The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-14

prefer generous slice Of roast beef to
the n1ghtingales' tongues. Ard i,
made his heart fairly dance to hear a
genuine laugh ripple from her lips.
A short time after this Bert made a
sudden declaration of his love, with
all his natural impetuos.ty and eager.
ness. Hut Amy looked so astonishcd
and startled that his conscience smote
him and he cried:
II am a brute. Amy dear, to frightcn
you so. You need not marry me II you
do not want to. take IL all back,
every bit of it."
Then, womanli<e, she looked so sad
ly disappointed that he commenced de-
lightedly at the very beginning and
said each word over again, even more
earnestly and impetuously than be-
fore. But by this time Amy had be.
come quite reconciled' to the impas.
stoned phrases, and was neither SUR
prised nor frightened. Indeed. she
seemed to consider them very satisfac.
tory. OF course they were engaged,
and gradually the pretty color re-
turned to the young girls cheek and
the light to her eyes. The kind widow
rejoiced in these evidences OF happi-
ness and in the prospect Of brighter
future for her gentle favorite.
Yet Bert, although at times he could
not resist buying pretty, inexpensive
trinket for the girl he loved, still put
aside money every year toward the
debt he had solemnly promised to pay.
When he and Amy became engaged
he had six hundred dollars in the
bank; and soon afterward his weekly
salary was raised from twelve to f1f-
teen dollars. Amy clapped her hands
in delight when she heard the welcome
news. but she would not listen to
Bert's proposal that they should be
married right away.
mo, no!'' she said. "You must pay
that debt before we can think of mar
riage. Your mother would not smile
upon me from above if 1 consented to
add another burden to the one you al
ready have to BEAR
"You would not be burden, Amy"
he cried. You are the dearest, sweet
est"
He finished the sentence in the way
that is usually very convincing. Itdid
not convince little Amy, however, for
she could be very firm at times.
It took more than a year to make up
the necessary amount, but oh, how
happy they we're when it was accom-
plished!
"Now your mother will smile in
heaven" Amy said, tenderly, to her
lover.
"And / have taught you, my darl-
ing" he replied, ito smile on earth"
That was, indeed, the truth, for she
looked very little like the pale, sad
Amy he had first seen. Her face was
round, her cheeks brightly tinted and
her eyes sparkled with health and
happiness. No medicine in the world
could ever have effected what love had
so easily and naturally done.
When Robert was shown one morn
ing into Mr.. Manning's Office, the grim
lawyers greeting was not an encourag-
ing one.
''Well, young man." he demanded,
"do You want anything? Speak quick,
as my time is valuable"
perhaps you remember Evans Ham.
mond," Bert said.
Eyes; what of him? Speak-why don't
you speak?" he asked impatiently, as
the young fellow hesitated.
"You never knew, l believe Bert
said at last, 'that my father. sorely
tempted, took Thousand dollars from
you."
81 always thought him fool. but !
never suspected that he was a knave
also"
"My mother did not betray him, but
she made me promise to return the
whole sum, and there it is,'' Bert said,
as he placed roll of bills on the law
yer's desk.
The old man raised his head slowly
and scrutinized his visitors face for
some time.
"Where did You get that money?' he
finally asked.
II have been saving it ever since ]