The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-08-20
Worked Hard and
Kept Clean
By LEETE STONE
(0 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
(WNU Service.l

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ID lilly MILES lived away up in the
- backwoods country of Maine; he
land his widowed mother. The farm
twas not particularly productive; but
they managed to exc out scanty liv-
ting. enough for necessities, from their
large timber holdings, selling cord
wood and now and then white pine on
1.-The stump to neighboring mill.
Billy was a lot the sort Of youth
that Lincoln must have been in char
Iacter and mental bent Physically he
Twas almost as tall; filled out more
dramatically, and a much handsom-
Ter man in rugged yet classic way.
They had always lived too far from
IA school to make it practical for Billy
to go, and besides, as 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.
He was both a dreamer and doer,
and he meant to make something Of
himself or know The reason why. There
were few days that passed during
which Billy did not call to mind his
fathers last faint, frail words, as
the boy bent over his bedside:
"Billy, 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. At twenty-one he was the equal,
and in many practical ways the su-
perior, in intelligence and knowledge
that counts, of any inexperienced col
:lege man.
That summer there appeared on the
Lorizon of Billy's life the supreme in
centive. 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 it all sweet and true, and
with a proper sense of values. She
was summering It her fathers beau
tiful camp on Moosehorn lake; few
miles from Billy's farm.
There were a number of prominent
peoples camps surrounding the dimin-
utive triangular beach of the lake;
and Billy had secured the job of gen.
eral 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 got
sudden cramp. He made camp life
possible for these people who were
not Injured to its rigors.
And in doing so, he and Virginia
Valley became almost constant COM
paniOns. His magnetic vitality, gentle
charm, and self-taught culture stirred
her more than she was willing to ad-
init. AS for Billy, he silently wor.
SHIPPED her; frankly facing, however,
the undeniable fact that for him,
pennlless backwoodsman, to aspire to
the hand of New York debutante
was about the most ridiculous thing
I'm 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
ly these days: work and study hard
keep clean-and some day you may
be pleasantly surprised. So Billy
never let the slender shaft Of light
that we call Hope flicker out within
him.
Virginia and Billy played about;
6shed and a 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.
"Mr. Valley, I've arranged for my
mother to be in town for year at
least. want to be lawyer. Haven't
you some sort Of job in your firm !
could have while I'm studying nights
and all spare timer"
Rudolf Valley wasted no words.
81 think have, young man. l like
your grit. Here's my card. Come in as
soon as you get in town."
And that was Billy's big step up.
MIR. Valley gave him position which
involved general research, while the
boy studied to fit himself for a clerk.
ship. Billy literally ate work. He was
indomitable; for he had vowed he
would be a member of the bar in FIVE
years.
That year Billy seldom saw Vir-
ginia. except when she stopped at his
desk for smiling "Hello there on
her way out from her fathers Office.
But her face was the shining torch
toward which he strOve. She 1t was
he dreamed and worked for. AS for
Virginia. she lived her life of fash.
ion; but always. instinctively she
turned deaf ear to the pleas of her
blooded suitors-waiting-
Then the great day. the day Ru-
dolf Valley called Bill, into his priv
ate sanctum and said:
81 want you to read that clipping
and sign this paper. Billy"
Billy fingered he tiny clipping.
"Next of kin to William A. Miles