The courier-index., 1920-10-22
His Only Love
By MURIEL LEE
lM I92O. Western Newspaper Union.

|
 beautiful girl had iDstilled lasting impulse in his soul-to make himself worthy of her.
 He was eighteen years of age when his father died. Hugh had not known a mothers care since he was babe. The old ruin of a house they lived in was located on the shore of a great western river, and for half q century Gabriel Wardell had made his living by fishing. Hugh was still boy when he was left alone in the world. For some time he had assisted his father at his daily work, and fishing was all that he knew anything about. Half a mile away lived Homer Reese and his only child, daughter, Miriam, was just the age of Hugh. Like the latter she never knew a mothers love. This deprivation naturally brought boy and girl together in spirit.
 Mir. Reese was getting old. He made a proposition to Hugh to live at his home and continue his business. share and share alike. At the best there was nothing better than bare living assured, but this was enough for Hugh as long as he had the sweet companionship of Miriam. To the ardent souled lad she was the all in all of life. AS to herself, the sincere admiration and friendship of Hugh made her almost satisfied with her humble lot.
 MT. Reese had secured the exclusive fish and shell rights to a long swamp strip of river shore, and the fresh water clans were abundant. Hugh had traded his fathers boat for a horse and wagon. Under the guidance of his more mature partner Hugh entered upon double duty. Ten miles distant button factory had started and there was a regular demand for clam shells. During off season fishing spells, with rake and pronged fork Hugh loaded shells into his wagon and conveyed them to market. As he received as much as sixty dollars per ton and sold six tons the first year. this extra en- deavor meant considerable in the way of income. i@
 Many a time when alone with Hugh the old man revealed his hopes and ambitions regarding Miriam.
 My. daughter must have an educa- tion," he said earnestly. Tt is tho one thought in my mind day and night. It is so slow earning and saving that I get disheartened at times"
 You mean she will have to go away from here to school?" asked Hugh blankly.
 "Yes, Hugh. There is a girls col lege at Ironton and she has an old aunt living in that town, poor, but willing to look after her l am sure. It's the first fitting out, the getting started. Then I know Miriam is smart enough to work her way through college"
 After that Hugh began to work and scrape and save just as Mir. Reese was doing to add to the slowly devei- oping surplus of their business. It was about a week before Miriam was eighteen that Hugh came into the house looking eager and excited. He sought out his partner to find him in the attic. mending a fishing net. Miriam's sweet voice could be heard singing downstairs so he knew that they would be free from interruption.
 i've made it MT. Roose, announced Hugh, almost breathlessly. "Oh, the rare luck of it!
 He held between thumb and fore finger a beautiful pearl. Its shimmer dazzled Mir. Reese. Pure and per feet" he spoke. Where did you ever get it?''
 Spilled over a shovelful in loading. I stepped on 1t and noticed 1t. Il weighs thirty y-eight grains and the gem people made price of eight hundred and fifty dollars. You are to take 1t as if you were the finder. Miriam! anc Hugh's eyes were radiant Her edu cationl" and Hugh's lips quivered.
 So 1t came about that Miriam wen away, fully able to enter the lists ol learning with money enough to see hei through a two years course. Hugl kept his eyes open for new find, bu | 1t never came about.
 Some small imperfect pearls cam' l his way, but it seemed as if destin! had bulked it's favor for one concret need only. He would dream Of tn great future in store for Miriam, ant idealize how she would marry som
 one of the cultured city men, mayb
 visit them once in a while. but tn | hope of ever winning the love Of on
 so far above him had been abandone
 long since.
 She came back to the old home
 though 1t was but yesterday that sn
 had left 1t. She fell into its old way
 prepared to brighten it up. but wit
 no expression of desiring other con
 panionship than that of its inmates.
 One day Mir. Reese came to Hugi
 My boy" he remarked, "my cor
 science wouldn't let me keep the trut
 from Miriam about the pearl ths
 meant her education to her." tsxxrto+ dfd Sha Sav2" faltcred Hugl