The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-05-06
HOW JOHN Was CURED
Dy CHARLOTTE coRsETT.

There comes 10 every mlOQle-aHeo
nan a time when he feels that his life
has been failure At forty-seyen John
Gardiner was beginning to feel that
nay.
A successful architect. with charm.
hg wife and four children, earning
enough money to give him comfort
able home and send the boys through
Dollege, he looked back on his high
hopes and felt that the promise OF
youth had been fallacious.
The little village where he had been
born, the early sweetheart whom he
had not married, his boyish friends
Ill assumed rosy halo in the past.
Forgotten were the hard knocks, the
Darly struggles, the eagerness to get
away to the big city, where he had at
kst succeeded.
Ella" he said to his wife, II believe
I'll auto down to Gravehurst next Sat
urday, spend the night at the little
place and return on Sunday. l want to
look up some of my old friends"
You'll enjoy the trip. DEAR" an.
Bwered his wife, beaming fondly on
her husband.
But John Gardiner had remained re-
hcent about the chief purpose Of his
Trip He wanted to see Lucy Bates.
Had she waited for him, as she had
sworn to do, remaining solitary old
maid in the old-fashioned homestead?
1t was a mellow afternoon when his
automobile stopped at Gravehurst
John had some difficulty in recognizing
the place at first. A huge factory was
vomiting smoke all over the landscape;
however, it was a mile out Of town,
and the old-fashioned village itself
was little changed, although an annex
Of cheap frame houses to supply the
needs of the factory hands had sprung
up.
John put up at the little shabby no
tel and made himself known to the
landlord. The landlord. 81 Higgins,
had been one of Johns old friends.
John did not recognize him at first,
and Higgins himself seemed little
hazy about John.
They were talking over old times
when John reminded the landlord OF
Tom Elmer.
Il suppose he's a successful minister
now," he said.
What, Tom Elmer-Widow Elmer's
SOM" shouted the landlord. Used to
wear his hair in a sort Of pompadour?"
That's him." answered John, the
memory all coming back to him.
Hi, Toni" the landlord called. and
out of the stable lurched a blear-eyed
Sagamuftin Of about forty-seven, who
came up with surly scowl.
TON, remember John Gardiner.
who went to Miss Blythe's school with
us?" the landlord asked.
"Sure I do. Sort of sneaking, COW.
ardly little cuss he was. wasn't he?"
asked Tom, breathing out a fresh
aroma of Kentucky rye.
"This is him." said the landlord.
"Come back to look up his old friends"
Glad to meet you again. Johnny"
said the stableman, unabashed. Gould
I speak to you in private a moment?"
he continued, taking John aside. I'm
behind with the rent this month,
and"
John handed him a flve-dollar bill,
and Tom, looking at it in surly spite,
made his way back into the stable.
1t was with some dif1idence that
John approached the subject Of Lucy.
What has become of Lucy Bates?"
John managed to say presently.
Lucy Bates?" inquired the land.
lord. why, there never wasn't but
one Lucy Bates. Hi, Lucy!"
A misunderstanding woman came
In, wiping her hands upon a dirty
apron. "Well what is it now" she
asked.
Remember Johnny Gardiner" in.
Quired the landlord, with a grin, in
dicating John. Come back from the
city to look up old friends"
A faint flush crossed the tired won.
ms face as she extended limp hand.
eyes, we've been married seventeen
years." said the landlord. II was her
nrst beau, too. We used to 60 to-
RelQer Wnen we was Cnllureu. Lucy
never had no other beaux. did you
Luce?"
"Nope," said the tired woman, shak-
Ing her head and looking straight into
Johns eyes.
well, I'm pleased to have seen
you," said John, moving out toward his
automobile. II guess I'll have to be
starting back now" he continued, as
he got in. He had changed his mind
about staying in Gravehurst. "By the
way, there was another old friend l."
But he got 80 further, for with an
anearthly honk an automobile came
tearing down the street and struck
Johns fairly and squarely, shaking
him from the step where he stood into
the road. He rose to find black.
browed, fashily dressed stranger low.
ering at him from his car.
you've knocked my lamp all as
kew!" he snarled. "Why in thunder
can't you look where you are going?'
And leaving John speechless with
mc 'flcation he whirled away.