The Press., 1888-02-16
Issued Every Thursday Evening.

sence she left home to spend several weeks with an aunt.
 "I can not spare you," her father had said when the invitation came.
 But she, going close to him and laying her head for moment on his breast, said :;
 "I think, papa, it would be best"
 They were simple words, but he inter preted them aright The old wound would not cease its bleeding. She wanted to go amid new scenes, 80 he only kissed her and bade her to remember that the old father awaited her return.
 
 "You have not been through the steel works" some one said to her one day. It Is really a most interesting sight. Will you join party if we make up one to visit them, Miss Willoughby "Wlth pleasure" she answered.
 Aud her aunt, charmed with the success of her beautiful niece, smiled at Clay Clay tons numerous devices to ensnare Marion's society. He was the great a1drti of the place. She had heard something of some early disappointment in Marion's life. It would be splendid triumph to oblIterate 1 it.
 The morning appointed for the expedis tion dawned beautiful and bright. They seemed, indeed, like drones intruding upon some busy hive of workers as they entered the great building and looked about them Department after department they visit ed, watching with interest the ponderous machinery and it's wonderful working.
 Marion's cheek flushed with interest, and Clay Clayton, noting, thought he had never seen her look so beautiful. To-day he determined he must speak, when sud. denly he heard cry, and glancing up saw her standing quite apart from the group, her eyes blazing, her lips quivering. At a little distance from her, adjusting some piece of machinery, was a man in a work ing blouse. Her cry attracted him, and he looked up. Their eyes met. His face grew deathly pale, but gave no other sign of recognition. She went straight to- wards him, oblivious of all, with hands outstretched.
 "Chester," she said, in a voice scarce louder than whisper lat last ?"
 He bowed low in response and took no notice of her hand, but the old dauntless pride was in the uplifted head and fearless glance.
 "Did you know that was here? ?" she questioned.
 "No," he replied. q am no longer in your world"
 "You will come to see me?"
 "I can not"
 Here his voice broke little.
 "Mr. Clayton, she said, ''let me present my friend Mr. Thornley."
 Spite of the innate breeding of the man, some of the surprise at hearing 6 steel worker addressed by Miss Willoughby as a friend made itself apparent in the man. ner he yet strove to conceal.
 Then the party passed on. He wonder ed, however, why Marion fingered a mo. ment in the office to address the superin. tendent some questions as they came out into the air. He had meant, too, to ask her on the way home the question which all the day, and for many days, had been trembling on bis lips, but there was new expression in her eyes and mouth which instantly told him this was not the time to plead his cause.
 Had that fellow inside, who bowed so like gentleman, been otherwise than a workman, he might have suspected him in some way responsible. It was quite singu. lar enough as it was that Miss Willoughby should have addressed him as a friend. Doubtless some man who had seen better days, and for whom she felt womanly pity.
 "Can see MT. Thornley ?"
 The mistress of the humble little cot tage in one of the suburbs of the large city looked up amazed at the beautiful young lady who asked the question.
 "Indeed, l 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 I call him down ?"
 "No let me go to him."
 "Tts the first room to the right of the stairs, miss. He is the only lodger have, and you are 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 turned the handle and entered. He did not hear her, He had thrown himself up. on his sofa and buried his head in its cush: ions. He was still, SO motionless, she crossed the room, and laying her hand on his shoulder, called his name.s
 My God!" he cried, aud would have started to his feet, but she held him back, falling on her knees beside him.
 Chester" she pl-aded, "you would not come to me. My pride is less than yours, my love greater. I have come to you. Do you think my heart uttered the unworthy words for which you have pun. ished me all these years I have tried to find you so long-so long and hopelessly. ''
 And she bowed her beautiful head aud sobbed outright.
 "Hush, dear, hushl You should not have come here, Marion. It might com promise you"
 "Compromise me with my future hus- band? See, Chester" and she held up the hand on which gleamed the ring, "I have never accepted my freedom"
 My own brave girl, he said, his voice softening even while he girded himself up for the strength of which he stood in such need. "But the heaven you open for me can not be. I am foreman of the works where you saw me to-day, Marion. My knowledge and love of machinery stood me in good stead. I heard of this opening and secured 1t. To-day I was adjusting some difficult piece of work dared not trust to any workman. I am in receipt of d liberal salary, which l am laying aside, dear, living as poorly as 1 can, hoping one day to buy an interest in the business Que or two improvements have made are rapidly attaining me the goal, but it is still far of. l can not ask you to wait, nor to forget the years of labor which have help ed me to reach it." r-a afs
 ''I have waited already too long, Chest er,' she whispered. "Im ready now to become your wife" ..
 His face grew deadly white. ... .. 2 I