The Lamar register., 1920-01-07


Hardscrsbble farm was well named,
and when John Lyle died and left the
place to his son Allan. the latter
viewed his heritage with grlmness. but
resolve.
81 am going to change it-at least
help nature along" declared Allan TO
his sister Meta. The thousand dollars
father SO closely boarded and left us
will just about III things up splck and
span and qusdrupls the crops. Give
me just one year Of my own way. and
I'll show you the modern little farm
Of all Dsviss county. Then"
Allan drew in his breath and. his
eyes fIed upon distance, sparkled with
4 refer OF the golden picture he men
tally Viewed Mets smiled secretly.
The artful mink well knew the impell-
ing Ideal of the moment-Lura Willis.
She was the daughter of q nelghbor
with q large family, and the only girl
Allan had ever loved. Outspokenly.
they were as yet no more than friends.
but all Rockton decided they would
mate some day. and Lura silently but
delightfully."- blushed when the soft i'm
peschment was hinted at by her girl
friends. As to Allan. his dream Of life
was to see Lurs queen Of Hsrdscrab-
BILE developed into an Eden spot
through his cherished ideas Of inten-
sive farming. Lura came over to see
Meta one day. with q bewildering piece
Of news.
"what DO you think !" she spoke.
my rich relatives In the city, Uncle
Reuben and Aunt Deborah Hunter.
have sent for me to come and live
with them. You know they are very
wealthy and have no children. and
they write that l must live with them
for q year and 20 TO q seminary near
their home, and when the year Is over
decide to become their adopted daugh-
ter or return home. as I elect"
That Is grand !" replied Meta cheer
ingly. but by no means enthused- "Of
course you will see lots Of the world
and live In luxury. and all that: but
what about Allan?"
why. what do you meanr' mur-
INJURED Lurs equlvocslly aud flush
ing and psling by turns.
He viii miss you dreadfully. Lurs."
said Meta. you don't know how much
he thinks of you. desr."
NO. don't" nuttered Lurs; but
hope he does. He has been q true.
good friend, and shall miss him.
too"
"Lura." said Meta with some grav-
ity, "you are perhaps more to MIN
than he to you. but don't forget him.
the dear fellow, | want to show you
something" and Meta led the way to
. silver arch In the garden. Upon u
knife had cut the outline Of I've
hearts entwined.
Lurs's eyes expressed suppressed
sentiment as she Viewed the present
ment. one day originated by Allan
when they were together. Both had
laughed In gentle badinage over the
time-worn nonsense of lovers. but now
II had q deeper meaning for. removing
a small section of bark Of the birch.
Meta revealed an aperture.
This seems to be Allsn's treasure
house" said Meta. "and I thought II
right to have you know what It con
tains. See. little mementoes of his
scquaintanceship with you" and Meta
brought TO light q faded nosegsy. Q
dried-up four-leaf clover a cherished
bit OF ribbon and some scrswied sheet
Of paper.
"what are those7" inquired the curl
Gus Lurs.
"Poetry-or Allan thinks It is. Here
Is the beginning of one: Dearest
Lura, to you will be true"
Lurs seized pencil lying In the
/ unique cubby-hoie and wrote under
the line: And l. sweetheart. the very
same to you :" and. kissing the scrap OF
paper, and all emotion and bushes.
Lura ran away as Allan was seen ap-
pros ching in the distance.
Z Allan did not see Lura again before
,he went away. Perhaps her overt act
OF liking for him embarrassed her;
perhaps she hesltated as to commit
ting herself before she saw what the
new life before her would bring. Meta
( told Allan Of the incident Of the birch
tree, and his face frightened. and the
dsy that Lura left he started in with
his farm work with q zest barn Of eour-
ara and hone