Daily Republican., 1882-01-02
THE Lost FORTUNE.
ny ARBlEG MEEEYEh

l IA - ASoA ~ ~ ~ A' ~
| by ABBIE c, M'KEEyER
"A beggT!"
That was what Mabel Fsgin said ONE
morning, standing ny her window and
looking dowu in tho wide, beautiful
street below.
"Yes, a beggar. might AZ well look
the world In the face NJ once. Mabel
Falin, the ouce petted, spoiled heiress
q begsar. Oh, uncle Luke, uncle LIKE,
how could you have been so cruel p
aud the dark eyes were sutiused with
tears.
| When her nncle died who had given
her such q sumptuous life, he left a
v i'll in which his pested niece had not
b ,en mentioned. True, it WAS u very
old one, but if there had been later
one 1t could not bs found.
| With her loss OF tOrtuue Mabel lost
more than mere wetlth-her trust In
humanity almost, tor among the many
friends she fanciod she Eamcered, very
few came forward with coincidence er
encouraging words, aud those few who
did com- were no cold and careless
sut 3.moSt Wish VI shcS h" NV 'ehie
at all.
A half dozen trunks Of finery and
one hundred dollars In money were all
the wealth Mabel possessed. THE
money AZ least will take me from the
, scene OF my former triumphs," she
unused doletully. "Nay, why become u
coward anu run away? I've n great
mind to stay wnero l am, and win a
living by hope,t effort. Not to my old
society place but one OF Independence.
know il will be hard-as first and
my heart will often suffer from sights
and GOODNESS, but what else eau ex-
fpecS? oh, pour, weak heart must
! teach you to be brave and help me IN
, my life Of humble WORK, for work it
must be.
And donning neat street costume,
! she bravely Went iosth TO seek employ
lmept.
Among her many acquaintances,
lovers aud admirers, there had been
one man, who, although always conr-
tteons, had held himself aloof from her
bewildering CHI rms, and although she
secretly admired and trusted him more
than all, she could not bring him a
willing captive to her feet.
1t was at his store she paused, be-
I csuse there was something in his strong
tru. na.ure that caused her " feel that
he WAS man who would always be
ready to extend helping hand. What
it vt hsr 10 lay her laughty plide
and do shis, only she could tell.
Eyes. the clerk said, the junior part
ner wn in. Would he step that
way 2"
Aud with hot cheeks and downcast
eyes, Mabel ound herself in the pres
ence of Lee Sc. John.
~ came to solicit employment, Mr..
|St. Johu," sh, said quietly. "You
have, no doubt, learned Of my changed
fortunes, don't know what kind Of
work can do, but work must have.
| am willing TO begin very humbly.
Lee ST John looked at Mabel with
calm, unreasonable eyes, but his
thou . hts were:
SIS this the spoiled, hattered teauty
| used to know-this brave little wo-
man liting 50 patiently for work?
And although the store was well sup
piled With clerks, n place was found,
one in which sue would not often be-
subject 10 annoyance or sights from
old acquaintances.
Bu; one day in going away from the
store she came upon bevy Of her
former girl friends; they gave her one
surprised stare ami passed on without
farJuer recognition.
Mr.. st. John was near, unperceived
by the young ladies, and noticed their
slight and us effect npon Mabel.
She neither blushed nor looked angry
or mortified; the serene quiet OF her
face renaiued unchanged, and her dark,
earnest eyes when they met his were
brave and untroubled.
DO you know, che said, joining her
home ward waif, 81 am beginning to
think you a heroine
"a heroine - in surprise.
Eyes, because You can look the word
in the lace feariessly and dare be u
worker in it. admire-and may |
say it, love you more than ever before
and If you could like me little Mabel
dear, and let me hope, you would make
me very happy" i
Mabel glanced up In shy surprise and
astonishment at tuese words, but the
honest, truthful eyes, SO full OF tender
love, assured her Of his sincerity.
"Why," she stammered, Il am poor,
I-you-it would be D misalIiapc
But he only laughed, and c'asping
her hand closely III bis own answered;
"a misalliance! With such a brave,
precious little girl as yourseli Oh, my
darling, how happy you have maize
me-"
The next morning when Mabel re.
turned to the 1t re she went direct to-
the proprietor's Office. i
81 caue to tender my resignation
she said smiling. /
"Certainly" said Lee st. John, 81
meant to have told you last night
there was no further neod."
''No," continued Mabel, still smiling,
"for urcle Luke's last will has been
found, and am an heiress once more. l
am going back to my old home.'
"Later, when in her old, elegant par-
lor, she said to her bethrothea:
ut was q brief but not a bitter ex-
perience of the world, for it taught me
l could be loved for myself alone"
"And found that you were richer
even then, than had dared to dream
before, my brave little love. e."-Modern
ArgO.