Mexico weekly ledger., 1920-12-09
THE REVERSE SIDEs
BY JACK LAYTON.

''Sl"eh SAT Win Dro0Qins eyes look
ing over his meadows. To Stephen,
u'e spreading farmland which he In
herlted wal the most beautiful thing
I'D the world. In 1t he found his life
work and his joy. To watch the grow
ing aud plentitude of the labor of his
hands n brain, was to him a great
wonder and satisfaction. And it was
MS misfortune that love, coming later
than II came to men who sought out
their entertainment. should come IL
the delightful but unsuitable person OF
hiidegard Nane. Hildegard was born
anu raised TO an environment very
different from Stephens meadows.
Hildegard hal known luxury and moth.
ing but luxury and its benefits. That
he should have found her at all was
lhconccivahle. A relative Yane had
purchased as a toy a certain farm in
stephens vicinity. and under this
Vane'S Midas touch the farm turned
on as probably as his various other
investments, SO to the big remOdeled
country house on the hill, he invited
occasionally city friends for week
END visits. and his favOrite niece
llildegard was one of the most fire.
qucnt visitors. EAt length. after Il
winter season Of gayety, 1t WAS thought
, hest by the family physician that
Miss Hildegard go to her uncle's rural
estate for a prolonged and restful
GtDys nnl on etJi,1 ,pn, lAr ynnu
: one day, HHhSsard had found Ste
E pher's farmland, and cantering down
: the lree-IineH avenue, asked the favor
e of a drink of cool water. Just at first,
Q the girl had taken Stephen for n Of
the usual helpeft. When he responded
=, to her request In his deferential cou
' teous way. she became interested In
P, his personality and questioned the
q elder Vane. upon her return, concern
ing. "thc big good looking, farmer"
t Her uncle laughed as he made reply,
Look out for your heart, Hilda. A
y. man like Stephen Strong might dc
y more damage to a girls heart, rough
clad, than any drawing-room idol"
IIilda smiled retrospectively, "He
: looks like his name" she said, 'strong
\ Tell me about him"
g Registering interest already" her
7, uncle remarked. well, all | can tel
e. Is from reports. He's a college man
II agriculture; capable, successful. hon
u, est. Welded to country life"
"He would be-" she mused, cor h
would not devote himself to It,"
The proper introduction had com
AAuut quite naturally. AS Hilda wa
driving n evening with the eide
Vane, stephen approaching, stopped
" give greeting. After that the girl me
< him frequently, and later accepte
various gravely offered invitations {
x inspect the Strong farm, or to driv
of through the hills at Stephens sid
w Stephen had not realized that in TIL
proximity a hopeless love might com
to him; friendship, pure and helpful
~ he had thought Of as a possible an
l" pleasant result. But love came. An
On such a love as only q true and simp
n heart like Stephens could know.
Now that she was going back
he the city. and autumn lay upon N
farm lands, Stephen told himself or
ely that he might have won her 10
. II he had stopped to that s%eltshne'
:" There was no vanity In the thougi
only sorrow and a knowledge OF q
sweetness of her nature. But he W
he allowing her to 60 without a VOL
ng without a sign. Her lovely eyes HI
ter been wistful at parting with an appe
she herself but half recognize
al Stephen stubbornly ignored their @
. neal, This was the only Dfe for viii
he was fitted. the only life In viii
UNI he might earn q measure of succe
ion hut 70 tie Hildegnrd Vane to iSnlnti'
10 tnke her from the court where $
A. charmed and Gftcd-well, h" WIS !
err willing to accept the great gift or
- rmunrintiou, The uncle had hill
Of q millionaire back there, who W :
W, o. he, favor. Hildegard should
y" he lrnnfcd in m hour of sympath'
feeling for himself. from her mililo
the So pnl.toly. roldly, Stephen bad" e"
an hive one comfort he gave hiins
Of fine sending of n basket OF selec
fruits to her at her %unclc's, Il fN
+bo well gift before her coming departt
And nov aS he sat. he held her fori
al ",bonk YOU" note in his big bro
Oh hands A square white card.
edr.d and Of brief wording. step
nan, held the card gently. and turned
mis- slovlv about, his very touch, a car
ted. Suddenly he noticed that he had
Me- lertpd TO read the reverse slne OF
card. There was writing mere IL
woman-likp. had added a noStsct
Tbon his owes racing on TO the VIC
INC he realized that this was no poS'Sc
d is which she had written, but a conn
rotc tn her sister Elizabeth. evide
dell. IN the city. often the girl had sp'
,;nts 70 hin, regarding her married 81
p,ss her mother. and their asl
tiors linda laughed lightly, he
''o"' ~mp,ohereh. as she hewailed her
as d feropcn 10 the women of her FAM
"bearnst Rcss." read stephen
ans, am coming back to you, don't W.
)avid The pcIipSe which you fear for II
right not TO happen. But honestly neSS
X c rather liye here forever and ever
.,tc, my man of the soil, than do any,
,ooo else in the world, He is true ]
! -'' and Strong--that's his name
A blot ended the message
oe 0"Thnn anything else in the wo
,;ued he murmured joyously.
"Oh! little girl Of mine you ar
ing to have your choice"
lician Enough Of 1t.
killed you've got to get a jack to no
and this machine"
'geth- 81 hope net the E,no =" 'u''
oy Of that held me up in It"