The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-24
HEARTS OF
GOLD
By T. B. ANDERSON

residents passed from generation to
generation, few moved away, few
strangers came TO remain 1t was an
old-fashioned. steady going town. re-
vering its ancient landmarks. and In
terest conferred in community welfare
solely.
There was an ideal homelikenesS
and comfort to Its one hotel that
charmed Ralph DisSton. and certain
geniality In the greetings of people
he had never met before At the end
OF u 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 Iabors
hac resulted In q breakdown. Physi- |
clans had advised life In the Open
and It seemed possible when he was |
apprfzed that his half uncle, Reuben |
Page. at Bloxton. had lett him the |
farm that had been In the family for |
over seventy years. What ready mon
y
tributed 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 good deal |
to do In influencing Disston. She was
Sun-hrowned. wholesome young |
woman of twenty-five, brisk, indus
trinuS 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 thar lie 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. II suppose
we've got to pack up and leave new?"
mot at my request" replied Disston
promptly. Il would miss having you
people around to help me out when
l make blunders. You can stay right
where you are on the old arrange
nent."
DiSStOn made an arrangement with |
the Cooper brothers to work the crops
on shares until he secured better |
grasp of the situation. The hue of |
h5,nl {,,t. {tt1 |
uir and plenty of 1t. substantial food |
and cOmpanionable evenings spent |
among his neighb0rs. 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 tire 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 q
neighhor TO do what carting was re-
quired and the setback seriously i'm
peded his plans.
DiSxtOn detected a symptom of sup
pressed excitement In Gladys as she
came over early one morning and
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
9ped 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 a 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 1t were two superb black
! horses, young. strong, shapely. AMI
mails and vehicle were decorated with
ribbons. and as they approached them
TREY 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 1t,