Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-25
4 Lovers Mistake.

John LOr-lmer believed IT sac Gay |
for himself when Mr. Strathlcy came to
Ford to look after the mill, which had |
lately fallen into the hands of Strathiey !
l. 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, it it were not
because be had seen Margaret on his first
visit to look after the purchase OF the
mill, and had dined ut her grandfather's
as if he We're an old tricndl John rea-
scned. Were not women as fair in his
own world whom he could love and win,
that he need 60 out of his way to rob an
other man, Could he not have sent al
agent to reside at Ford. and attend to
the firms business, in that oldtashioued
corner of the earth, if money making
were the only attractions What ma
ilgn fate mad caused him to gravitate to
Ford, where no stranger was ever known
to stay q III oment longer than circum-
stances Obliged him! With his fine man.
ners and fine clothes, with his palaver
about all things in heaven and earth; his
handsome face and figure, was it not Ind
ing his light under bushel: What
could he lind in Ford to interest him if
it were not Margaret!
1t was bitter season for Lorrimer, who
having been sweet upon Margaret ever
lat
be had established claim upon her
affections, and was aggrieved to find her
amused by trathey-walAing with him
in season and out Of season sitting in the
farm house porch in confidential converse
or singing FROM the same Old psaltel on
Sunday evening. 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 tor granted be-
fore putting the question.
Lorrimer began to study his mirror
for the first time in his life; to become
enamorcd Of fine clothes; to suspect him
self OF avllardnesS and ignorance. 1t
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 tTltted
her about her shabby gowns and her
wild brother Ben, who had brought his
grandtather's nose to the grindstune-
the country people said and obliged him
to mortgage tue farm and this same mill,
which had been his now years ago. IN or
der to pay gambling debts
And 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-
vond his betters, till he was that proud
he looked down on his own kith and kin
and ran away t. sea, where all the scamps
90, 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 par1icklers: though he's gone to
his account, and we don't hev no wish to
disparage the dead
All al once Lorrimer began to look at
himself as it 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.
well met said she, gaily, showing
him handful of Water-liiies. "See;
Il sued these out of the lottomless pond,
in an old leaky whcrry that was rotting
Oh the shore. VIII you have some?'
"Why didn't you ask INC to get them
for vol, Margaret? You might have
been a. the bottom of the pond by this
time"
1T is bottomless, you know
"Why didn't you ask Mr.. Strathlcy
to get them for you?, he added, as an
after thought"
The sudden color Redeemed upon Mar
garet's cheek.
''Alr. Strathley has something else to
do"
but have nothing else to do that
should like half as well, Marsaret-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 VIC were such old
trieads::''
There was look of trouble growing
in Margaret's eyes. I'VE are friends still,
I hope" she said.
Are wea That fellow with his fine
airs and bold eyes has bewithcd you; we
were happy enough before he came Do
YOU know what they say in the viliage|'
II do not know what they say" she re-
Piled, with growing color and tear in
her eyes that belied her words. "What
right have they to speak of me2 Why do
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 heart"
take care, John; don't say anything
against Mr.. StrathIcy. You might be
sorry for it some day. He is-he, knew
my poor brother Ben-at school, or
somewhere. 1t does us good to hear him
talk of Benz 1t was hard for Margaret
to dissemble, end she did it with a poor
grace.
"Blcssings brighten as they take their
flight,' thought Lorrimcr; "knew your
brother Ben, did hel and your grand
father listens?' The time had been
when Ben's name had been forbidden,
and the old farmer had sworn that Ben's
shallow should nev>r darken his door.
"People ought to be careful how they
speak Of their own flesh and blood,''
groaned the neigbbors, when the Arctu-
rus was cast away, and the last chance Of
foreiving Ben with it. But though
grandfather Bevis had aged since then,
bad begun to have a hault in his step
and stoop in his shoulders. and to grow
fresh crop of wrinkles, yet even grim
death bad failed to DBL: terate Ben's mis-
deeds-their impoverished CONDITION was
acopstant reminder. Mr.. Bevis saw his
more fortuna'e neighbors enjoying the
fruits of lands he had cleared with the
horny hand of toll, sitting down to boun-
teously- supplied tables, with good bnl-
ance in the bank for rainy weather, while
he and his Jared scantily, and hardly dar-
ed to look the future in tie face. Ben
had been the apple of his eye,7 and to
have suffered from his seltishness added