The Lamar register., 1892-05-28


successful and prosperous importer
I lie was favorite in society, and fair
young bellies fished perseveringly for
him, and mammas with daughters on
their hands courted him nssiduously.
hut without material success. He was
thirty-three now, and people called him
very cold, unimpassioned sort of
man, and perhaps he was, for at thirty
three the heart of an unmarried man
Is generally pretty much gone to seed.
But Ralph Moreton had kept himself
pure in heart and life, and such a man
ought to be respected in these degen-
crate days
At the close of n wintry afternoon of
mist and drizzle, Ralph Moreton was
putting on his fur overcoat to 90 home
from his place of business
Some one raped timidly at the door
oil the handsome counting room, and a
womun's soft voice asked for Mr.. Dixon.
the head clerk. Dixon, smiling and
plausible, stepped TO the door. What.
ever the lndy's request was, it was per.
formed in low voice.
We'll, really. Miss" said Mr. Dixon.
II am sorry we can do nothing for you.
Very sorry Times dull-money hard
work scarce Everything at ruinous
prices "
times during the past three weeks, .
said the sweet. sad voice, which stirred
so strangely some half-forgotten
memory in the breast of Ralph More
ton Indeed, | would not urge you,
but / must have food for my father.
He is Ill and very old and helpless"
Sorry -" began Dixon; but Ralph
stepped quietly before him, and mo.
toned him back to his desk
II am Mr.. Moreton." he said, kindly;
tell me what You desire"
Before she spoke he had time to oh.
serve her fully. tall. slight figure,
in mourning; pale face, lighted by
brown eyes, and framed in curling
who had known much sorrow; but,
after all, the face of the careless, happy
school girl he had met five years ago,
But no f.ush OF recognition Rlowed
on her cheek, and Ralph suffered Q
pang to think that she, whom he re,
TncmberCd 80 long, had forgotten him
She stated her business. tremblingly
he knew she WAS jnst on the brink o
tears Poor child! She had been 5,
many times repuises..- that hope hat
almost failed in her breast.
= She would copy papers or keep books
but she must take work home, bccaus,
% AEL AAAutIa lLApA hnApehed nH
private desk and took out pile o
papers at random. nearly all of then
worthlcss-old letters, bills OF cx,
change, invoices. etc; but he assume:
the gravest OF business airs as he made
them into package and handed them
TO her, ito tie carefully copied at her
earliest convenience" And then he
gave her ten dollars as her first week:
salary.
How her white face lighted up al
sight Of the mouey-it would do SC
much good for her POOR old father
She thanked him quietly and hurried
away.
''liuse take It 80 said Dixon, round
eyed with wonder. that's n queer
way Of doing business! You dldn'l
even look nj her handwriting, or ask
her her name 3"
Moreton smiled in n curious way, but
gave his oficious clerk no information
ON the subject
The papers were all brought back
neatly copied, in less than a weeis, anC
I Moreton saw with delight that In,
I girls eyes were brighter aud he
] cheeks roster. indeed, she was quit,
Z like the little beauty with the satehe
, of books.
Nloret1u YVES alone in the ohice wheI
/ she came, aud after looking over The
I work. he took scat beside her.
Miss NAndcrNyort," said he, 81 an
t torry that your memory is less faithful
( than mineT'
I II do not understand you"' she said
( with a slight shade OF haughtiness.
J "No But ask you TO recall on
/ stormy winters day, five years ago
I the scene, a crowded railway ear; tn,
characters, u selt-inportant conductor
I a forlorn wounded, pennIless soldier
I and a briCht-faced young school girl il
Z plaid dress, with pink ribbons on he
hair. See, here is one of the yer,
I knots which tied her brown braids,
/ and be held mp the pink ribbon to he
astonished eyes.
| She remembered 1t all then, and tn
contrast between. t{Ig-naPpy life sh
| Ind lSnowu-si--.i the dreary present
I I7Jls TOO much! She tried hard to re
STRAIN herself, but the effort was vain
I and down went her head on the tabl,
I before her, and she sohbed like child
! Ralph Moreton lifted her up, ant
smoothed back the hair from her ho
/ forehead.
NY little GIRL" said he. al love-
/ YOU then, l love You now. Surely fiv'
| years of devotion viii give me an ex
cusc for speaking. / do not ask an.
! answer nOw-you shall have weeks I,
I think OF IL in, and meanwhile will
make the acquaintance of your father.
He walked home with her that even
ing, and learned the whole sad history
! of fallen fortune. Nothing new-only
the old story of speculations, loss unS
ruin; afterwari, Mrs. Vanderwort'
death; and then her husband wa
stricken with partial paralysis, whicl
untitled him for any kind of labor o
business. Then everything fell upor
Maud's young shoulders, and many ant
many time the girl had suffered fol
| bread
She was not to suffer for anything
longer. 1t was q a-delightfully easy tasl
for her to learn to love Ralph Moreton
and not three months after ne fount
his lit;le help in time of need he
carried her home TO his handsome
house, his wife.
.sIs- tupPos.Gg.