The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-02-01
REUNITED
BY eRAvsoN STONE.

This was the situation with Clyde
Richards when his twenty-f1rst birth.
day arrived. He had sold his first
picture as landscape artist and his
ofOther artists had found only little
FAULT with it. He had money enough
70 struggle along until success came,
but none to make show with. Ac-
auaintances had cautioned him not to
hamper himself, and friends had told
him outright that it would not be good
policy to handicap himself with u wife.
Clyde Richards was in love and had
been for a year or more, and Marian
Fletcher knew that he was, but no
word had been spoken. He was
regular caller at her fathers house
and had reason to believe that his
calls were rather looked for, but he
did not indulge in any hopes. Her
father was broker and reputed to be
well of, and she held her head very
high as daughter Of rich nun.
A girl of nineteen Is romantic, how.
ever, and had he spoken his love who
could tell what would have happened?
The case stood thus when u word or
two from Miss Marian dashed all Of
the young artists hopes. One evening
when he was caller and they had
talked little of his art she said in q
laughing way:
"Father is so practical. He was
talking about you the other day, and
I told him you were a landscape paint
er. He answered from his own view
Of things. He asked why you did not
paint houses and barns and thereby
make good living"
1t was a very foolish speech and in.
tended more as joke than to hurt,
and the girl regretted it as soon as
the words had left her lips. 1t was
too late, however. The young man
hid not show his resentment, but he
felt it and it brought about restraint
between them. He left the house with
his mind made up not to call again.
Six months later he saw in the pa.
pers that the broker had suffered
complete collapse financially, and was
told by friends that he and his daugll.
ter had retired to the country. A rela.
tive had given him little farm, and
all their friends soon forgot them.
1t was two years later that Mr.
Clyde Richards was motoring along u
country road when he came to cOun.
try schOOlhouse. School was dismissed
Tor the day. On the steps sat young
woman who was weeping, and beside
her sat an old man whom anybody
would have called skinflint after the
drst glance. In a dim way the artist
felt that he had seen the young WON.
an before, but he could not fully recall
her. He was driving his machine slow.
~ and he heard the old man say:
'That mortgage and interest has
got to be paid within ten days or ]
shall commence proceedings to fore.
closet"
"Then we shall have to live in the
6elds!" s0bbed the girl.
The artist stopped his car almost
In front of them, for he saw it was
case of distress. The old skinflint rose
up and shook his fist at him, and then
said to the girl:
Now, then, remember what have
said. II the money is not paid, out
you go!"
For long minute after he had
walked away, the girl sat blinded by
her tears. Then she wiped them away
and looked up. She gave u sudden
start of surprise. She left the steps
and walked out to the car and, after
taking u careful look ut the occupant.
she tried her best to smile as she said,
why, it's Mr.. Richards! Who would
have thought of seeing you here?"
Eyes, it is Mr.. Richards" was the
reply. DO you live around here?"
about mile and half down the
road. Hadn't you heard that l was
the schoolteacher for this district?"
He extended her his hand to helm
her into the auto, and, after a mo,
ments hesitation, she was beside him:
They had gone half mile before ha
said:
"Now, then, tell me all about it,"
He was almost the last man in the
world she wanted to tell her troubles
10. but he spoke SO kindly and seemed
so strong that she began to talk, and,
after time. he knew all. Her father
mad almost collapsed mentally and
physically. He was able to do little Oh
no work. They were. in fact, pension,
ers on the bounty Of relatives. She
mad been schoolteacher for two OF
three years. but the salary was SO low
that 1t did not help much. The old
man with whom she had been talkina
was q money-lender and had induced
her father to mortgage a little farm
without saying anything to her about
It She was not complaining nor Ia,
menttng. She had done the best she
could, and she would bear her troubles
the best she could.
He on his part told her of his sue.
Cess, but not in boasting way. and