Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-03
A Trick of
Fortune
By ALVAH ]. GARTH

Stu Nle'll pace, Sulu lNOuHeS McT!e
to himself in Il highly satisfied way as
he set his suitcase on chair in q
very plainly furnished, but scrupulous-
~ neat and clean room, and glanced
from its open window upon rare
scene of sylvan solitude and beauty.
He had sought to find some peace
fun rural place where he could rest
and read, wander in the woods and
take in supply of pure country air
and sunshine. Fate had sent him to
Lccsville and an equally kind old
fashioned postmaster had directed
him to the home of Mrs. Abigail
Briggs. pretty modest girl of about
eighteen had greeted him pleasantly
and her mother. stately old lady,
told of good breeding.
II hope the postmaster told you
that we are poor folks and live very
plain" said the widowed mistress Of
the little home. MY husband died
leaving us nothing but this poor Old
property, but If fresh cream and but
ter and plenty of green stuff and ber-
you like you can have them in plenty"
'You will find the old lady set in
her opinions and n trifle bitter over
the great disappointment of her life"
the postmaster had told Merle. "She
and her husband had toiled hard TO
earn and save, but when he died there
wasn't trace even of the securities he
&x-ffln
ing. It's n blessing that she has
Lettie. n girl all gold. Works like Il
beaver, and with her school teaching
in season and what they sell Of the
produce Of the place she has kept the
larder full and the old rnmshackly
house out Of debt"
Mother wishes to know # there is
comfort" said Lettie half an hour
after Merle's arrival, appearing at
the door of his room.
"Why, I was thinking If I had n
small stand or table," replied Merle,
ut would make things just prime. 1
do n good deal Of writing at times"
and he indicated some writing utensils
he had temporarily placed on the bu-
reau.
II think know what will suit you"
announced Lettie. "There is q small
table we used to play games on stored
away in the attic" and five minutes
later she reappeared carrying the OBJ
ject she had described, which Merle
set in a corner of the room. Lettie
went downstairs with the words: "Tea
will be ready in a few minutes"
Merle found some difficulty in open.
ing the drawer Of the stand and q
tinkling bell sounded downstairs as
he managed to pull it open. He hris-
tied in his loose papers and descend
ed to the lower floor to partake OF
''the finest meal I ever enjoyed" he
afterwards asserted.
Within two days Merle was fully
domesticated. Before his first week
was passed he had become the conf.
dant and sympathizer Of the old lady
who constantly dilated on their great
and mysterious loss Of fortune.
AS to Lettie she came into the life
Of Merle so simple, - refreshing
that he sought her companionship
whenever she was at leisure. The post
master had jocularly advised him not
to fall in love with Lettie for she had
broken the hearts of half dozen
ardent suitOrs, who had learned that
the faithful daughter had consecrated
her young life to looking solely after
her mother until she had earned
enough to place her in position OF
independence.
Merle awoke one morning at the
echo of n vivid scream downstairs anC
hurried on his clothes as smoke and
smell of burning wood warned him OF
apparent fire peril. The lower part OF
the house was in flames. He aideC
the two terrified women to get out
side in safety, returned to carry out
what he could of their personal be
longings and, remembering his suit
case in his room, fastened thither
filled it with his scattered possession.
and dumped in the contents of the
drawer of the little stand.
The house was burned to the
ground. a neighhor offered to house
Lettc and her mother, but the stub
born Mrs. Briggs refused to leave the
only spot on earth she could call hel
own. There was q small two-rOom
cottage that had once harbored the
hired help and here the two wOmeI
established themselves. Merle put VI
at the village hotel.
He did not sleep that night AL
through the lonely silent hours hi
thought of Lettie, of her mother, too
Love and sympathy led his mind. to {
fixed decision before morning came
And then, 'whiieTle was doubling tina
Mrs. Briggs @on'a'ronsent't to he de