Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-04-24

fwNI' scrVIcoN
ID lilly NILES lived away M In the
- bnckwuods country of Maine; he
and his widowed mnlhrr The farm
was not particularly productive; but
they managed to exc out a scaniy llv-
ing, enough for necessities, from their
large timber holdings, selling cord
wood and now and then white pine on
the stump to a neighboring mill
Billy was lot the sort of youth
that Lincoln must have been In chnr
acter and mental bent. Physically he
was almost MS tall. filled out more
symmetrcally, and much handsom'
err man In a rugged set classic way.
They had always lived too far from
a school to make II practical for Billy
to go, and besides. rs youngster,
when his father was alive, there had
always been too much work for him
to do.
All Billy knew he had dug out for
himself from books he sent away for
with every dollar that could be spared.
lie was both n dreamer and doer,
, and he meant to make something of
himself or know he reason why. There
we're few days that passed during
which Billy did not call to mind his
fathers last faint frall words, as
the boy bent over his bedside:
"Bnly. you've--nothing to worry
about Keep clean work and study
hard and some day you may be pleas
antly surprised"
And that is just what Billy had
done Al twenty one he was the equal
and in many practical ways the 81
perlor, In intelligence and knowledge
that counts Of any inexperienced col.
lege man.
That summer there appeared on the
lorizon of Blly's life the supreme In
cenlve A little aristocrat the prod
uct of high lineage, wealth and every
advantage that culture provides, And,
strange to relate. this girl with the
fascinating eyes and smile had come
through II all sweet and true. and
with proper sensL Of values She
was SulIllutillS = hSl iHihCi bN'"
tifu caslp on Moosehorn lake; few
miles from Billy's farm,
There were number of prominent
peoples camps surrounding the dlmn.
uli?e triangular beach Of the lake;
and Billy had secured the Job of gen
eraI utility man for the summer. Dur
ing bathing hours he was life guard
at the little beach--the water was
bitterly cold, and already he had
dashed In for several who had go II
sudden cramp. lie made camp life
possible for these people who were
moi Injured to its rIgors.
And In doing so, he and Virginia
Valley became almost constant com
panlons. His magnetic vitality. gentle
charm, and selftaught culture stirred
her more than she was willing to nd
NIT. AS for Billy, he silently wor
SHIPPED her; frankly facing, however
the undenlable fac that for him, n
penniless backwOodsman to aspire 10
the hand OF New York debutanle
was about the most ridiculous thing
In the world.
But often there would flash In his
mind the picture OF Hercules clean
ing the Augean stables successfully
Nothing was impossible. His fathers
last words came back to him frequent
Iy these days: work and study hard
keep clean-and some day yoU may
be pleasantly surprised. So Billy
never lei the slender shaft OF light
that we call Hope flicker out within
him.
Virginia and Billy played about
hshed and n swan together all that
summer until the day came FOR the
departure Of the Valley family Billy
sought out Mr. Valley, notable New
York lawyer,
"AIr. Valley. I've arranged for my
mother to be in town for year nj
least. want TO be lawyer Haven't
you some sort OF Job In you firm !
could have while I'm studying nights
and all spare timer
Rudolf Valley wasted no words
~ think have, young man like
your grit. Here's my card Come In ms
soon as you get IN town"
And that was Bllly's big step W
Mr.. Valley gave him position which
involved general research, while the
hoy studied to III himself for q clerk
ship Billy literally ate work lie was
lndomlnblc: for he had vowed he
would he member Of the bar In five
years.
That year Billy seldom saw Vir
glnla, except when she stopped nj his
desk for smiling Hello, there on
her way out from her fathers office.
But her face was the shining torch
toward which he stroye She II was
he dreamed and worked for As Tor
virginia, she lived her life OF fash
lon; hut always lnsiinctlyely she
turned deaf enr 10 the pleas OF hrl
blOOded sultOrs- waiting waiting
Then the great day, the lay Ru
dolf Valley called Billy into his priv
ate sanctum and said.
81 want you to read that clipping
and sign this paper BI!ly'
Billy fingered he tiny clipping
"Next Of kin to william a Miles
please communicate Blanks 1olIcl
tors London"
"Wel. slrf" Blllys voiced puzzled
you're his son. ! saw this ! month
ago In the Times TOOK II 40 my
boy ~ n little lrlirlse Tor you Sign
this. he extended II Formidable docu
menl. and yOu'lI POSSESS S2WO.O0O
by the way want you 10 come out
to dinner with me tonight Virginia =
Dcen at me for month 10 sk you.
Billy stood lImply white ana SINK
en-. lie Hnnlli murn urcd. So thnt's
Whni fnilI meant ~