The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-11-18
J THE REVERSE SIDE;
BY JACK LAYTON.
,SeeeeseseseSeseseseSeseS


Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.l
Stephen sat with brooding eyes look
ing over his meadows. To Stephen.
the spreading farmland which he in
heritcd was the most beautiful thing
In the world. In II he found his life
work and his joy. To watch the grow
Ing and plentitude Of the labor of his
hands and brain. was to him great
wonder and satisfaction. And IL wss
his misfortune that love, coming later
than II came to men who sought out
| their entertainment, should come in
the delightful but unsuitable person Of
| Hildegard Vane. Hildegard was born
and raised TO an environment very
different from Stephens meadows.
Hildegard had known luxury and moth.
Ing but luxury and its benefits. That
he should have found her at all was
inconceivable. A relative Vane had
purchased as a toy a certain farm in
Stephens vicinity, and under this
Wants Midas touch the farrn turned
out as profitably 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 favorite niece
Hildegard was one of the most fire.
quent visitors. At length, after n
winter season of gayety, II 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, Hildegard had found Ste
phen's farmland, and canterlng 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, Hllda. A
man like Stephen Strong might do.
more damage to a girls heart, rough
clad, than any drawing-room idol"
Hilda smiled retrospectively, "He
Tell me about him."
Registering interest already" her
uncle remarked. "well, all l can telE
is from reports. He's a college man
agriculture; capable, successful, hon
est Welded 10 country life"
He would be-" she mused, "or he
would not devote himself to it."
The nrOpar fntroluotin,. bol
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 10 that selfshness-
Ihere was no vanity In the thought,
only sorrow and knowledge of the
sweetness of her nature. But he was
her to- 90 without a word.
without a sign. Fer lovely eyes had
Deen wlstful at parting with an appeal
she herself but half recognized.
stephen stubbornly ignored their an
1eal. This was the only life for which
ne was fitted, the only life in which
le might earn measure of success.
'ut to tie Hildegard vane to isolation.
o take her from the court where she
harmed and fitted-well. he was I'M
wiling TO accept the great gift of her
enumeration. The uncle had hintetf
U a millionaire back there, who wait
q her favor. Ilildegard should nor
e tempted In an hour of sympathetic
eeling for himself, from her millions.
o. politely, coldly, Stephen babe good
ye. One comfort he gave himself. .
ne sending of basket of selected
ruits 10 her at her uncle's, fare-
ell gift before her coming departure.
M now as he sat. he held her formal
Ihank you" note In his big brown
ahds' square white card. gilt
iged and of brief wording. Stephen
eId the card gently, and turned It
owly about, his very touch, a caress.
uddenly he noticed that he had neg
cted to read the reverse side of the
IRA There was writing here. Hilda
had added a postscript.
hen his eyes racing on to the words.
realized that this was no postscript
hich she had written, but complete
'te to her sister Elizabeth. evidently
the city. Often the girl had spoken
him regarding her married sister
ass. her mother. and their aspira-
'ns. Hllda laughed lightly, he re-
embered, as she bewailed her DIFF
renee to the women of her family.
Agt