Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-12-31
The Best in
Life
By GENEvIEvE ULMAR


"That's the old farm" announced
Seth Barclay, extending toward the
group in the boarding house Of Mrs.
Mary Willard photograph.
All eyes were focused on the picture
of prosperous-looking farmhouse,
fair fields of grain and a pretty lake
in the distance.
"That's me on a porch" continued
Barclay. "You see, father left me the
place three years ago, but got am
bilious to study engineering and came
to the CITY,"
OF all the observers Mrs. Willard
regarded the photo most closely and
longingly. It was six months since
Barclay became her boarder, He was
favorite from the start. Bluff
hearty, accommodating, there was that
about his free, honest ways that
charmed the odd ten people whom
Mrs. Willard accommodated.
She was busy, busting little wom-
an, deploring the loss Of an Invalid
husband, but sturdily resolved to pro-
vide for her two little ones the best
she knew how. 1t was the loving In
terest Barclay took In the tiny tots
that won her regard. 1t got to be so
that she took oil her business troubles
to him. He was not at all flush In
a money way, and the boarders could
not understand how the owner of
farm could be so modest In his attire.
II was In June that the farm began
to impress Barclays fellow boarders
with interest and enjoyment.
81 have ordered my man in charge,
Ephralm Dorkins, to send us samples
right along" he had remarked, and
Mrs. Wizards wlnsome face grew into
a delicious smile as the first crate of
Strawberries arrived. Cherries fol
lowed, then more berries and vege-
tables. These arrived In no parsimo-
NOUS quantities There was barrel
full of green peas and green onions
ad libitum, string beans, cabbages,
carrots and early apples-the larder
had never before known such opulent
plenitude. Fall was continuous 1u-
blee. Grapes, pears, melons-so va
rled and appetlzing were the donations
that about all the boarders talked
about was this wonderful farm, that
yielded such rich fruits Of seemingly
inexhnustible fertility. 1t made Mrs.
Wizards wide-awake eyes grow like
stars to hear of the beauties OF the
farm and the great desire Of the chill
dren was that some day they would
be taken to visit this earthly paradise.
It was late in the fall that Barclay
came to Mrs. willard serious Of mien,
almost mysterious, as he arranged for
the occupancy Of two attic rooms for
n friend who was in trouble, ms he put
II, and wished absolute secluson for
a month or two.
"You act troubled, Mr.. Barclay" OBJ
served the keen-wltted landlady, "and
you are too honest to hide 1t, Suppose
you make me cOnfldante and q
helper"
every WELL" confessed Barclay. IT
shall coll the newcomer John Smith.
In reality he is cousin Of mine In
serious trouble, given to drinking, and
requires building up, watching, encour-
agement, and his difficulties adjusted
And for the ensuing two months John
Smith was care and worry. AT
the first he demanded stimulants, was
cross and gloomy, but finally Barclay
and his loyal helper mended him up
sent him away, and that appeared to
be the end of the matter.
A little after that Barclay came
home one day to find Mrs. Willard In
tears. She tried to hide them and
evaded close questioning, but finally
confessed. One of the boarders had
Glanced to be travelling in the district
in which the farm was located. He
brought back strange news The prop
erty had indeed been left to Barclay,
but there was a mortgage on 1t that
left no equity Of consequence. Gen
erous-souled Barclay had n year in
which to redeem It, knew he could
not, and had donated to others Its
products, realizing that there was no
hope Of securing anything whatever
when the mortgage was foreclosed.
"You good, noble man |" sobbed Mrs
Willard, pretending you had the best
on earth, and all the time probably
wearing your soul away with worry"
"Yes, I'm poor for fact--farm gone
by next year-but Tn going to be an
engineer, am not2 And look at the
loyal, grand friends I've got. Cheer
up, dear ladyP
Don't think your having farm
~. t,aa1yng 1iT0rnnpn
to mew flashed forth Mrs willard
"If you were the poorest man in the
world, Pd-Td-"
you'd whatP inquired Barclay
softly.
"Pd work for you and divide what
I've got to the last penny, and-and-"
And Mrs. Willard ran away to hide
her confession. and her love, and Bar
clay stood staring after her lost IN
a rapturous dream.
Mrs. Mary Willard did not have to
divide her last cent with Seth Barclay.
A week later the father Of the cousin
he had set on his feet and started In
n new path OF honor and usefulness
came TO see him.
"You have saved my boy" he said
simply. Look" and he tore 10 |
shreds the mortgage and notes.
There were lamentations among the
boarders when Mrs. Willard welded
Seth Barclay, for those INDUCED and |
well-cared-for persons realized how |
greatly they would miss the kind and
tactful landlsdy.
But when all hands were later IN
vlted to n jubilee at the farm. II made
them happy 20 see how husband wife
nd the little ones were enjoying the
~ life.