The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-07-29
at
Odd Purposes
ByBELvA M. THoRNE
Copyright. 1919. By the Western News.
paper Union.)

Copyright. 1919. b. the Western News.
paper Union.)
Martin Wolcott, bachelor, moved
from Lisle to Clyde because he was in
debt. Mrs. Althea Burrows, widow,
remained in the latter town for the
same reason. The %coincidental SINH
iarity as to motive and environment
went still further. Both were regard.
ed as above the average as to wealth
or the prospect Of 1t. A third circum-
stance in this chain Of sequence was
the fact that Judge Award Marsh, who
had been Mrs. Burrows attorney for
ten years, became likewise the legal
adviser of Mr.. Wolcott.
Now neither Of the two named made
any pretense to the merest Craze with
opulence. Neither was over thirty,
and both were healthy, a%ccreditable and
good looking. Common rumor had it,
however, that the fair widow had in
herited a gold mine out West that
might at any time open its vast store
Of wealth. When Mr.. Wolcott came
to Clyde there followed him the report
that when a certain lawsuit he had
been fighting for Ave years was de-
cided, he would become the recipient
Of a royal fortune.
The facts were really these: The
alleged mine had never produced so
much as an ounce Of the precious
metal, and Mrs. Burrows had leased
the fifty acres involved for grazing
purposes at barely enough to meet tax
es and water right installments. AS
to the lawsuit, Wolcott had expended
nearly all he had in legal fees and
had hopelessly abandoned any antici-
pations Of success in winning 1t.
AS said, Wolcott had ONE to Clyde
because he was in debt. Not that his
Lisle creditors were m%anifesting any
collection pressure, for he was a fa-
vorite with everybody, but, finding
himself growing poorer and poorer, he
resolved to get down to real work.
He was a specialist in cattle diseases,
and Clyde was the center Of q large
rich farming district.
1t was at the Office Of Judge Marsh
one day that Martin Wolcott met the
charming widow. The observing old
jurist's eyes twinkled as he sensed a
mutual liking established between the
two. 1t got to be so that Wolcott be-
came a weekly visitor ut the Burrows
home. They were vastly pleased with
each other and the prospective match
met with the approval Of heirfrlends.
Mrs. Burrows had made some in
quiry regarding Mr.. Wolcott. 1t was
to receive exaggerated intelligence as
to the wonderful lawsuit that would
place him so high above her in the
way of wealth that her heart failed
her. Wolcott did the same thing. He
became respondent and hopeless when
he heard about the u~ndeveloped Col
conda in the Rockies which would
make Of Mrs. Burrows q social queen,
who would naturally disdain the at
tentions Of a poor and obscure individ-
ual like himself.
Wolcott began to curtail his calls
upon Mrs. Burrows and the latter in
fuenced by this and a realization of
tho vast gulf between them, tried to
root out the love that might bring only
disappointment and sorrow. They had
not e one another for two weeks,
when they came face to face in the
office Of Judge Marsh. Each acted as
II their relations We're strained. The
Judge was not in evidence. but they
decided to wait for him. A quick ten.
derness permeated the sensitive heart
of the sympathetic widow as she no
ticed that Wolcott looked thin and
worried.
"You do not seem as well as when
last saw you, Mr.. Wolcott," she said
"That is because I haven't seen 50
much Of you," replied Wolcot'
bluntly.
lis not that your own fault?" softly
intimated the blushing widow. "Sure
1y you have been always welcome al
my home"
II have met with such kindly con
sideration," answered Wolcott in I'M
steady tones, "that I dared not con
tinue my visits because I foresaw thai
1t could end only in ban1shment.S
"How strangely you speak," she
huttered.
"Mrs. Burrows, I am a plain man.
said Wolcott seriously. 1T will be nc
news to you to know that you are Il
me the one woman In the world I re
spect, admire and cherish. 1t Is only
recently that I learned OF your pros
poets of fortune. A poor man, I dared
not presume that you would look up
on me as your equal"
"Why, Mr.. Wolcott," exclaimed Mrs
Burrows, "who ever gave you SUCH
ridiculous idea. A poor man? It wal
when I learned Of your coming wealth
that I felt that I could never hope
that Is"
"Poor man, poor woman" interrupt
ed Judge Marsh, bursting into thu
room radiant. mfr. Wolcott, you have
said enough to divest the Situation o.
any misconception. Mrs. Burrows. yo1
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