The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-08-09
Maggie Warren's Dowry.

1t was a cool and roomy mansion, and
stood cleaning white and distant,through
the bending orchard trees around. The
old Warren homestead was pre-reyOlu-
tionary building, and its owners had
ever been noted for the persistence with
which they added broad stretches OF
meadow and woodland to their already
large farm. At the time our story opens
the Warren farm was the pride of the
district, and boasted that it could count
its acres by the thousands.
The present owner was an old laly.
called by the people who served her, and
by the neighbors, Mistress Warren
One grandchild, the daughter of her
nnly son, lived with her, and made the
old mansion full of light and music, for
Maggie Warren was as sunny and beauti-
full rs bright June morning.
Mistress Warren had been the mother
of two daughters, though where they
were was mystery in Durham, and as
shenever referred them, no one alluded
to them when she was near. She held I'M
disputed sway over the estate, and could
will it to whom she pleased, so that it
was to one of the Warren blood; and as
Maggie was her only companion, and
was watched by her with love that
sought to make life one long dream
of joy, the supposition was that she
would be the next mistress of the noble
farm that ran over hill and dale, and
circled the old homestead with domain
indeed palatial.
OF course this made her the object of
pointed attentions, and even when a
schoolgirl, her friends were many, and
the suitors for her childish smiles and
favors not few.
She was a wise, clear-headed little
thing, and show did not dazzle her. Her
sweet disposition kept her from making
enemies, and so her childhood flowed
smoothly on, and merged into brighter
womanhood.
In the choice of her companions she
was left entirely free.
"You are the one to be with them,
Maggie" her grandmother said, "and
SO they are clean and honest, 1 care not
from what family they come.''
So Maggie gave party and invited all
of her old schoOlmates, and by every act
that she could, conveyed to them the
knowledge that she was their friend
still.
Having entered society, suitors began
to flock around her, and one by one
withdrew, as they saw that she could
give them friendship only. Two alone
remained. Haring Durham, the son OF
the rich banker, whose father was the
founder of the place, and whose estate
ranked in value above the Warren farm,
though the latter possessed the most land
and Paul Green, son of old Peleg Green,
the village cobbler.
Everybody said that Haring was just
the man for Maggie. He was stylish
and good looking, and had been through
bank, and had all the money and horses
and time that he wished, and laid assidu
GUS siege to Maggie's heart. As he could
spend as much time in bestowing his at
tentiOns as he chose, he had the advan
tage of Paul, who was busy learning 6
trade in the large machine shop tlat
had grown to be the great enterprise o.
Durham.
Paul was a ready worker, one who be
slowed both labor and study on his toll
and left no effort to advance untried
He was advancing, for an earnest spirit
always will do this, and month by montl
showed that he would leave his mark OF
his profession.
He was good-humored and fne-look
ing. Both Haring Durham and he hat
been schoolmates of Maggie's when they
were great boys, and she toddling Little
thing. They had been friends then, ant
were so now, though they knew that they
were rivals.
"There is no use in your hanging
round Maggie Warren" his fellow work
men would say; "young Durham haI
the money and will win"
But Paul would only laugh, and in th'
evening seek the Warren homestead ant
have nice chat with Maggie.
Thus matters went ON for year, an(
then Mistress Warren was laid to sleel
with her husband, and Maggie FOLLOWED
her to the grave-the only Warrel
mourner there.
Curiosity to know the old farms own
ership ran high, but Maggie had th,
reading of the will delayed until he
grief had been softened by time; thel
the old lawyer. who transacted business
for Mistress Warren, was asked to bring
few witnesses and read the will.
One of the people he brought was;th
banker Durham, and when the part,