Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-07
Alice now had quite q

a grand success. Alice now had quite a
bank account. She began to think of
having her mother come to live with
her, and hiring d place of her own.
How little we know what the fates have
in store for US. We walk to our destiny
unwittingly. One mo ming she came
down town to learn that q fourth edi-
tion of her book was called for. She
was quite surprised at her success, and
began to plan what she would do. She
was now twenty-five years old. Mr..
| Hay, the senior member of the firm, was
bachelor of sixty years. He was a
| friend of her father, and she always
| thong hit of him in that connection. This
morning he seemed nervous and uneasy.
| She had never seen him so disturbed.
at last he came and stood by her desk
care you satisfied with your position,
Miss Alice?" "Perfectly: I hope you
are with me.'' f'Well,' replied Mr..
Hay, 81 am old enough to be your
father. I~have q home, but no wife,
You are astonished to hear this You
thought, perhaps, while 1 could publish.
the romances of others, l had none of
| my own. love you with an old man s,
love. have money enough. I want.
some one to spend it for me.'' Alice.
| was certainly astonished. "Don't give.
me an answer he continued, ssuntil
next week.
All that week Alice did great deal
of thinking. Mr.. Hay was young for his
age, we'll preserved and active. He had
been gray for twenty years. At first
she said no to her heart. but afterward,
ridiculous as it seemed, she found
tender feeling. creeping into her heart,
and blushed when she saw it. Mr.. Hay
was a gentleman, a scholar, an authority
in the literary word. She awoke. one
morning to I find she loved i him
The week passed, and h ON that
morning she was designedly, late for. the
first time. Mr.. Hay was at his desk,
seowling as ever. She walked to his side
without removing her wraps, her fresh,
fair face with all the sweetness of eigh-
teen. tsMr,..' Hay--Alfred, - and she
blushed until her face outvied the ribbon
on her hat. ssI love you,'' and as he
turned toward her with a wonderfully
tender smile on his face, she leaned for
ward and kissed him. - -sla
That was holiday. They went out
to the suburban residence of the great
publisher, beautiful home. There
they had dinner, and Alice thought of
the cramped garnet, as they sat down to
the elegant table, with, sparkling. silver
and crystal, and its trained servants.
The room was an artistic picture itself,
from the thing about the fireplace to the
carved cornice along the wall It was
the. home of great wealth. The library
must be delight to every scholar. and
the great reception rooms had been en-
riched by the rare treasures of all lands.
1t was day long to be remembered by
the hard-worked clerk, who was just
becoming popular author. She went
on with her work another year, but the |
engagement began to be noted about
the Office. and the attaches were even
more, deferential as she passed to and |
fro. /
She was married at last, her mother |
coming to live with her. She told her
husband of Deacon Gates and his kind |
him. Deacon Gates had gone on doing
good as he had opportunity; he had al
most forgotten the sad faced girl. In
an evil hour he had indorsed note for
neighbor, who died suddenly, and it
seemed rs if the deacon must lose his
home for the need of little ready mon
ey. The times were hard, money was
scarce, it would be great sacrifice.
His friends pitied him, but no one ap-
peared to help. If he could have a loan
he would weather the storm. One
morning he prayed more earnestly than
ever, and that night he received letter
in strange hand: 80.
% DEACON JOSHUA GATEs-My Dear Sir:
have been endeavoring for years to find you
and give you back your "change.' I lately
learned by chance of your embarrassment;
my present happiness is largely due to you.
Please find inclosed your loan, with interest.
F Faithfully yours,
$500 ALICE CLEAvELAND HAY. !
The letter contained check for one
thousand dollars, and thus the bread
back and the deacon got his
change.-Proaadence (R. ~ Journal.
s' sljagss = ;. Hl.5 gl3