Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-07-23
MARGERY'S SECRET.

Harry Fleet, the blacksmith, had
a cosy little house in Newburg. which
he called his birds nest. 1t, with ten
good acres attached, had been in the
Fleet family for three generations.
The one son had always followed the
occupation of the sire, as though they
were born 10 the business. Harry
had a pride In his work, and to those
friends who had a larger ambition
for him, he was wont to say, i was
born blacksmith; like 1t, and
will remain one.
In his birds nest nestled his wife,
Msrgery, and his little son. They
were the joy and light of his work
day life.
For a number of years Harry had
been a very happy man, but cloud
had gathered in the sky, and at las I
it moved along just over his cottage
and there it oostinately stood. He
had stood as bail for an old friend,
who was In danger of losing his lib
erty in consideration of certain la
oilities. The friend had lurched him.
Margery knew something had gone
wrong. He tried to keep the whole
trouble to himself, but the shrewd lit
tie woman managed to ascertain his
secret trouble.
You see, Margery, l don't mind
can work for the boy and you well
enough; but the homestead, there is
no help for 1t; that must go, and it
has been in the Fleet family ever
since it was a wilderness.
Harry told her the responsibility.
Said be: Old Squire Mitchell has
paid it, and have mortgaged the
place. He has given me several
mouths in which to redeem it, but he
might as we'll take it now, Margery.
1 shall be no better prepared to pay
it then
Harry went to work. and Margery
to ruminating. She had always been
able to adapt means to ends, and sup
ply the means, too, if necessary; for a
wise little thinking cap she was in
possession of. But this time she W as
sorely puzzled. She spent the after
noon in endeavorlng to plan meth.
cd of relief, but it crept away, and
she felt tired and defeated.
Itwas supper time. She heard her
husbands foot strike the graveled
walk, at the same time she was struck
with an idea. She put his supper on
the table without a word, and instead
of sitting down with him as usual
said: do you mind looking after the
baby awhile? | want to run out
A neighbor came in soon after and
inquired for Mrs. Fleet.
She has gone out, he replied.
1T must have been her l saw 60
ing into Lawyer Knowles Office a
moment ago, said the nelghbor.
Harry did not reply, but he did not
like it. Young Knowles had once
been a suitor of Margery's. A little
waverlng, at first, in his attentions,
for he was a shrewd young fellow,
acute in his profession, and in
personal matters looking always to
the main chance, and Margery had nc
fortune but her face: though there
was rumor about the time of her
marriage that an uncle in distant
part of the country had left her pro-
perty, more or less, and her relatives
there had made it to appear that she
died in childhood, and had taken pos
session of it themselves. But
Knowles had lost his heart to her
SO effectually, before this report, that
he had proposed, and had been unhesl.
tatingly rejected, greatly to the aston :
ishment of himself and Harry Fleet.
Margery was an orphan, and had
been reared by Harry's kind parents,
and from continued association with
him had learned to read his big heart
so we'll that she knew who reigned
queen in it long before he had the
courage to tell her. He really never
could see why she had preferred
plain man like himself to one whom
he considered so finished in worldly
graces as young Knowles. So Harry
did not like what had transpired, and
though too sensible q man to get
jealous at triAe, he was not little
perplexed when his wife made no
mention of her business out, on re-
turning. AS the weeks went oy be
came to know Of her calling there at
other times and once, on coming home
earlier than usual, he met Knowles
at his gate coming out. At heart he
had perfect confidence in his wife, but
fortune had begun to rack him on her
wheel. and q matter that he would