The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-04-22
~Taasss sas ess@a*N&H4Hs
! FIaDaG 4 LIFE /
{ BY EGRERT WARRlNG.


a dozen words that pronounced enc
seeming doom Of Walter Thorne.
Within an hour the young man in ques-
ton had analysed the situation and
was philesophically resigned to it.
Within the week Thorne saw a 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 a
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.
tion. He approached it by slow
on foot. He felt weary at times. The
lack of hope and ambition gave him a
nlotiveless sensation. One thing he
noticed, however: He was eating with
an appetite now, a rarity for ten years
past.
One evening he was belated by a
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 a owe
and unaccustomed spectacle.
Local freight trains were standing
on different tracks, headed in various
directions. Lanterns were flashing ev-
erywhere, and the scene was n 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 20 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
+u, x,ro -; o-,aol ,.o,O,r15 ;ptoroc+ &C
he. saw a common hand cart appear.
A girl navigated it, a strap running
harnesslike from the propelling
handles across her shapely shoulders.
In the weird, Hickering light about
her she was q rare picture of earnest,
healthful industry, There was a
CHEEKY token CT duty and vitality in
her beautiful face that enchained WAX
ter. He asked o 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 lour barrel full, like the
jewel she is"
Walter stopped at a hotel that night
IlS Coulu llCL 5SL' .JiIC lkNSC Cb-L0 III
of the girl he had seen out CT his
mind. The mex day he made some
further Inquiries about the Oliver fam
lily. He found that tEcg were too poor
to afford a horse ard v.agon. He pit
led the girl, who nIeht after night
did the service CT q beast OF burden,
dragging the racl5aty aandcart over
the uneven country roads. He made
a whimsical resolve. Two mornings
later, seated in 9 stout, light wagon
with a sturdy horse attached, he drove
into the yard OF the little 20-acre farm
where Meta Oliver lived.
She was among t72e vines, wearing
a neat, coyer-all agren Her radiant
eyes somewhat abashcd him as he
asked for her father. lie found the
latter and his wife seated comfortably
on the porch OF the little cottage, con
~valescing from an attack of chills ant
fever.
"Tve heard of you, Mr., Thorne,'
spoke Walter. II an an invalid II
quest of health. I like this spot
Could you board NC for a lew weeks?'
And then Wa,'cr went on TO tel
| that he had Q Iii-la ma~ey, but tina
f he would give the RIG lie had hough
for a months board
For 80 golden days Walter Thorn!
found a new interest in life. He be
came a real worker-and q lover. Da;
; by day the gentle, lovable Meta gre
more and more precious to him. He
! parents were UP and about now, an
the one desire Ct the fatal vas to S.
. cure an additional 50 acres Of land.
6 1t would mean q fortune in time, b
! claimed, and then Walter was sorr
: he had given away his fortune.
@ One day Waiter went to town, H
: proceeded to the office Of the leadin
= physician. He left it with an cage
) hopeful face.
"You are a perfectly healthy man
the doctor had said. Whatever threa