The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-28

hopeful he now felt, where only d
short time beforo despair had bern
slowly eating his life away. He now
felt that it was possible to save tho
old home-the dear old home where
he had spent his happiest days. Il
The farmer had had bad luck, as
he called it, for three or four years.
Three Of his best horses and some
fine COWS had died; cholera broke
out among his hogs; hail destroyed
the small grain crops; corn and cot
ton were out short by dry weather.
1t seemed that everything went
wrong. Ho had mortgaged the farm
to man who coveted it, and who
would rot show tho least favor. The
five hundred d. ars must be paid or
January 1st, or Mr.. Drake would
lose his farm and pretty little cot.
tage home. And he owed other
debts. His health failed, and he had
almost given up in despair when
Boy and Minnie 80 bravely rushed
to the rescue. Was any man ever
blessed with such loving helpful com.
fortsY Were they not n thousand
times better than boysp Yes, IN
deed. And wouldn't he write long
loving lettor to his darling Boy, who
had sacrifioed 80 much-ah! he little
knew how much!- to help him.
'God bless. her! I don'tknow how
to thank her." murmured the old
farmer. "I'll say, God bless ye,
my Boy! You have saved me, you
an Minnio;' she'll understan' me-"
And drawing paper to him he pro.
ceeded 80 write to her.
1t was letter that Boy laughed
and cried over by turns. He had
put his whole soul into it, aud tears
blotted the crooked, illspellod words.
1t was a precious letter to Boy, papa
had written it and had said that she
had saved him. That was sufficient.
Boy was happy, not completely, but
just as happy as sho could be under
the circumstances. What did it mat
ter if she did have to masquerade?
What did anything matter just 30
papa was saved? And she was help
ing him by honest work, and felt
that she had obtained it by honest
means.
She had been two months in the en-
ploy of Mr. Lawrence. She was always
at her desk promptly at 8 o'clock,
never one minute later. She always
had smile and friendly courteous
greeting for old Mr.. Lawrence, who
thought almost as much Of Paul Bur
ton as he did of Bertie Lawrence,
and held Paul up to Bertie rs q mod
81 Of excellence.
"He doesn't drink, smoke, chew,
attend clubs or anything. He just
works, works. He'll make mark
in the world some day, Bertie, he's
Of the right stuff" Mr.. Lawrence
would say.
eyes, uncle, and don't you think
that since he came Pm doing better?
Through him have learned to hate
my old life of dissipation and indo-
lence, and anl ambitions to be mob
ler and better. And Paul has never
offered me one word of reproof or
admonition. can't understand how
he exerts such wonderful influence
over me- Impurity of speech is i'm
possible in his presence, and blush
over an impure thought. I don't un-
derstand it. I'd like to know what
peculiar magnetism he possesses to
so completely magnetic me. I never
saw a fellow that I loved as / love
Paul, but to save my life 1 can't get
on intimate terms With him. He
won't accept an invitation to dine
with me at home, club or hotel, and
he never invites me. He quietly
gives me to understand, without say
ing 30, that he prefers to be left
alone," returned BERTHE.
And SO it was. Paul Burton was
always kind, courteous and amiable,
but he had peculiar way of hold.
ing Bertie Lawrence OIL at arms
length, which Bertie did not under
stand, for he was generally counted
irresistible.
One evening Bortie said "There's
to be a grand play at the theatre to-
night, Paul, and l want You to go
with me. You never attend the the
atre, do your"
"No, 7 never 60"
"Whyw
"-1-it takes money, LAW
renee"
"Well," exclaimed Bertie impa.
tiently.
II suppose you think mo awfully
stingy, Lawrence, but l can't consci.
entiously spend money for nero
pleasure while my dear old father is
in debt. No, my greatest pleasure is
in mailing to him my weekly wag-
es,' and Boys eyes became moist at
the thought of home.
"You're " model young man, Bur
ton," returned Bertie approvingly.
II wish were as unselfish as YOU.