The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-03
"Can I see Mr.. Thorley ?"

The mistress OF the numpie iltle eo''"SS
in one of Chicago's suburbs looked up,
amazed, at the beautiful young lady who
asked the question.
Indeed, I suppose you may. He's
gone up to his room, where he spends all
his evenings, and not bit of supper to-
NIGHT has he touched. Shall | call him
DOWN."
'sNo; let me 60 to him"
"Its the first room to the right of the
stairs, Miss. He's the only lodger | have,
and YOUR his first visitor
But the girl needed not the words. A
strange vision she surely was as she stood
an instant outside his door, clad in costly
velvet and rich furs then she softly turn
ed the handle and entered.
He did not hear her. He had thrown
himself upon his sofa and buried his head
in its cushions. He was sostill, SO motion
less, she thought he must be sleeping.
She swiftly crossed the room, and laying
her hand gently upon his shoulder, called
his name.
"My God" he cried, and would have
started to his feet but that she held him
back, falling on her knees beside him.
"Chester," she pleaded, ''you would not
come to me- My pride is less than yours
my love greater. have come to you.
Did you think my heart uttered the un-
worthy words for which you have punished
me all these years? I have tried so long
to find you-so long and so hopelessly! y
And she bowed her beautiful head and
sobbed outright.
ssHush, dear-hush! You should not
have come here, Marion. 1t might COM
promise you"
"Compromise me with my future hus-
band? See, Chester and she held Up
the hand on which cleaned the ring, Il
have never accepted my freedom"
my own brave girl" he said, his voice
softening even while he girded himself up
to the strength of which he stood in such
need "But the heaven you open to me
can not be- [ am foreman in the works
where you saw me to-day, Marion. My
knowledge and love of machinery stood me
in good stead. | heard of this opening,
and secured it. To-day [ was adjusting
some difficult piece of work | dared not
trust to any workman. I am in receipt of
a liberal salary, which am laying aside,
dear, living as poorly as [ can, hoping one
day to buy an interest in the business,
One or two improvements [ have made are
rapidly attaining ME this goal but it is
still far off. I can not ask you to wait nor
to forget the years of labor which have
helped me to reach it.
II have waited already too long, Ches-
ter" she whispered. [ am ready now to
become your wife.
His face grew deadly white.
''Do not tempt me-" he said hoarsely.
"Oh, Chester" she said. "When [
have so much money, why are you so
cruel and so proud !"
II can not go back to life Of ease and
he answered -"even with you,
dear love, to brighten it. Bless you for
coming tc me Marion! Bless you for
Inc all that noble woman can
be! The memory of this hour will tighten
all future years.
"Chester, you do not understand me,
she persisted. II ask you to return to no
life of dependence. I will forget that l
have single dollar in the world except
what you give me. [ will share whatever
home you offer me-even this. For bet
ter, for worse, darling, we pledged ourselves,
as sacredly as though already we had stood
before Gods altar In Gods sight l am
your wife. I claim my right to share your
dark days as well as those on which the
sun of prosperity may shine!"
He strove to answer her, but his voice
broke She had conquered; but woman
like, she gave to him the glory of her vic
tory as she sobbed out her happiness upon
his heart.
A month later there was quiet we'd
ding, at which were neither flowers, nor
bridesmaids, nor music; but Marion Will
loughby missed nothing. 1t was only after
the ceremony had been performed that
Chester showed her document which had
been his wedding gift from the firm he had
served SO faithfully, and which admitted
him as junior partner from that date.
But she smiled Ealf sadly as she looked at
it through mist of tears.
"You said once, DEAR" she whispered,
"that flowers, to live needed sunlight. My
darling, had not then made the wonder
ful discovery that love makes sunlight
everywhere! With your heart my home,
be its outward adornments what they will,
1 envy no king his palace, no queen her
throne!"
Dr. johnson, in "Rasselas,' gives the
following advice to young men: '"The first