The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-07-25
A Lovers Mistake.


}, s. Stone, lumber merchants of the me-
.tropolis, hundred miles away. Why
had Mr.. Strathley chosen to immune him.
,. self in that little country village whose
:, society was naturally uncongenial to a
man of the world? Why, if it were not
because he had seen Margaret on his first
visit to look after the purchase of the
mill, and had dined at her grandfather's
,s,as il he were an old friend? John rea-
scned. Were not women as fair in his
: rovp world whom he could love and win,
that he need 90 out Of his way to rob an.
other mana Could he not have sent an
agent to reside at Ford, and attend to
the firms business, in that old-fashioned
corner Of the earth, if money making
were the only attraction2 What ma
llgn fate had caused him to gravitate to
Ford, where no stranger was ever known
to stay a M oment longer than circum-
stances Obliged him? With his fine man
ncrs and fine clothes, with his palaver
about all things in heaven and earth; his
handsome face and figure, was it not hid
ing his light under bushel? What
could he find in Ford to interest him if
it were not Margaret?
It was bitter season for Lorrimer, who
having been sweet upon Margaret ever
since he was boy in jackets, felt as if
she had established a claim upon her
affections, and was aggrieved to find her
amused by Strathley-walking with him
in season and out of season sitting in the
farm house porch in confidential converse
or singing from the same old psalter on
Sunday evening. It was surely enough
to enrage any lover, and especially one
who felt so certain of his case that he
had DELAYED about riycting the chains,
and had taken everything for granted be-
fore putting the question.
Lorrimer began to study his mirror
for the first time in his life; to become
enamored Of fine clothes; to suspect him.
self of awkardness and ignorance. It
suddenly occurred to him that he must
have been blind ever to have believed
that Margaret would care for him, though
he had thought that actions spoke louder
than words; though he had taken her
part at school, when the others twitted
her about her shabby gowns and her
wild brother Ben, who had brought his
grandfather's nose to the grindstvne-
the country people said and obliged him
to mortgage the farm and this same mill,
which had been his now years ago, In Or
der to pay gambling debts.
Sand served him right" they grum-
bled, not satisfied with the retribution
Providence had seen fit to administer
"se-ved him right for educating Ben be-
yond his betters, till he was that proud
he looked down on his own kith and kin
and ran away to sea, where all the scamps
go, when there amt no more money to
make way with. And it wan; no great
loss, NEITHER" they declared, "when he
went down with all hands on board. off
the coast somewhere, and nobody lett to
give the particulars; though he's gone to
his account, and we don't hev no wish to
, disparage the dead"
All at once Lorrimcr began to look at
himself as if he were somebody else, and
the view failed to satisfy his soul. Cross
ing the brook that flowed through the
meadow, one evening, he met Margaret
alone.
swell metz said she, gaily, showing
him handful of water lilies. "See; |
tished these out of the bottomless pond,
in an old leaky whcrry that was rotting
! on the shore. Win you have some2"
"Why didn't you ask me TO get them
for you, Margaret? You might have
been at the bottom Of the pond by this
:: time"
ut is bottomless, you know"
"Why didn't You ask Mr.. Strathley
to get them for youi,' he added, as an
after thtr ''t'
Tn. eu''''cn color Redeemed upon Mar
gare''s cheek.
MIR. strathley has something else to
do
But have nothing else to do that l
should like half as well, Margaret-we
used to be such friends--I used to think
but no matter what-you find Strath-
ley more to your mind no doubt. don't
blame you, only We were such old
= friendsr'
There was look of trouble growing
in Margarets eyes. I'VE are friends still
/ hope" she said.
"Are wel That fellow with his fine
airs and bold eyes has bewithcd you; we
were happy enough before he came Dc
you know what they say in the village2'
II do not know what they say" she re.
Piled, with growing color and tear in
her eyes that belied her words. "Wha,
right have they to speak OF met Why dc
You listen, you who pretend to be ny
friend?"
"Pretend! That's an honest word be.
tween you and me! If strathley had
your good at heat"
Take care, John; don't say anything
against Mr.. Strathlcy. You might be
sorry for it some day. He is-he knew
my poor brother Ben-at school, OF
somewhere. 1t does us good to hear him
talk Of Benz" 1t was hard for Margaret
to disscmble, snd she did it with poo1
grace.
BLESSINGS brighten as they take thei,
flight" thought Lorrimer; "knew youl
brother Ben, did hes and your grand
father listens?" The time had beer
when Bens name had been forbidden
and the old farmer had sworn that Ben't
shadow should ncvsr darken his door.
"Peoplc ought to be careful how they
speak OF their own flesh and blood.
groaned the neighbors, when the Arctu.
rus was cast away, and the last chance ol
forgiving Ben with it. But though
grandfather Bevis had aged since then
had begun to have hault in his step
and stoop in his shoulders. and to grow
a fresh crop of wrinkles, yet even grim
death bad failed to obl;terate Bens mis-
L.. dceds-their impoverished CONDITION was
constant reminder. Mr.. Bevis saw his
more fortunate neighbors enjoying the
fruits of lands he had cleared with the
=, =. horny hand of toll, sitting down to boun-
:" teousl y-suppled tables, with good bal-
ancc in the bank for rainy weather, while
i she.and his Jared scantily, and hardly dar-
ed to look the future in tie face. Ben
had been the apple of his eye, and to
have suffered from his selfishness added
! another sting 10 poverty. pc,
kAUyhn~ f. ~.