The Opelousas courier., 1897-07-10

Nioo" "ao " pLoeCSC "a uttoo oAOAi o..
As to Lilian's order for groceries,
Mr.. Davis had added to it a sack Of
-four, a ham, coffee, tea, sugar, apples,
cookies, cheese, canned fruits and
meats, and a big bag of candy.
Mrs. Donavan went back to her own
room, and the wagons rolled way.
Mark hastily built q fire, then sat down
to think how best to explain the liber-
ty he had taken.
The bare room faded from his vision
as he sat there. In its place came au
old country garden overgrown with
roses and clematis. Tt was June, and
the air was heavy with the scent of
many blossoms. By his side was q
beautiful girl in whose curls the sun
shine seemed entangled. He bent
lower, and the rose-red lips of his
companion murmurea, II love you,
| Mark" Still lower his head sank ~
til his lips touched the ones that had
uttered the sweet words.
A start, and he sat upright, CHANGING
around him. That was ten years ago.
He was poor then, and Margaret, bean
tiful Margaret Henson, had been the
only daughter of q wealthy home. So
their engagement had been forbidden.
They parted, vowing eternal consistency,
A year later Margaret became the wife
of Vance Gregory, but it was not until
months after that Mark learned Of the
treachery and deceit that had been
employed to urge her to that step.
It was too late then. There was
nothing to do but to endure.
He had known for some time that
Margaret was a widow and lived in the
city. He knew nothing of her poverty,
supposing that her means were ample.
To go to her Low with O story of love
had never occurred to him. She knew
nothing OF what had parted them. He
could not blacken the memory of the
man who had been her husband, the
father Of her children.
He sprang to his feet. There was no
need of an explanation. He passed out,
pausing for q final word with Mrs.
Donavan.
"Tell Mrs. Gregory the things came
from the teachers at No. B."
ITO be sure. Mr.. Davis" responded
the woman, who had recognized
Mark. "I'Il tell her all bout it. And
may the blissin's of all the saints rest
on your dear head!"
Mark. hurried away, leaving a shin
ing silver dollar in Royce's hand.
It was only a few minutes after his
departure that a thinly clad woman
came toiling YEARLY up the stairs. 1t
was Margaret Gregory. The woman
who owed her was out Of town. The
needy mother had applied at several
places for work, only to meet with
refusal. Then she had gone to a store
and begged for credit, but in vain.
She had reached the end. There
was but n way open. She would
ask Mrs. Donovan to give her children
their dinner. When she had rested
and conquered the bitter rebellion in
her heart she would go out again and
apply to. the city for charity.
Margaret Gregory was proud. She
was already faint for the want of food,
yet she turned in loathing from the
thought of a meal obained in that way.
It would be worse than death, but
death does not come at ones call, and
there we're her babies.
l. 4 dry sob burst from her lips. She
Ksssed Mrs. D%onavan's door in silence.
She must have a moment to herself
Before she could ask charity of one SO
Door as her kind neighbor. Hurrying
IN, she pushed open her own door.
A bright fire was blazing in the
cracked stove. Mrs. Donavan had
prepared potatoes for the wen and
cut slices ready for frying from the
ham. The open door of the wood
closet showed a huge pile, while the
table vas heaped high with food.
For a moment she stood gazing
wildly around her. Then she dropped
on her knees, and a shower of tears re-
lieved her overweight nerves.
The next days mail brought aletter
from Margaret to Mr.. Davis. The
writer had gone to Miss Smell to thank
her. From the young teacher she had
learned of Marks connection with the
affair.
It was an earnest grateful letter,
blotted here and there with tear stains.
She accepted his generosity, for her
children's sake she could not refuse
charity. She referred to the friend
ship that had existed between their
parents, but Mark was glad that she
vas too womanly a woman to even
hint at the relation they had once
borne to each. When he finished
reading the letter, his heart was light,
for he understood that Margaret knew
Of the treachery that had blotted the
sunshine out of his life.
Mark went straight home and told
his aunt, who was also his housekeep.
er, all about it. Mrs. Everts was knit
ting before the open coal fire. She
was a bright-facea old lady with soft
whits hair and q serene facel When