The Hartford republican., 1921-11-04
: SARA'S OIL STOCK
ey 4. LOUIS RAYeoLp.

turning the key in the old lock. That's
overw He swung down the trim, box
hordered path, out through the sag
ging gate, and along the elm-shaded
dirt road that led to the railroad sta
tlon.
SO intent was he on catching the
afternoon train TO the city that he
failed TO notice the slim girl coming
up just behind him, and she, at his
disregard, merely sighed without
quickening her pace to overtake him.
She sighed because IL was, in all prob
nbility. the last she would ever see OF
John Chester.
Nor did she need the For Sale"
sign which John had just tackled up
TO know what for days had been town
gossip--that the last of the Chesters
had rejected the manner of living of
his fathers and was going to the city
10 seek his fortune. But, because of
II, she sighed.
Not that there had ever been
love affair between them.
As the days passed, the sign Of the
suffered old Chester house, fast show
ing signs of unoccupancy, grew to
trouble Sara. The farm, uns0ld and
untenanted, was running down. This
fact. coupled with reports which drift
ed back from the city that John Ches-
tcrs fortune was proving elusive, and
that he was shifting from one job to
another, tormented her with a sense
of the waste Of good material and Of
her own impotency In the matter.
Came a sunny day in late March
when Sara cast n bombshell at the feet
of the aunt with whom she lived.
Aunt julie She gave Out casually
over her cup OF tea. I'm going to
spend next weekend in the city"
"Sara!" her aunt's voice was star
tied. "Of all things, Sara !"
'Yes, that's just what Pm going to
do" returned Sara unperturbed. And
furthermore-do you remember those
oil stock certificates that Cousin Jenny
left me7 Well, I'm going to take
them along. Who knows, perhaps
they're not as worthless as I've
thought them. Just suppose" and
her blue eyes grew dreamy, perhaps
they will bring me my fortune p
Now it happened that several days
after this conversation there walked
into the outer Office of Whitby X
Whitby brokers. shabby looking
youth with tired lines about his eyes
and mouth. \ sound Of voices from
fthe inner Office assured him that his
employer was occupied, and sitting
down at a dingy desk he rested his
head on his hand while his thoughts
travelled backward. over the discourag-
ing months. Where was he headed?
This all but questionable firm in whose
employ he was at present held out
no future for him. Little by little,
taught by bitter experiences, he had
learned how untitled he was to COM
pete with men trained for their jobs.
Into his medltatlons crept memo
rles of home, of green fields titled by
his father and his grandfather and
his grandfather's father, of substan-
tial barns, of the CHEEKY homely
dwelling. And with those visions
arose perslstently the picture of a
certain slim, blue-eyed person. the
playmate of his boyhod. whom, in
his feverlsh pursuit Of fortune. he had
all but forgotten.
John Chester sat suddenly upright.
Who In thunder was in the inner Of
fee talking with old Whitby?
YES, hoped went on a plain
tive voice that awoke In him Il
sudden. tremendous response. ito real
ize something on this stock. You see,
/ have q chance to make a splendid |
investment. can buy the old Ches-
ter place back home. II is a farm |
farmed for generations by men who
knew how to husband the resources Of |
the soil. But IL these certificates are
worthless, as you say"
And then followed the suaye tones |
Of his employer. "Just so much
waste paper, my dear young lady. Too
had"
A moment later the door opened |
and John, risen to his feet, met the
level, blue-eyed gaze of Sara Cary.
"I-why why. SaraI' was all he |
managed. Then: "Wat-let me walk |
a way with you"
streaming late afternoon traffic of /
which neither was aware. they walked
p silently. Sara was the first to speak.
"John," she said gently, 'the--the |
bluets are up In the swamp piece. /
And Dutchmen's Breeches. Remem- /
ber how we used to go after them?" :
"Do IT. exclaimed John fervently. !
Then he turned impulsively. "Saral"
he cried, "I'm-I'm sick Of II all
the hurry. the noise. the crowds. I'm
oh, Sara, I'm going back homel"
But not until their very wedding day
did John learn the real secret of
Sara's trip to the city. ~ can't bear
TO think" he had Glanced to say as
they stood for moment side by side
OH the clematls-draped porch Of the
old homestead after simple ceremony
at Sara's home, "of you. my darling,
travelling about the city trying to get