Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-06-10

ny MgRTon LEE DANFoRrH.

Copyright. 1916. By w. @. chapman)
"Oh, Lukel" cried Vera, Il hope you
haven't parted with the price Of our
whole future happiness?"
Vera" spoke her lover gravely. 'if
you measure love and happiness with
dollars. / am afraid you win never
find much In life. My uncle left me
five hundred dollars. There was
poor consumptiye cousin who had
come to the reading Of the viii expect
ing q legacy. He was left nothing.
His doctor had told him that only
change to another climate would save
his life. Vera, IL you'd seen the tears
run down his cheeks at his disappoint'
ment. you'd feel sorry, a. I did"
Vera tossed her head angriiy.
Anyhow, I got talking with him.
He was an honest, truthful man. II
seems that be had been for years Iiv-
ing ON a small ten-acre place in q
town called Benham. Il had a pretty
good cottage on II. but he said that
his III health and lack OF capital had
prevented him from working the place.
He eked out mere existence working
as a 1agman for q railroad. He told
me frankly that the place was scarcely
salable ut any price, az II was located
near an old abandoned colliery. Well,
I bought It, That's ALL"
and I suppose" fiared up Vera.
you expect me 20 60 and live I'm that
outlandish placer"
"0r rent &C." replied Luke quietly.
He left the house of his sweetheart
that night pretty well disillusioned as
to the amiable qualities of Miss Vera
Moore. She had treated him coolly.
He doubted IL she had ever really
loved him. The next time he called,
her sister Norma informed him that
Vera was not at home. She made II
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 wfstfully:
Il do hope Vera will come around
to finding love in a cottage n real hap
piness," but Luke doubted that.
He heard later that Vera had been
out promenadsng 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 a brief
note. II was from Vera, and IL ran:
Il 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 n gen.
tlemanly reply to the note I'm harmony
with the wishes OF his imperious lady
love of the past. He called upon Vera
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 q heartless
nod.
Norma win entertain you. Luke"
she said, and, turning to the sister In
question, Luke saw shining in her
tender eyes q trace Of tears.
II am ashamed of her, Luke" she
spoke quite Indignantly. You are too
good for her."
II was wonderful how we'll 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 fame. 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
the cottage?"
Cant be built" reported Luke.
shaking his head positively.
"Oh. how you disappoint mel" muir
INJURED Norma. 81 had so set my heart
on day by day working to make one
small beginning a task OF pleasant
duty and ambition.
Il am thinking OF buying the house
left vacant by Judge Sherman" re-
marked Luke.
Vera, who was listening TO the con-
versation, gave Luke n sarcastic
smile, for he had named one OF the
show places OF the town.
Certainly" she sneered ill-natured-
ly. AS a millionaire, undoubtedly
you can afford til"
I'm not quite a millionaire" re-
piled Luke In n blunt. practical way,
but ] can afford to buy the judges
house. and another like II, IL wish.
The fact is. Norma" he added. I'VE
can't build the cottage we planned,
Tor l have sold the land at Benham."
Sold i'll" echoed his fiancee. won
deringly.
Yes, for fifty thousand dollars.
That ten acres. IT has just been dis
covered. is the best coal tract OF it's
size in the state. and we are rich.
love"
And happy-oh. so happyi~ cried
the loyal Norma. bursting into tears
and nesting into his strong protect
ing arms.