The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-10-10


uncommonly nice girl, too
Good graciousT' said Mary. IL j.
all easy enough. Describe me ner up
pearance. character and surroundings.
Tell me what she did, and how she did
II. Then explain where the man comes
In-for there is a man In 1t, suppose'
"Oh. yesr said John, as decidedly as
before. "There Is a man In II.
"Well. what about him" asked Mary
"Dear me. john | might as well IN
vent a thing myself, and have done
with it, II you can't tell me straight
off,"
I'm tell your said John, with the
air OF a man determined TO make the
plunge. "Only-Mary-pr promise me one
thing Don't laugh at my story
Cant / laugh II 1t is funny re-
Joined Mary.
1T Isn't" said John. "Well. not ex-
actly. Erin fact. don't know how II
will strike you. / meant, don't laugh
at my clumsy way Of telling It,
"Of course not" replied Mary, kind
ly. "And I'm sure I'm very much OBJ
liged to you, John, for taking all this
trouble"
We'll" began John, "this girl-the
girl | am thinking Of, you know-hved
at home with her mother and sisters.
The father had died some years be-
fore, leaving just enough money to
supply their bare wants, but no more.
81 quite understand" said Mary In
tone which had a good deal Of fellow
feeling" in It,
$50, of course" went on John, "life
was more or less OF struggle with
them. But, happily, one Of the girls
this special girl began to talk about
developed quite talent for-for--'
For whatg' said Mary rather sharp
ly.
For painting" returned John quick
". "She used TO paint quite lovely
little things and sell them to the shops.
YES" said Mary, but when does
the romance come in, JohnT
Il am coming to that" replied John.
"Give me time. Mary
"Oh, OF course" said Mary, amiably
SO after pause John went on again.
Years before, when these girls were
quite little, their father had shown a
great kindness to an almost friendless
boy"
Mary started and a faint color crept
into her cheeks; but John took no heed
and his voice became firmer and clear
err
ITO the action of that good man the
boy owed whatever success came to
him in after life. He never forgot this
and he often wondered how he could
best repay the debt he owed"
John paused, but Mary did not speak.
And as the time went on he found
the debt increased rather than dimin-
ished. For though his first benefactor
had passed away, he had left kindly
hearts behind him. And as the boy
grew into manhood he priced more and
more the welcome he ever received
from those good women and felt that
in the whole world there was no spot
so dear to him as the one they called
home"
Again John paused, but Mary made
no effort to break the silence.
"He loved them ALL" said John.
'but"-here a new tenderness crept
into his volce-''he learned at last that
for one Of them he had the love which
Il man only gives to one woman In the
world. She was not. | think. quite
understood by her mother and sisters,
much as they cared for her. She had
talent which she was glad to turn to
useful account. but the others hardly
realized that the task which was gen.
orally pleasure might at times be.
come very hard and wearlsome. They
thought 1t was play for her to sit down
and paint. So sometimes her heart
failed her little"
Mary's face was very white now. hui
the color rushed suddenly back into n
as John gently took her hand into hi,
own.
This young man loved her. Mary
loved her more dearly that l can quite
tell you. But he waited a long tim,
before he dared to speak to her. Ii,
knew how much depended upon her II
the home, and he felt he had no RICH
to take her away until his position
would enable him to offer comfort I,
her and to those dear to her. Ii offer
seemed a weary while. and his hear
often ached. But the time came at last
The time when he felt free to speak.
He paused. and for few minutes
there was between them a deep silence
Then his hand clasped hers more fer
ventiy, and he said Mary
AS II irresistibly compelled. she look
ed into his eyes. And In that momen
a full knowledge Of what she had neve
before even guessed swept over her
She knew the sweetest of all earthl,
things-that she loved, and was be
loved.
You were quite right. dearest" sail
John while later. THE difficulty lie
In making a start. Everything come
quite easily afterward"
THE story is very hackneyed." whis
pered Mary. But. oh. Johnw-with
half-mischievous. wholly tender lool
isn't 1t wonderful how ANYTHING :
old can be so interesting g'-London So
ciety