Gilpin observer., 1919-05-29
The Lure Of
d,eHorne
By VICTOR REpcLwgs

to Burton Ware, for full decade Of
fee boy, then clerk, then travelling
salesman for the great jObbing house
of which the former was the proprie.
tor.
The young mans face portrayed
pleasure, pride and satisfaction. Fate
had been very kind to him and now he
was the possessor of twenty thousand
dollars In ready cash.
"You will be quoted as most meri-
torious example In this establishment"
went on his employer. "YOu have al
lowed your commissions and bonuses
to accumulate and the result is sub
stantial one. We are most sorry to
lose you, but suppose you have made
up your mind to a change"
"The change means-home," spoke
Burton Ware, tinge Of sadness in his
tOne-"that Is, what there is left Of
1t. All my people are gone and when
mother died / had to shift for myself.
The old house was sold to settle up
debts, but to me it Is still cherished
spot. All these years l have had one
fhought-to accumulate a reasonable
amount to buy the old home and go
into business In modest way in my
native town."
The little town was changed the
people seemed changed when Ware
reached 1t IL week later. Few remem-
bered him. Something of the old sense
of CHEEKY, familiar comradeship came
back to him as he found himself in the
office of Willis Thorpe, who had been
q boyhood chum, now graduated into a
leading lawyer.
'The old place has changed owners
twice since you lived there" said
Thorpe. "The last time old Walter
Clyde purchased it. You remember the
ClydeS, of course?"
81 have never forgotten them" re-
piled Ware with a quick token of in
terest, and his thought went travelling
back through ten lonely years to the
brightest day in his life. you see, I
was practically homeless after mother
died. 1t was Mrs. Clyde who took me
in. She mended up my poor outfit Of
clothing. gave me a grand farewell
meal and she and her adopted niece,
Teresa, came to the depot to see me
of. l mOurned as If 1t had been my
own mother when / heard that good
woman was dead. And little -eresa
She was only eight years old then, but
she kissed me good-by, and clung to
me, and cried out her dear little heart
because was going away"
"Yes, Mrs. Clyde died and her hus-
band bought the old place. He has
grown grabbed, penurious and hermit
like the last few years"
"And Teresa?" inquired Ware.
"Has shared his solitude and
practically made slave of herself to
his eXactiOn and whims from seEse
of gratitude and duty toward her aunt.
Clyde has been anxious to sell for
some time. He has offered it at four
thousand dollars.
Ware gazed sorrowfully at the old
home when he reached it. not because
he was disappointed but from tender
clinging memories of the past. To him
1t was still the dearest spot on earth.
There were the old apple trees, the
broad spreading porch, the vine-cov-
cred wing, the fruit bushes, the fa-
miliar hollyhocks and roses. A young
girl was busy at some pea vines In the
garden. In an instant Ware recognized
the child friend of his boyhood, grown
into woman.
you don't remember me, Teresa 2"
he spoke, advancing.
She regarded him with clear, earnest
eyes. Her face broke into n sweet, well
coming smile. 'Yes, you are Burton
Ware" she said. Her color frightened.
He thrilled ut the warm, sincere clasp
of her little brown hand. Just then
Mr.. Clyde came into view from the
street. Ware was invited into the
hopse and he made his business clear.
Twice he visited the old house while
the necessary papers of transfer were
being prepared. The attraction toward
its lovely mistress was emphasized.
When he paid Off Clyde the latter left
the lawyers Office with him.
IL shall so West to married broth
er where can live cheap" said Clyde.
"And Teresa?" intimated Ware.
"Oh. / settled that with her this
morning. She's satisfied with one hun
dred dollars and the old furniture for
what 1t will bring"
what" cried Ware with rising in
dignation. "after all her faithful serv-
ices you're not going to turn her
. adrift r.
"why. she's no kin Of mine," coolly
retorted Clyde.
Ware left him, reused up to a sense
OF the mean seliishness that stirred
him to the depths. He went at once
to the old home. Within Teresa was
3 conveSS1ng with the aged clergyman
Z whose services she regularly attended.
she was saying:
II have always felt certain duty
towurd Mr.. Clyde. because of my aunt.
Then again. the place here has become