El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-15


sion He was the kindest man IN the
place. not rich as had been his
ancestors. but lived as a rich man.
being possessed OF generosity which
is the real horn OF plenty.
Jerome looked straight at the
SQUIRE. and made his little speech He
had rehearseu Il often When he had
finished, the squire burst into a great
roar Of laughter, and caught the boy
by the shoulder. You don't mean
you planned this all yourself2"
Yes. ST: I've been layin' awake
How old are your
Twelve. sir
BY joveH
Then a lovely, gentle little girl
and neck were bare and he- shower
OF gold curls fell 10 her waist She
wore a frocll OF soft blue below which
showed the finest starched pantalets
and little blue Morocco shoes The
squire turned and caught her up. and
she sat on one shoulder with his
golden beard spreading over her blue
skirt
The squire told Jerome TO cali on
DR. Prescott and show his plan
A small dark, very kind and quick
lady, who was the suuire's wife and
Lucina's mother, showed Jerome the
door. and he went down the street
In a daze Jerome almost rOrget the
. important paper he carried. He had
never seen a little girl like Lucina
Merritt
Jerome called on Or. Prescott. who
deiEned to read his paper end then
summarily dismissed him. He hated
him a strange way for a man TO hate
a boy. On his way home Jerome en-
countered squire Merritt coming out
OF a woodland road, with a great
string OF fish "What luck. son2' he
He turned me out I'd ike to XII
The squire laughed and made
Jerome walk along with him 10 his
sister Camilla's. who kept elderly
maiden state in the old Merritt house
Jerome always remembered that
hour Of tea drinking and cake eating
IN the arbor with squire Merritt and
his sister and little Lucina, as he
would have an especially turn OF his
Kaleidoscope Of life
Until he was much older, Jerome
did not fully comprehend IN what way
Eden Merritt had solved his financial
difficulties Then he discovered that
the squire had made great sacrifices
OF his none too large competency 70
buy from Dr. Prescott, and take the
Edwards mortgage into his own
hands
Now life began 70 look brighter
for Jerome. He could not 90 to school
In the ordinary sense, so he went
direct TO nature. be, in MS scanLy
free time. roamed fields and woods
Jake Noyes. a queer character Wno
cstensfhly was Dr. PrescOtt's coach
nan. but who had been permitted TO
assimilate, and some said had even
been taught much OF the doctor 8
medical lore. taught Jerome much
about slmples-
Jemore attained a local under ceie-
brity. since he gave aid for nothing
and with success
developed and strengthened There
was an exceptional chance for saw
mill IN the village He went one
evening 20 lawyer Means with re
quest that he should sell 1855 worth
Of his land on cravstone Brooks. and
came away with the deed he then
began TO save for the mill.
IN those days he worked Ike q
tiger. for he was IN love That meant
he had become q conqueror OF all
foes IN his path and achiever Of the
iucins Merritt had come home from
school. and he had seen her in
church. Lucina Merritt was very
great beauty, and her father con
trived TO deck her out ike one He
bought a little white horse for her.
Then Lawrence Prescott came home,
and was often seen cantering about
with Lucina- on FLOODED horse his
Jerome worked harder. Occasions
multiplied during which he ana
Lucina met At first she wondered at
him obviously with dilatinE blue
eyes. then she began 70 blush softly
Jerome's looks at her could have
but one meaning
IN the meantime. Elrnira Edwards
had her own little romance with Law
renee Prescott, but It promised 70 be
an unnaupr one Lawrence was
threatened with dislnheritance. and
E1mira dismissed him Then she tell
i'll. and that night was in a htEh
fever lawrence came and she did
not know him. Lawrence went home
and had a scene with his father.
As under the circumstances Pres
colt could not be employed. doctor
from Westbrook was sent for Elmira
was 81 several weeks Lawrence and
Her illness cost so much that
Jerome had not been able 70 make
good the deficit caused By g loan 10
ozias Lamb. 10 prevent a foreclosure
OF a mortgage on his little bona The
loan had postponed his mill Some
times Jerome reflected with bitter
Amusement upon the bet made IN the
village store a few years ago EEEed
on BY some village ways. DR.. Pres
colt and Simon Basset had signed be-
fore lawyer Means document
whereby they promised to DAY for the
benefit Of the poor $4,000 apiece. =
Jerome Edwards should ever have
$4,000 and give Il al away
Jerome thought Il the safest busi-
ness deal in all creation. Meanwhile
he worked so hard he seldom saw
Lucina. He had not the time TO call