The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-04-07

actual years Warranted, and-hc liked
hor; yes, he certainly respected and
liked her.
For two or three days he hesitated,
shrinking yot from placing himself in
the position of q fortunc-huntcr, and
then he wrote manly tender letter to
Miss Hartc, asking her to be his wife.
He had sufficient tact to avoid flowery
flattery, to make sickcning protcsta-
tions, and the letter bore the stamp of
sincerity on every line. An hour later
his messenger brought an answer, and
Miss Harto was his ailianccd wife.
Escorting the ladies to their home, o
magnificent country scat, Mr.. Randall
would not have been n human had he
not congratulated himself upon tho fu-
turc ownership Of tho wealth SO lavishly
represented all around him.
He had said nothing about the future
position of Miss Maxwell, good-naturcd-
ly willing that she should still find Il
home with her aunt but he sometimes
thought he would give her hint about
assuming SO much the air of mistress nf
the house.
The wedding was magnificent, the
honeymoon spent in travelling upon a
wcdding-gift of II chcque from Mr.. Ran
dalrs uncle; and one morning, in cosy
confidence. the subject of going home
arose.
"Whcrc have you taken rooms,
dearP' Mrs. Randall asked; "or shall
you go to housekeeping"
"ROoms," cried the bridegroom;
shall you not return to your own
housc?"
my own house! | have no house.
Joe" for suddenly the truth flashed
her; did you think had money? |
thought everyone knew that | WAS
Maude's pcnsioncr Oh, and her face
grew very pale, what II fool | have
been! l thought you loved me.
"You were no loci in thinking that"
was the quick reply, rs her husband put
his arm around her; II do love you. I
did think the position reversed, and that
Maudc depended on you; but never
doubt my love. If it was not very ar
dent when proposed to you, it grows
stronger every day, it grows stronger
every day that we spend together"
but yet YOU thought me wealthy"
"a humiliating fact cannot deny"
and then in sudden outburst of conf
dcncc, Mr.. Randall told his wife the
whole truth. dwelling somewhat longer
upon his business attempts and pcrplcx-
tiles, than on the hope he had enter
tanned of n future life of luxurious
idlcncss.
When he had finished. his wife
spoke:
You may not like to hear my faith
er's opinion of me, Joe, though he
meant it to be Il complimentary one
He always said / should have been Il
man, for had n true business head
For ten years before he died he was
paralyscd, and was the actual head of
his business, the weaving of carpets, in
W. He loft me II competency, which
was stolen from me by dishonest trus-
tee; and should have taken up some
occupation to gain my own living had
not Maude been left an orphan, and inn
plOred me to live with her.
ut was scarcely life of dependence,
for she needed me, and her lavish gifts
of clothing and jcwclry accepted in
the place Of the salary anyone else in
my place must have been paid was
housckcepcr and chapcron, and we were
very happy; but never dreamed that I
was supposed to own her wealth.
"Now listen to my proposition: The
factory my father controlled is closed,
but am an old friend of the owner,
who carried on the business for n short
time after my father died, and found
his ignorance Of the details swept away
all his profits. will introduce YOU to
him, and the sale OF my diamonds will
give us sufficient capital for modest
start. You will be nominal master, rs
my father was. until you conquer all the
intrcacics of the business, gain our old
customers, and can carry on tho whole
without any assistance. Until then, let
me direct and teach you, as helped my
father. When you are n rich man
and here Mrs. Randall's eyes grew dim
with tender focling--'.you Can buy me
some more diamonds"
1t was not II matter for hasty de-
cision. Mr.. Randall, remembering his
failures, was doubtful of his own abili-
ty, but his wife had her way, and be-
fore their welded life was six months
old, Mr. Randall was engaged in his
new business.
Spurred on by an honest shame that
woman had better business head
than his own, he did what he never done
bcforc-threw his whole soul into his
business, and was amazed himself to
find how rapidly lie learned to guide it.
Every day filled his heart with deeper
love for tho noble woman who was so
true and faithful hclpmatc TO him;
who, with all the knowledge he lacked,
never let one clerk or cmployo guess
her real position.
At home, in the evening, she showed
him the result of her days correspond
enco or bookkeeping. and gave him clear
instructions for the next day work. And
he. learning all quickly. had sufficient
sense to let her control the entire busi-
ness, until she herself, after two years of
faithful work, said:
"You can do without me now, dear
| resign"
They had lived very economically in
those two years, Mrs. Randall govern
ing the small house and one servant as
efficiently MS she had controlled her
niece's grand mansion or the affairs of
the factory.
But ambition once reused in Joseph
Randall, he resolved to give his wife q
home rs handsome as the one she had
left for love of him. Depriying her of
M comfort ha pnt,ld afford IN S<;x1 "A oS