Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-11-18

ate day, she will be quite the richest
heiress in my knowing.
Nov, my dear Colonel, let me hear
from you. Why should a famous SOL
der, and the greatest cellist of his
time, longer isolate himself from the
world to nurse his sorrow? For the
sake Of the little girl, if not for your
own-and ours-leave your Flatwoods
hermitage and come back to us.
neutrality-suspicious. early reply
to this letter, | beg to remain. as ever,
"Your obedient serv't.
GEO. ESKRIDGE."
A voice out of the big world she had
visited only in dreams. She glanced
again at the letter, looked hard at the
opening of the third. paragraph,
dropped her hands in her lap and
turned to her companion. He had bent
forward and sat staring at the floor.
what does it mean?'
at means" he said slowly after a
time, with his eyes still on the floor,
that you are a rich heiress; and
you've got a-name."
"a name" she repeated, her wom-
ans intuition instantly catching the
minor note. $50 have you, and'-She
reached in her bosom and drew out
the draft-'a fortune. And you made
: them both Yourself"
He glanced at the draft; waved it
away without lifting his head.
Keep it, please, for me till after
tonight"
She put it back in her bosom, picked
up the letter and sat bordering, steal
| ing an occasional glance at his glum
face.
Seven years the letters came the
man unused, half aloud, land you never
received them. The postmaster has a
ter that comes"
You don't reckon"
"Reckon! It's a plain case. Let's
see-every month-SiX hundred q year
seven years-seven times six hun
dred-no wonder he could build that
new house."
"Oh, we'll! Poor old man! He's
paying for it,"
and do you think that's the way a
man PAYS"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
The man raised his eyes after q time
to the bright spots Of metal in the
gathering gloom above the mantei.
The letter called him a famous SOL
der. Maybe that's his sword, and
spurs:"
"They are"
And you keep them shining bright
like that?"
"Always."
The mar was silent a long time. One
other question had come to him, but
he dreaded to ask it. He twisted him
self around so as to look into the face
Of his companion. 1t was deeply
thoughtful. Things had recently hap
pened in his own life that had brought
the question to his mind. Finally very
softly, r%everently, he ventured it forth.
"And your mother?"
The girl caught her breath; dropped
one hand, doubtless unconsciously, up
on his shoulder. Her lashes dropped
low. -'~ tt"N~"---
81 never saw her!" she said, after
!; time. And she-never saw me!'
There was Il pause. Her grave is
on a hill that overlo0ks the river. Dad.
dy took me and came up here in the
Fatwoods TO forget. guess he
couldn't forget, for he never went
back"
The Pearlhunter was sorry he had
asked the question. The grave that
overluokcd the river. Was there not
mother such grave-not three days
I'D: the orchids upon it still alive!
The gray eyes followed the blue into
T." rrmsiv" shadows.
a wonder What it MEANS" he medi-
:lrrd half aloud. You are to fall heir
to his fortune. if no word comes What
word d" YOU suppose? And why
should any word prevent you falling
heir to his tortune.-your father's?''
81 wondered about that. I guess it's
just lawyer talk. Do you think I
should answer that letter."
81 think YOU should"
but Wilt N'ult / Say AS / Sttlu
Il while ago. | wrote q letter.
"Neither did t." He saw the answer
did not relieve the perpleXity on the
thoughtful face, and went on. But
I'd tell him about your life here, and
about your father's-accident. and
that this is the first letter you've re-
ceived for seven years" IIe hesitated,
seemed to study his next word, finally
added: "And believe I'd ask him to
come; yes, I believe I would-aSk him
to come"
"Why, of course; why couldn't I
think of that? Now you'd better lie
down while I get you a mite of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet.
protesting.
81 shall nave to get supper for
Daddy, anyhow" she emphasized.
And I wouldn't think of letting you
go without"
When a woman talks like that, it's
no uSa to arp11o Tho poorlhu1fa