The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-05-06
A GIRL WORTH WINNING.

Matte. I'm going to leave you. l
cannot, will not longer bear the in
suits have submitted to here for three
years, and / have resolved to take my
self out of the way. You comprehend
me, Mattie?"
"Oh, yes, Paul." responded the
young lady, sorrowfully. II thought
it would come to this. l have not been
an idle observer of your impatience
| and dissatisfaction in this house for
months past" continued the girl.
II have been preparing for my de-
parture for six weeks, and 1 shall leave
for New York tomorrow evening""
''And thence?' queried Matte.
TO South America, My plan is not
matured, but shall leave this place,
which has become hateful to me. You
will remain of course?"
Il can't do otherwise. You will re-
turn some day, Paul." she murmured,
with fearful expression, ''and then
I'VE shall be older Matte, and more
experienced, and can better judge if
we are as sincerely attached to each
other as we now think we are"
You are right, Paul. You are old
er than am, but we are only children
as yet, l know. l am scarcely 15; you
are Is. You will succeed-Tm sure
you will. And then you will come
back"
These two speakers were young peo-
pie to talk thus seriously. but they had
been reared in a good school to make
them serious.
Matte Purcell was the only child of
Mrs. Highfoot's dead sister, who had
| taken her into her family ten years
previously and had done for herr Gas
| she termed lD from her childhood,
| though she had family of her own to
bring up. But her husband was rich
and she was u very airy parsonage,
continually prating of her standing,
wealth and influence in societv," while
as constantly she had turned the cold
| shoulder toward poor little motherless
| Matte.
Paul Crumlett was a geod-hearted
boy, and he was an orphan, too. MIR.
Higfrfoot was his fathers cousin.
Matte found herself more lonely
and more dispirited now than ever
she had expected to be, but she strove
to make her condition endurable,
though the continued Sights and an
in the heartless family of the High
foots humiliated her excessively.
She never heard one word from
Paul. Once, year after he left, when
he was 10 years old, he wrote her a
long, affectionate letter, but she never
received it. Had it been intercepted? +?
No one seemed to know.
The lad went to Panama. thence to
Rrozil Ho 1uorlyo,l how'd A,,t ,,,ot - /,
varied fortune. He passed three
years in California. and tired at last of
the wild though busy life he expe-
rienced there. He thought of Matte
very often. Was she the same sweet girl
he knew her to be in their young daysP
Did she remain the same devoted
friend that she had ever been during
their weary years together? She had
never answered his letters, though
he remembered. Had she married?
Was she alive? Had her rich relatives
cast her off?
He had been away some seven years,
| and one day he concluded TO take the
train for New York and make visit
| to his old acquaintances.
Having reached the city he attired
himself in a very plain suit and re-
paired directly to the elegant home of
the Highfoot's, having first sent up his
well-worn trunk, upon which the FAM
lily recognized the initials P. G.
Back againr' exclaimed Mrs. H,
with unfeigned disgust. "A bad pen
nv soon returns, she continued. Now
father" she added, addressing her hus-
| band earnestly, this must be put a
stop to. We can't have him here, and
/ won't"
Here he is. my DEAR" responded
Mr.. H, looking out at the lace
curtained window.
The daughters came into the parlor
an hour later in their stunning" fash
ionable costume-for the Highfoots de-
cided that they must be coldly civil
and Paul remained to dinner. The
girls thought him II very nice-looking
young man; and pity twas he was so
poor and friendless.
where's MattieP My little friend,
whom 1 used to be so familiar with?''
asked Paul, at length.
She had gone out to the neighborln9
park with the baby and nurse.
''She must have grown out of my
acquaintance" suggested Paul.
Well, they didn't know that Matte
had changed much. She 'peared to
them the same old sixpence-dull and
quiet and taciturn as usual.
"She won't look at a gentleman,
scarcely. She'd had half dozen
chances and lost them all by her seem.
ing aversion to the other SEX" added
the mother.
Paul was inwardly delighted with
this information, but he made no
avowal of it.
Here she comes" said Mrs. High
foot, as the front door opened and 6
blooming, lovely woman, with rosy
cheeks and modest mIen, entered the
apartment to greet the stranger Jus
from California"
She didn't know him at first sight
but when Mrs. Highfoot said Its
Paul, Matte. You remember Pau
Crumlett, of course?" the fair beauty
put out her hand, and looked into hi
ewes, and expressed in that brief bu
earnest glance of loving recognition
all that her lover could hope for.
II hope I'm welcome here" saiC
Paul, after the girls had disappeared
that evening.
We're glad to see you-yes. Paul,
said Mrs. dlSh1oot. "buI the IacG Is
we haven't any permanent accommo
dations now that we can afford you
We hope you have done well; but yo'
see, we can't board you here. View
houseful now"
Paul thought this was very plail
and frank and took no offense at all
1t was Just what he wanted them to sa,
if they thought it.
well, goodnight" he said cheer
fully. 'rll send for my trunk. /
isn't very valuable. but it contains al
my little fortune" and he rose to re
tire.
Next day the Highfoots were not
little nettled to see magnificent car
riage halt before their door at noon. /
pair of superb bays stood before it, ant
an elegant attired gentleman got out
and, to their surprise called for Mis-
Matte Purcell.
''Why, bless me;' exclaimed Mrs
Highfoot. suddenly recognizing tn
ger-"It's Paul Crumlett, as In
alive! Come in-Paul. Are you no
| oopoipo in pb