The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-06-05
@x.& $4&x1>'
! FINDING Il NEW LIFE

~ I EcBERr WARNING

tt4XXXIt - t@{ffNttk - R<AAt<Ae4y HKN40I ~
| as( 3En Words that spronounced the
ae9hlihH doom of Walter Thorie
Within anhour tho Young man In dues-
ton had analysed the situation and
WAS philos6phfcally resigned to Sit.
Within the week yrhorne saw q new
name on the siittering plate glass WIN
dows, paid iip 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. fIe
counted up HIS resources, all liquid,
and amounting to some twenty thou
sand dollars.
He had donated half of that to
school for INDECENT Juveniles. Five
thousand dollars he had sent to o
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 q final destIfia-
tlon. IIo approached 1t by slow
stages. The last 100 miles he made
on foot. He felt weary at times. The
lack Of hope and ambition gave him
motiveless sensation, One thing he
uoticed. however: He was eating with
an appetite nova rarity for ten years
past.
One evening he was belated by Q
storm between towns. He remained
within the shelter or mountain cave
till the rain had passed on It was aft
er midnight wien he reached a rail-
road junction. It was to view novel
and unaccustomed spectacle.
Local freight trains were standing
on different tracks, headed In various
directions Lanterns were flashing EVIL
erywhere. and the scene was one of
extraordinary activity. All kinds OIL
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 inI
the middle Wcst,"
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 wagor
to which was attached two dogs. Wal
ter experienced renewed interest N
he saw common hand cart appear.
A girl navigated 1t, strap running
harnesslike from the propellin9
handles across her shapely shoulders,
In the weird flickering light about
her she was rare picture Of earnest, |
healthful industry There was Q
CHEEKY token OF duty and vitality in
her beautiful face that enchalned 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 i'll, and she has buckled down to
keeping the -four 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
ily. He found that they we're too poor
to afford horse and wagon. He pit
fed the girl, who night after night
did the service Of 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, coverall apron. Her radiant
eyes somewhat abashed him as he S
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
'ever.
I've heard Of you, Mr.. Thorne.v
spoke Walter Il am an invalid in
Iuest of health. like this spot.
Could you board me for few weeks?"
And then Waiter went on to tell
hat he had little money. but that
ie would give the rig he had bought
or months board.
For 80 golden days Walter Thorne
ound new interest in life. He be-
,ame real worker-and a lover. Day
" day the gentle, iovable Meta grew
more and more precious to him. Her
,arents we're up and about now, and
he one desire OF the father was to se-
.ure an additional so acres Of land.
1t would mean a fortune in time, he
laimed, and then Walter was sorry
le had given away his fortune.
One day Walter went to town. He
'roceeded to the Office OF the leading
'hysician. He left It with an eager,
iopeful face.
You are perfectly healthy man.
he doctor had said. Whatever threat
ned yor two months ago, your new
lie has neutralized oniy4keep away
rom the wear and tear and turmoil OF
fice life"
r-bot avanIno fu,1to~ .-,.os 49,