The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-06-16

can keep house"
I'VE need not move. dear. The house
/ Is mine."
'I thought papa rented it,"
so he did, but last night Mr.. Harris
told me he hud, as our lawyer, received
the deeds of the house made out in my
name, and paid for TO the last cent. /
think your father must have intended
1t for surprise on my birthday, the 9th
of February.
But wilfred Mansfield was again tho
only man who knew that Mr.. Clinton
had never seen the deeds of his wiie's
house.
''Can we have the front altered TO u
store2" said practical Maggie.
Il was found not only practicable, but
desirable, as increasing the value of the
property. and in few weeks. quite
early enough for some of the spring
trade TO fall to her share. Maggie started
in business as mllliner.
She had thought the offer of marriage
yet might come, but her last hope was
dispelled by note written TO her mother
by Wilfred Mansfield. He informed
them that he had disposed Of his busi-
ness. and was about accept situation
in Chicago, the nature OF which he did
not state. He bade them farewell, with
assurances of warnest friendship, that
was all. Gentle Mrs. Clinton but rarely
had hard thought for any one. still
more rarely spoke bitter word. but she
said:
II suppose he thought your father was
q richer man."
Maggie could not answer. The loving,
loyal heart could not yet admit the en-
tire unworthiness of its idol. She could
find no excuse for what seemed heartless
desertion, so she accepted her mother 3
comment, and Wilfred Mansfield was
mentioned no more between them.
Never was milliner's stere conducted
more tastefully or with more industry
than the ono opened by Maggie Clinton.
The little maiden worked early and late 4;
bonnets of exquisite finish. hats in tho
most approved fashion. adorned her
window; yet, although she had a fair
share of custom, her expenses would OK.
ceed her sales. She was inexperienced
in Wholesale prices, in the proper selec.
ton of her goods. in the care necessary
TO prevent a ruinous over-stock Of old
fashioned goods. in the knaek of re-
shaping and altering 10 more fashionable
styles. The little details of business
that can only be- learned by experience
were all mysteries 10 her, and when win.
ter came. she found the thousand dollars
had melted down to three hundred. in
spite of the economy and industry
she aud her mother had carefully exer.
cised.
II was useless to think of a new busi-
ness. Teaching would separate them.
and Maggie was not fitted for teacher
The exercise she commanded now did
not keep of weakness of tho chest, oc.
casioned by the necessary sewing. and
| the doctor had told her that teaching
would kill her in few years. Beaides
what little experience of the details of
business she had gained. was in the
milliner's tra,le, and il was surely vast
ing time to learn something new. So
thS store was still kept open. aud
the weary struggle for living main
| tained.
st. Valentines Day. so full Of bitter
| memories, rose clear and bright, and
the postman tossed snowy envelope
upon the counter. II was directed to
Miss Margaret Clinton, and had city
stamp.
IAN order or q bill" she said, open
ing it.
1
was folded round q bank note for five
hundred dollars. and two words only
were written upon it-"Yours, st. Val
| entine."
| Maggie thought Of tiny forget-ma.
not in her small bog OF treasures, and
| tossing note and envelope into her
mothers lap, ran mp stairs in an agony
| of tears.
n .wauId ,naka xo.w skorx, 400 Iong a.
picture Maggie Clinton's life in the five
years that followed the death Of her
father. Every year the mysterious val.
entine containing q bank note came to
help the widow and her child in their
struggle with the world, but when the
fifth of February came around Maggie
was all alone. Mrs. Clinton had joined
her husband in the better land, and the
poor child was alone in the world.
Valentines Day came. Maggie was
seated in her sitting room lonely and de
pressed. Her health was failing from
care and overwork, aAnd grief for heI
mothers death was yet fresh in her heart.
Her servant brought her a letter, but
upon opening 1t, no missive signed St
Valentine greeted her, but long letter
and ut the end the name of the writer
Wiifred Mansfield. The letter told her
strange news. She learned that Wilfred
had never ceased 10 love her, but thai
the agony of bitter self-reproach had
kept him from her side. On the night
when Mr.. Clinton was left for the last
time in his care, overcome by his long
watching and the stiffness OF the room
he had fallen asleep. Wien he awakened
dawn was in the room, and the patient
was awake and looked at him with con
scious eyes. he fastened for the i'm
portant medicine, but it was too late
Before he again reached the bedside
Mr.. Clinton was unable tn swallow, and
again unconscious. Had he not SLEPT
perhaps that life might have been spared
He had endured the remorse OF q mur
derer, and dared not speak of love TO the
child of the man whose death perhaps
was upon his soul. He had made wha
atonement was in his power. The
money he had hoped to invest in his owl
home had purchased Mrs. Clinton''
house, and he had been living on a sal
airy one-half of which was sent on st
Valentines Day to Maggie.
81 am not q rich man, now Maggie,
he wrote, "but have salary offered
me here that will give Us a home anG
comfort. I love yen better than my
life. Shall return to my dreary exile
or will you forgive me? l am waiting o
your door for an answer. Say, Il for
give you, and will hear you.
WHIPPED"
"Wilfred, ;" she cried aloud, "come Il
mel 1 forgive you'll"
There was no rapturous meeting
Very slowly and gravely he took her il