Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-04
WON AT LAST.

u pam NOnidn ana pink COTTON
handkerchief are not the most promis-
mg materials for picture But Mary
1ssomford, though plain, had a graceful
figure, and the pink handkerchief which
she was trimming formed a pretty con-
aTSss to her white dress as she sat on the
e}ge of little chasm in a Swiss valley
She was healthy, sweet, graceful Eng
s5s3l girl, and she and her bit of pink
cotton formed no unworthy center to
aae scene Of hill and dale.
Eraulein Muller, her former governess,
sat beside her. The stiff, tight dress, the
hair primly laid over the ears, the broad
hss lied with q big bow under the chin,
7xssgeke her nationality.
Nary's position was a difficult enc.
Adopted when she was a child by a dis
alRf relative, rich bachelor, she had
Been recognized as his daughter; and
aaaongh the fine old house where they
aawelt, with its park and surrounding
aaad, had been entailed on male heir,
s. was known that that heir had offended
TIE Old man; and no one was surprised
when, on his sudden death, the only
viii, dated many years back, was found
80 leave to Mary Cromford the whole of
her benefactor' personal property, which
BIZ every means he had taken care to in
grease at the expense Of the estate. No
ane was surprised except the heir, Mr.
Manton, a handsome, stern, proud man
of OYER forty years, whose grave dignity
sat well upon him, and whose very agony
Sas dignifed as he stated his strong
sense of injustice. He was poor man;
and he found himself master of hand
ssne estate, requiring instant outlay and
3 handsome income to keep it absolute
deterioration Il his uncle had felt no
regard or consideration for him, at least
he might have respected the land itself
The lawyers shook their heads It might
not seem equitable. There was no help
FOR it. No help for it? Mr. Manton
shought otherwise. Having made Mary's
acquaintance IN the necessary course of
business, he one day demanded private
interview, and with the utmost candor
sold her that she alone could remedy the
evil and save the estate by-marrying
azm; that he had high esteem for her
qualities; that his affections were en-
zrely at her disposal, and that he would
make her a good husband. Mary doubt
ed none Of these propositions. Mr. Man
b0n's somewhat naif candor had its
charms for her; and like all noble
Bomen, she was infinitely attracted by
the idea Of a self-sacrifce for the sake of
sllstiee. But this self-sacrifce was a
fEife too hard, for was not there Tom
Derby, whom she had loved for years,
Mad who loved her we'll?
She thought he loved her, but there
MRS the pinch, for her uncle, with an
Did mans wisdom, had impressed upon
her, with the continued droppings which
wear away the stone, that men seek
nancy; that it was known she would
Asye money, and that, therefore, it be-
hooyed her to look to it, lest those who
sought her hand should be rather seek
xng her purse. And when Tom Derby
hssd come too often, or had fingered too
Aong, he had thrown out hints that
Derby was poor; that he expected; that
ne hoped, and so on, till the poison had
4<aaen into her soul. And yet her nature
Nss 50 frank, 50 antagonistic to suspi-
Eson; but she was blindfolded by that
lbEnd guide, the worldly wisdom of old
age Therefore, when sshe stood alone,
ghen Mr.. Manton candidly asked her to
sacrifice herself for him, his very
8ss1akness and GOODNESS tempted her to
yield, for, she said, was it not better to
aake a cold esteem, honestly offered.
than a love which might be only?
No, she could not frame the word, even
zD herself When she ought to have
given the answer, her whole inner being
rke up against the falsehood, and she
f0and herself in great strait.
Was there no other way?'' she pite-
opIy asked Mr.. Manton. "Was there
not such thing as deed Of gift?
Might not she return to him so much of
her fatal legacy as should remove the
stain Of injusticeY'
No; Mr.. Manton's dignity forbade
aii1n to receive the lesser boon-it must
be ali or nothing. Then, while she still
hesitated, she had letter from Tom
Derby He was coming to see her; he
Begged her to receive him on such day !;
and. driven to decision, she avoided it
a,y running away. She would see what
anae and absence would do to help her
rs sc tile her mind.
Same of those things were revolving