The Snowflake herald., 1920-01-23
Won
BY Waiting
Copyright, 1919, by the Western News
paper Union.)
ID
BY ALVAH JORDAN GARTH


1t was like a transition from the arid
desert to fertile valley of Eden. the
abandonment of an impossible farm in
the alkali lands, and a grateful settling
down in the welcome groove of the
Walden place. 1t was the possession
of decrepit old man, Ezra Wal
den, and his orphan niece, lola, and
from the start John Burton liked it
and bound himself to remain. He was
! to work it on shares and after that on
half ownership basis.
Outside of comfort and prospect
there was lola. 1t took less than a
month for Burton to treasure her as
the brightest little being he had ever
met. First he admired her. then he
1 longed for her constant company and
| finally came to love her.
And then disenchantment, so far as
his hopes were concerned-a blow sud
! den and bitter and then all the sun
! shine of life seemed blotted out for
/ him. lola had come to treat Burton
almost as one of the family. She en-
! joyed companionship with a person so
/ intellectual and kindly, and he enter
tanned the secret hope that as time
went on she might come to regard him
with the favor of affection The place
/ of happiness he had built so fondly
crashed into ruins as one day Ezra
/ Walden called him to his room, where
! he lay slowly wasting away.
"Sit down, Burton" said the old
! man feebly 81 want to have a talk
with you. You have been a great help
and comfort to me, you have worked
1 hard and faithfully and l don't want
/ to see you lose by it. haven't long to
live, the doctor told me last week.
When the end comes there is lola to
think of l want to provide for her as
/ fully as possible. lola wishes to go to
i Denver"
quick pain struck the heart of the
/ ardent lover. "She has relatives there?"
he ventured family.
mo, but about a year ago a man
named Blake Darrell spent a month
here hunting and fishing. He was
/ flashy, bOastful sort of a fellow and.
I between you and l, did not impress me
/ very favorably, but as | later learned
made love to lola and she was i'm
/ pressed. 1t was after he was gone that
the child told me that he had filed her
mind with all kinds of glowing ideas
of the active life of the city, that he
was writing to her regularly, and if
she ever came to Denver he would see
/ that she got q fine position and would
make her his wife. She did not ex-
actly agree to this, for she wasn't sure
of her own mind but / can see that
I when / am gone her thoughts will all
! be fixed upon going into this new life.
What l was thinking was this: You
/ say you have about a thousand dollars
saved up. Buy the place here, pay
down what you can and the balance to
60 to lola as she needs it. Only this
i if her mind is set on going to Denver,
/ and if she wishes to marry this man.
Darrell, go with her and become her
guardian until that is consummated,
/ lust as if you were myself"
Burtons heart was heavy as he gave
his promise to carry out the injunc-
tions OF Mr.. Walden His dream was
over and done. lola was lost to him
and the future seemed bHghted. With
1 in the week the old man died. A kind
4 IL neighbor took lola in her charge
and few days later Burton called
/ upon lola to learn her wishes
She was subdued with grief, forlorn-
/ v uncertain, but finally told Burton
that she wished to 90 to Denver. He
1 explained to her the wishes of her
/ grandfather and she seemed to eX-
perience a deep gratitude for his help
/ full loyal service.
This was emphasized when together
they started for the East. His delicate
and soIicitous care for her comfort
touched lola deeply. She began to
realize how she would miss the sturdy,
/ sterling friend when he went back
I alone to the old farm for which she
secretly began to grow homesicks She
+ was almost fearful when he left her
at q hotel in Denver. Her face wore
/ a strange seriousness when he called
the next morning.
81 would like to have you deliver
this" she Said. wait LoI Nv ailSNci'
4 And she handed him letter directed
1 to Blake Darrell.
She was in a nervous flutter when
Burton returned He also acted un-
+ settled and shaken.
II have strange news for you, lola"
I he said. "Blake Darrell was shot dead
i In a drunken brawl month since. lie
left a widow"
To his surprise lola seemed little af-
/ fected by the intelligence. Il changed
my mind half way to Denver" she
spoke in troubled tones. Il do not in
tend to remain. oh! my good, kind
friend, whom I alone can trust, take
me backbone !"
Burton began to tremble with vague
suppressed emotion. She tore open
+ba anvolone he had returned to her