The Washington herald., 1922-08-07
Real Love Stories.

To look upon our hourishing town
today, 1t would tax ones ability Of
imagination. to picture It as It ap-
reared twenty-five years ago.
merely q scattered village. an oasis
to its vast surrounding farms be-
cause its quaint little store afforded
the farmers their immediate wants.
Joe Carson. who owned and ran
this little store with the help Of his
daughter. Helen. was the foremost
citizen Of the town ard was lauded
by the villagers and community for
his honesty and efficiency in serving
.heir wants.
Dick Warner at that time served
In the capacity of railroad agent
in this town for the one railroad
which we boasted. but which did so
little business that q station agent
was so underpaid that the road re-
garded It merely as q place to train
new operators. and only such would
accept the position.
Dick was a beginner. but he was
ambitious. In spite of the little
wage the road paid him. he put his
heart and soul into his work. hoping
to become an efficient road man.
What inspired him in this worthy
ambition was the fact that he loved
Helen Carson and the knowledge
that she reciprocated his love. In
q cozy location along our, western
| entrance to town. lots were marked
out and fronted by a long row OF
splendid well kept naples. Helen
had already set her heart on a GER
tain one of these as the site OF her
future home.
All of Dicks spare hours. when
not with Helen. were spent from
that moment on in figuring long
columns OF figures which repre-
sented the cost of their new home.
With sinking heart he would gaze
at the astounding totals and In de-
spair realize how long they must
wait before their dreams were
realized.
The day he received his promo
| ton to a station on the mair line
which paid real wages. was great
day. His leave from Helen was NIL
ed with promises of love faithful
and eternal which she fearfully
| tearfully, exaeted OF him
In spite Of the enormous amount
Of work Dick found awaiting him
at his new location. his mind found
plenty Of time to wander to Grass
Creek and Helen. With him. thrift
became mania, and he refused the
vacation offered him for the sake
Of the two weeks double pay.
A year passed, a year Of toll and
thrift. during which Dick had not seen
Helen. An irresistible longing forced
him finally to run up to Grass Creek.
Helen never looked more beautiful
to hire than when she walked into
his arms at the Grass Creek station,
beaming with pleasure and happiness.
Eagerly Dick told her of his savings
which had cost him so much self-sac-
rifice, and his determination to have
their home within the next three
years. =,
She urged that they see their lot
once more together before dinner. As
they approached the place. Dicks
face became ciouded with amazement
and disappointment on beholding a
neat bungalow on their lot. Noting
his amazement. she laughed happily
as she explained that her father had
taken the liberty to erect their hom'
| for them rather than run the
chances of losing his daughter
through blues and pinings.
The full significance Of her ex'
pIanation dawning upon him, ne
crushed her to him so tightly In
his low that she was forced to plead
for mercy, as she reminded him
that IL he crushed her much harder
her father would lose her.
| ]. D..