The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-09-09
! THE REVERSE SIDE'
by JACK LAYTON.

NS'p1Iisht' 4V@O, western Newspaper Union
Stephen sat with broodlng eyes look
Ing over his meadows. TO Stephen
the spreading farmland which he In
herited was the most beautiful thini
In the world In 1t he found his life
work and his JOY. To watch the grow
Ing and plentltude Of the labor of his
hands and BRAIN was to him n great
wonder and satisfaction. And II was
his misfortune that love- coming later
than 1t came TO men who sought out
their entertainment, should come In
the delightful but unsuitable person OF
Ilildegard Vane. Hildegard was born
and raised TO an environment very
different from stephens meadows
llildegard had known luxury and moth.
ing but luxury and its benefits. That
he should have found her at all was
| lnconceivable A relative Vane had
purchased as toy certain farm in
! Stephens vicinity, and under this
| Vane's Midas touch the farm turned
out as profitabIy 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 favorte niece
| l1ildegard was one of the most fire.
quent visitors. At length, after Il
winter season of gayety, it was thought
best by the family physician that
Miss Hildegard go to her uncle's rural
| estate for prolonged and restful
stay; and so, riding upon her pony
one day, Ilildegard had found Ste
phen's farmland, and cantering down
| the tree-lined avenue asked the favor
| Of drink of cool water. Just at first,
the girl had taken Stephen for one Of
the usual helpers. When he responded
to her request in his deferential cour-
teous way, she became interested in
his personality, and questioned the
elder Vane. upon her return, concern
ing, "the big good looking, farmer"
Her uncle laughed as he made reply,
Look out for your heart, Hilda. A
man like Stephen Strong might do
more damage to a girls heart, rough
clad, than any drawing-room idol"
Hilda smiled retrospectively, "TIe
looks like his name" she said, "strong.
Tell me about him"
Registering interest already" her
uncle remarked. "Well, all | can tell
Is from reports. He's a college man
agriculture; capable, successful, hon
est. Welded to country life"
"EIe would be-" she mused "or he
would not devote himself to it."
The proper Introduction had come
about quite naturally AS Hilda was
driving one evening with the elder
Vane, Stephen approaching, stopped to
give greeting. After that the girl met
him frequently, and later accepted
various gravely offered invitations to
inspect the Strong farm, or to drive
through the hills at Stephens side.
Stephen had not realized that in this
proximity hopeless love might come
to him; friendship, pure and helpful,
he had thought of as a possible and
pleasant result But love came. And
such a love as only true and simple
heart like Stephens could know
Now that she was going back to
the city, and autumn lay upon the
farm lands, Stephen told himself cru
ely that he might have won her love
if he had stopped to that selfishness.
There was no vanity in the thought
only sorrow and a knowledge of the
sweetness of her nature. But he was
allowing her to go without word,
without a sign. Her lovely eyes had
been wistfu at parting with an appeal
she herself but half recognized.
Stephen stubbornly ignored their APP
peal. This was the only life for which
he was fitted, the only life in which
he might earn measure of success,
but to tie Hldegard Vane to isolation,
TO take her from the court where she
charmed and titted-wel, he was un-
wiling to accept the great gift IS her
The uncle had hinted
of millionaire back there, who wait
ed her favor. Hildegard should not
he tempted in an~hour of sympathetic
feeling for himself. from her millions.
So politely coldly, Stephen bade good
bye. One comfort he gave himself
the sending of basket of selected
fruits to her at her uncle's, fare
well gift before her coming departure. |
And now as he sat, he held her formal |
thank you" note in his big brown |
hands. A square white card. gilt |
edged and of brief wording. Stephen
held the card gently, and turned it
slowly about, his very touch. a caress.
he noticed that he had neg
ected to read the reverse side OF the
ard There was writing here. Hilda
had added a postscript.
Then his eyes racing on to the words,
he realized that this was no postscript
which she had written. but complete
lote to her sister Elizabeth, evidently
n the city. often the girl had spoken
o him regarding her married sister
3ess her mother. and their aspira-
ions. Hilda laughed lightly. he re-
nembered, as she bewaied her diff
erence to the women Of her family.
Dearest Bess," read Stephen. 81
IN coming back to you, don't worry.
The eclipse which you fear for me is
'ot TO happen. But honestly Bess, I'd
ather live here forever and ever with
ny man of the sell, than do anything