Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-17
Il Lorre,s- Mistake.

II Lorre,s' Mistake.
John LOrrimer believed it a sad day
for himself when Mr.. Strathley came to
Ford tn look after the mill, which had
lately fallen into the hands of Strathley
& Stone, lumber merchants of the me-
t-opolis, a hundred miles away. Why
had Mr.. Strathley chosen to immune him
self in that little country village, whose
society was naturally uncongenial to
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 as if
he were an old friend, John reasoned?
Were there not women as fair in his own
world whom he could love and win, that
he need go out of his way to rob another
man? 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 on
ly attraction? What malign fate had
caused him to gravitate to Ford, where
no stranger was ever known to stay mo-
nent longer than circumstances obliged
him? With his fine manner and fine
clothes; his palaver about all things in
heaven and earth; his handsome face and
figure, was it not hiding his light under
a bushel? What could he find in Ford
to interest him if it were not Margaret?
1t was a bitter season for Lorrimer,
who, having been sweet upon Margaret
ever since he was boy in jackets, felt as
II he had established a claim upon her
affections, and was agrieved to find her
amused by Strathlev-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 evenings. 1t was surely enough
to enrage any lover, and especially one
who felt SO certain Of his case that he had
delayed about riveting the chains, and
had taken everything for granted before
putting the question.
Lorrimer began to study his mirror TO,
the first time in his life; to become en-
amored Of fine clothes; to suspect himsel1
OF akWardness and ignorance. It sud
den y occurred to him tina. lie must have
have been blind ever to have believed
that Margart would care for him, though
he had thought that actions spoke loud
er than words: though he had taken hel
part at school, when the others twitteC
her about shabby gowns and her wild brotl
er Ben, who had brought his grandfather.
nose to the grindstone- the country poop
lie said-and obliged him to mortgage
the farm and this same mill, which hac
oeen his own years ago, IN order to pay
gambling debts.
And served him right" they grum
bled, not satisfied with the retribution
Providence had seen fit to admin1ste]
served him right for educating Ben be
You'd his betters, It'll he was that PROUD
he looked down on his own kith and XIII
and ran away to sea, where all the scamp
go, when there amt no more money t.
make away with. And it want no grea
loss, NEITHER" they declared, :swhen hi
went down with all hands on board, of
the coast somewhere, and nobody left tt
give the particklers; though he's gone tt
his account, and we don't hev no wish IL
disparage the dead"
All at once Lorrimer began to look a
himself as if he were somebody else, an6
the view failed to satisfy his soul. Cross
ing the brook that flowed through thu
meadow, one evening, he met Margare
alone.
'Well met said she, gayly, showing
him a handful of water-lillics. "See,
tshed these out of the bottomless pond
in an old leaky wherry that was rottins
on the shore. Will you have some?"
"Why didn't you ask me to get then
tor you, Margaret? You might have beer
at the bottom of the pond by this time
ut is bottomless, you know"
why didn't you ask Mr., Strathley t.
get them for you?" he added, as an after
thought.
The sudden color Redeemed upon Mar
garet's cheek.
Mr.. Strathley has somthing else t,
do
But have nothing else to do that
should like half as we'll, Margaret
used to be such friends-I used to thinl
but no matter what-yo find Strath
ley more to your mind, no doubt.
don't blame you, only we were such OLE
friends"
There was a look of trouble growing il
Margaret's eyes. ''We are friends still.
hope," she said.
"Are we? That fellow with his fin
airs and bold eyes has bewitched you
we were happy enough before he came
lage?''
Il 90 not care what they say" she re
Piled, with growing color and tear i
her eyes that belied her words. sWha
right have you to speak of me? Wny d
you listen, you who pretended to be N
friend?"
pretend! That's an honest word be
tween you and me! Ifstrathley had YOU
good at heart
Take care, John, don't say anythin
against Mr.. Strathlev. you micht h
sorry for it some day. Heis-he knew m
poor Brother Ben--at school, or some
where. Itdoes US good to hear him tail