The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-10-17
lcopyright. by w. G. chapman.)

Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)
Julian Florac, bachelor, rotund,
genial and with good, kind heart, was
made the lucky recipient of very fair
sized fortune at the age of thirty-two,
through the demise of half-uncle in
France.
Florac took his good luck reasonably.
For ten years he had well fulfilled his
duties Of a department manager in a
great city store. He had lived frugally
and had saved something, for a radiant
ideal had been always his. Somewhere
in the far past he had seen in reality
or ia some book picture of beautiful
country home. The memory became
an actuality with him. He had dreamed
over and over and over again what he
would do IL he ever had fifty thousand
dollars. Now he had double that.
Forthwith he proceeded to place his
long cherished plan into execution.
"The site Is the first consideration"
Florac advised the agent in whose
hands he placed the commission. at
must De on an elevated spot, river
winding like silver thread in and out
among forests and hills. The view, my
friend, must be superb. There must be
space Of ten acres at least. The
building can come later. Find me my
ideal location and environment at any
cost, not too near to the city, not too
far away. j am not an aristocrat, but
the baronial castle idea prevails with
me--grandeur, exclusiveness, majesty"
"Got just what ycu want" announced
the glib broker month later. Ever
heard of Hurricane HIP"
Florac shook his head In negation,
but expectantly.
you will go wild when you see, it."
predicted the agent, which Florac did.
What he had dreamed of he at length
viewed-a lofty plateau of moderate
proportions, surrounded by crags, wa
terways, cascades and clear view of
twenty-five miles in any direction.
Belongs to man named Trask--
Abel Trask," explained the agent. "IIe
has lived in that old house for nearly
half century. Wife died; he has an
only daughter, times hard and poor,
and she has developed into quite Il
singer. 1t nearly breaks the old mans
heart to sell the place, but he is bent
on giving his daughter a first-class mu-
sical education"
"Close with him at once" directed
Florac eagerly. 'The old vine-covered
house is picturesque. 1t shall remain,
If only for its antiquity. Those trees
and shrubs must not be disturbed.
shall build more to the head of the val
ley. All, rare spot, truly! 1 shall
: be very content"
But Florac was not content. He took
great pleasure at the first in seeing his
ideas carried out as to the house. Then
there was spell when his interest was
centered on furnishing 1t.
'"rhe complete article, just as /
dreamed" declared Florac with great
satisfaction, but within a month his
lonely environment began to pail on
him.
I'm missing companionship-that Is
ftl' he decided, and forthwith for six
months there was not weekend that
he did not have some one of his former
friends as guests. They We're merely
acquaintances, however. They partook
of his meals, they borrowed money of
him, they were not truly friends.
Florac had engaged a poor old
couple, pioneers in the neighborhood,
TO act as caretaker and housekeeper.
They did their duty well. One day
Florac for the first time passed
through the apartment given over ex-
clusively to Mrs. Dodd. His eye
chanced to light upon framed photo,
graph on the mantel.
rs that the young lady / once met
here, the daughter of Mr.. Trask, from
whom purchased this placer" he
asked.
'Yes, sir, that is Miss Eleanor" as
scented the housekeeper. "Oh, sir, she
is a sweet, lovable grill She nursed
Mr.. Dodd through dangerous illness
and helped us in many ways when We
were poor and out of work."
"Do you ever hear from her nowr
inquired Florac-any new subject &c
break the monotony of his dull exist
ence was of interest. Besides, he haG
never entirely forgotten the girl ht
had seen but once when he closed tn,
purchase of Hurricane Hill.
pa Yes, Mrs. Dodd had heard that the
Trasks had gone to the city and thai
Eleanor was studying music. AS tC
her success as professional, however
she knew little. All, how Mr.. Trasl
would delight in seeing the old place
1t had been to them haven of beaut!
and the one great thought Of the olt
man had been to be able some tint
to build home, such as he and Elean
or had planned out time and again
There was the unused end OF the hill
expanse--that would do!
Miss Eleanor told me before sh
went away, sir" said Mrs. Dodd, "tha
when she had made fortune witt
that sweet voice of hers, she was goinl
~. n ls..tII haett