Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-05-13
HEARTS OF
GOLD
BY T. B. ANDERSON

| old-faShiOned, steady gong town, re-
vering its ancient landmarks, and in
terest centered in community welfare
| solely.
There was an ideal homelikeness
and comfort to its one hotel that
| charmed Ralph DisstOn, and a certain
| geniality in the greetings of people
he had never met before. AT the end
of week the tall, handsome young
man, with the pallor of frail health
| in his face, disclosed the object of his
visit and was welcomed with open
| hands and hearts.
Disston had been employed in mer-
| camille lines in the city, and his labors
| had resulted in a breakdown. Physi-
clans had advised life in the open,
and 1t seemed possible when he was
| apprized that his half uncle, Reuben
Page, at Bloxton, had left him the
! farm that had been in the family for
| over seventy years. What ready mon
ey the latter possessed had been dis
trlbuted among his sisters.
Disston found the old farm neglect
ed and run down But that could
readily be attended to, John Paxton,
his nearest neighbor, told him. Per
| haps, too, an acquaintance with
| Gladys, his daughter, had a good deal
to do in influencing Disston. She was
| sun-browned wholesome young
woman of twenty-five, brisk, indus
trious and happy spirited, and she act
ed as guide and adviser in taking Diss-
ton over his newly acquired domain.
People warmed up to him after he
made it known that he was the heir to
! the Page farm. Then Disston made
the community more friendly than
ever when two men, Ezra and Ben
! Cooper, brothers, called upon him.
Your uncle has let US each occupy
| fifty acres where the farm touches the
. creek since we were boys free gratis"
Ezra Cooper told Disston. Il suppose
we've got to pack up and leave nowT
mot at my request" replied Disston
promptly. Il would miss having you
people around to help me out when
/ make blunders You can stay right
where you are on the old arrange
ment"
Dsston made an arrangement with
the Cooper brothers to work the crops
! on. shares until he secured better
grasp of the situation. The hue Of
health came into his face with pure
air and plenty of it, substantial food
and companionable evenings spent
| among his neighbors. 1t was Gladys
who indicted him into driving the old
! heavy team that went with the place
| and with her mother did much in
| making the interior of the house pre-
| sentable.
one night the stables of the place
caught fire. Neighbors saved some
| farm machinery, but the horses and
| the two wagons were consumed The
loss was greatly felt by Disston for
he had not the money TO replace these
necessary adjuncts to successful
farming. Everybody sympathized
with him, and there were tears in the
eyes of Gladys as she stood by his
| side viewing the ruins of the old
| barn. Disston had to arrange with
| neighbor to do what carting was re-
| qulred and the setback seriously inn
peded his plans.
Disston detected a symptom of sup
| pressed excitement in Gladys as she
| came over early one morning ana
| asked him to go with her to secure
some flowers just beginning to bloom.
| He was somewhat surprised at this in
fringement on working hours on the
! part Of this practical little girl farm
err, the more so when she dallied after
gathering the flowers and two hours
sped away.
Nov, let us get back to the house
| through the little grove" she spoke
as they regained the vicinity of the
house and then, just as they cleared
this, she exclaimed in Joyful tones
Nov look What do you seer"
What Ralph Disston saw held him
! spellbound. In the yard was brand
new barn wagon of the latest type.
| Attached to it were two superb black
| horses, young, strong, shapely Ami
mails and vehicle were decorated with
ribbons and as they approached them
they saw card attached to the wagon
which read;
From true friends to the new
farmer
Dear Mr. DiSston," spoke Gladys.
there is not person in Bloxton who
has not Joined in this gift. They al
ways help when anybody is in trou-
ble-iust as you did with the Cooper
boys"
1t took all the morning for Ralph
Disston TO get over the vast surprise
Of the day. He had certainly come
among people kindly and loyal as own
brothers and sisters, and he felt sin.
cerely In his heart that his lines had
indeed fallen in pleasant places.
well, what do you think of It
friendsT submitted John Paxton com.
Ing over from his home. II ten vou
when these whole-hearted Bloxtonltes
take q fancy TO a man, he's aYed for
life. Next thing they'll be finding a
wife for you, hey7
II hone they 10 - rafcira1 Tos...,r