The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-14
A Romance In
Two Parts
By MARJORIE cLoucH

Thomas Maitland, though he had
been born and brought up on a farm,
considered himself far better than his
neighbors. He traced his lineage back
to an English nobleman who came to
America in 1850 and begot a numerous
progeny. Maitland owned a large farm
well stocked and had money in bank.
Despite his having always lived in the
country, there was something In his
makeup that smacked of the blue blood
In his veins.
Lillian Maitland, his daughter, was
even nearer to the name born than
her father. She was the apple of his
eye. He sent her to boarding school
and when she returned provided her
with q $500 piano. He even meditat-
ed sending her to the city in the hope
that she might possibly marry there
and thus start a process of climbing
back to the position the family had
once occupied.
One harvest season Maitland hired a
farm hand. Elijah Jones was his name,
and he was the homeliest man that
ever trod upon the Maitland farm. He
was a countryman from the soles Of his
feet to the topmost fiery red lock Of his
hair. Elijah saw Lillian Maitland, and
one look was sufficient to fill his heart
with the widest emotions. He was
M Of those young men who do not
scruple to step in where angels fear to
tread. There was q tradition In his
family that If a man wishes to win a
girl for his wife he should ask per-
mission to do so from her parents. Eli
JAN marched up to Farmer Maitland,
who was tossing hay with a pitchfork
from a wagon into the hayloft of the
barn, and said:
mi. Maitland, have you any objec-
ton to my asking your daughter LII
liam to marry mel"
"Wh-a-t?" cried Maitland. fancying
that he had not heard Alright.
Elijah repeated.
"You get off this farm as fast as
your legs will carry you or I'll make It
hot for you"
: Elijah slowly turned and obeyed the
order. Maitland threw down his pitch
fork and, stalking into the house, con
fronted Lillian.
"What have you been doing" he ask
ed, Ito encourage that red headed
Jones to come to me to ask for your"
Lillian convinced her father that she
had done nothing, and so far as he
was concerned the matter was dropped
from his mind. Not SO with the girl.
The farm hand had paid her the high
est compliment man can pay woman,
and the reply to that compliment was
an order to leave the farm. Her sense
Of justice was shocked. She hoped that
Elijah would put himself in her way
that she might tell him of her sympa-
thy. But Elijah, true to the tradition
on which he had acted, having been
refused by the parent, disdained to ap-
ply over his head to the daughter and
kept out Of her way.
Ten years passed. Lillian Maitland
had become an old maid. A number
Of young men Of her own class had
wanted her, but her father had looked
over the heads Of all of them for q
husband for his daughter. Lillian did
not fall in love with any Of them; con-
s%equently she never rebelled. Down in
her heart was. a memory Of the red
headed, freckle faced man who had
asked for her and his cruel treatment
by her father. That father was now
dead, and she might marry whom she
pleased. But at thirty women are
harder to please than at twenty and
are not so attractive to e At any
rate Miss Maitland showed no signs Of
matrimony.
One day a man well dressed and
prosperous looking Unmatched her gate
and walked up to the house. Lillian
saw him coming and met him at the
door. He had red hair, but it was
cropped close. He wore q tall hat,
and his overcoat was silk lined. His
boots were b~lackened, and he carried
q cane in his gloved hand.
Els Mr.. Maitland at hOme?" he In
quired.
mi. Maitland is dead"
There was a pause, after which the
man said: wears ago I asked a favor
Of Mr.. Maitland. I have been wonder.
ing ever since how I had the assurance
to do So"
won't you come in?"
When the two were seated gu oppo-
site sides Of the living room the visitor
continued:
I'm sorry Mr.. Maitland is dead. An
attorney has recently come from Eng
land hunting for an heir to a title and
q large estate. Mr.. Maitland was the
person he was looking for, and, MI.
Maitland being dead, the estate falls to
me. A hundred years ago. there were
two brothers named Maitland. MI.
Maitland descended from one Of them,
I frola the other. II Mr.. Maitland had
left a son be would now be the heir.
As It Is / am the heir"
There was a long silence after this
speech. Miss Maitland looked down at
the floor.
IT asked MI. Maitland" the visitor
went on. ''for permission to win his
daughter"
$50 that II where you learned such
thingsr' interrupted Lillian. ut vas