 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 Q months board.
For 80 golden days Walter Thorne
found a new interest in life. He be-
came a real worker-and a lover Dav
oy 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 90
cure an additional so 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 tow, uc
proceeded to the Office of the I.,d;no
physician. He left it with an eager
hopeful face.
you are perfectly healthy man
the doctor had said. "Whateysr ,hrn,.
enec You two months ago. your new
me mas neutralized. Only-keep ava,
nom the wear and tear and turmoil q,
once life" '' "
Tnat evening Walter asked Netts
70 marry him. and she consented H.
nsd written to his uncle. telling him
OF his resolve to stay close to ns,n.a
And upon the wedding eve thar,
came glowing response from his -,
awe IN the shape Of a generous r,f