The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-02-01

usual; but his usual Sat1Sf1ed air was
wanting. He evidently had something
Oh his mind,-some piece of rascality.
my dear Miss Hope, he began after |
the first greetings had been exchanged,
II grieve to be the bearer Of very un.
pleasant intelligence
Mary lorked up with quiet indiffer-
ence. scarcely believing that. after all
she had gone through, any news, good
or bad, could have for her more than
the most passing interest. Slythorpe
continued:
Il am sure that you believe did it
for the best; but misfortunes will
happen, you know, even with the ut
most care and caution. am sure I
thought the investment was as safe as
the bank but there's no trusting any
thing nowadays.
"What is the misfortune, Mr.. Sly.
thorpe, for you haven't yet told me
Nothing very serious, hope"
"Only too serious, my dear Ma"
he tried to say ''Mary,'' but couldn't
get it out, and substituted "Miss
Hope''-''nothing less, l fear than the
loss of the whole of your little for
tune"
Mary turned very pale, but gave no
other sign of emotion. SLOW did it
happen z" she said, with an effort.
"Your money was, as you know, in
the 3 per cents, where it produced
miserable EGO Il year. In the hope of
doing better for YOU, / sold out and in
vested it in new mining company,
the Wheal Marina, which promised to
pay q minimum dividend Of 10 per
cent, and so would have just trebled-
your income. And this morning I am
grieved to find from the Times that
the company is in utter smash. The
directors have b0lted. and the share
holders will lose every penny Of their
money"
ISIS all gone! Nothing left!"
''Not a sixpence, and you remain
liable for calls to the amount of about
as much more.''
Poor Mary's fortitude quite gave
way. so dear, what shall I do!
haven't a friend in the world"
mo, no, don't say that, Miss Mary"
said Slythrope, in gentle patronizing
m amer; lit isn't as bad as that comes
to. l haven't disguised my own feel.
ings toward you, and, though you've
lost your money you know that needn't
make any difference between you and
n,e. My affection amt of the mercen-
airy sort; in fact as got you into the
mess Though with the best of inten-
tons, mind you) it's only fair should
get you out of it,
Mary had hidden her face in her
hands, but she became aware from the
increased Intensity of the all-pervad-
ing scented soap aroma that Slythrope
was drawing nearer to her, and in an
another moment his arm was around
her waist. She drew herself up proud
ly.
"Sir, am willing to believe you
mean kindly, but your offer under such
circumstances is an insult. Be good
enough to leave me-"
It was two days after this scene that
Mary Hope, with The Times before
her, was answering three advertise.
ments, and had folded and sealed her
letters, and now with her open desk
before her, was counting her little
store of ready money, and calculating
how long she could at any rate SUBJ
sist before she found employment. In
replacing her purse, her hand fell up
on a portrait, which she took out and
gazed on fondly. Dear old Godfrey, if
you had lived, how different my future
would have been! suppose l ought to
say Gods will be done, but, o, it's
very very hard!'' A few moments
she continued gazing through her
tears at the portrait, when a sharp
knock at the outer door startled her
and she replaced it in the desk. She
heard Mrs. Murgatroyd in conversation
with some one, and then quick, we'll
remembered voice said, "Where? This
ROOM" And in another moment the
door was flung open, and Mary Hope
was sobbing in her lost lovers arms.
Godfrey Howard had been danger.
ously wounded, and had been prison.
er for the greater part of a year in an
Indian dungeon, where for many weeks
his life had hung on a thread by reas.
on of an attack or malignant fever. He
had landed in England but twelve
hours previously, and had lost not a
moment in seeking the presence of
his darling and her father, for he was
of course ignoranS of Bernard Hopes
death. Mary too, had much to tell,
and nesting by Geoffrey's side, her
little white fingers hidden in the rug
ged-brown hands of her lover, which
held them as though they would never
again let them 80, she told him all she
had gone through. the loss of her fa-
Aher, the history ut the will, and lastly
the loss of her little fortune.
"Idon't understand it, said Godfrey.
The man has been playing some very
deep game"
"Perhaps he wished to get me more
what do you call interest for my
money. l dare say it was meant kind.
ly enough, though it has happened 80
unfortunately"
II don't believe it darling. If all
had gone well you would simply have
received your three per cent, and Mr.,
slythorpe would have pocketed the diff.
ference"
i "Oh. Godfrey, Godfrey! I'm afraid
you nave come home very uncharita-
Die. Besides, what does it matter
about lot OF stupid money now have
got you back again !! Unless, indeed,
you would have liked me better for
having the money!
u There 10 only one possible answer to
such an accusation, and Maj. Howard
made ii, that 10 to say, he called Mary
little goose, kissed her, and dropped
the subject. On leaving her he took a
hanson cab, and drove to the Office Of
the liquidator of the company, when,
on his stating that he desired to make
some inquiries on behalf of one Of their
areholders, Mr.. Slyth0rpe, he was
informed, to his astonishment, that