The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-05

Ellen had tried to dissuade her from
it. But then, she had succeeded in
helping papa, and what cared she
ior anything else! When she got
home she could live down that terri
bic pain at her heart aud no one
should ever know what her masquo.
rade had cost her"
Then old Mr.. Lawrence came in
aud Boy went forward to meet him
ooh, sir! l must see you alone,'
she gasped through her pale lips.
care you hurt, Paul. Where is
tho dootorY" asked the old gentleman
anxlously.
"No, sir, I'm not hurt; there's no
doctor here. Lot us go into your
private Office; I've dreadful secret
to tell you," and Boys voice was 30
low that Mr.. Lawrence could hardly
catch the words.
When they reached his private Of.
flee Mr.. Lawrence placed Il chair for
Boy and said kindly:
"Now, my boy, just talk to mo as
you would to your own father. Pve
known for some time that something
was troubling you, and have wished
that you'd contide in mo and let mo
help you if I could. For tho noble
deed you did this moring I can nov
or repay you. But ask of mo any.
thing you will and if possible it
shall be granted.
Boys heart smote hor.
"Oh, sirw she cred, "you don't
know what would ask of you. I
have sinned against you past all for.
giveness, fear Oh! l don't know
how to tell You how wicked and do
ceitful l have been. I have been II
living lie five months. am not
what you think mo oh! forgive me
if you can--I am girl, miserable
girl"
"Great God" exclaimed Mr.. Law
rence, dropping into Il chair.
~ will toll you all. I intended to
long ago, but knew you'd discharge
mo; and papa needed tho money 80
much! My father il Benjamin
Drake, poor farmer. My mother
died whom was forT and sister
Mimic two y,ars Q: age; papa never
married again. / was always ton
boy, l am sorry to say, and papa
nicknamod me Boy. Ho and Min
ME call me nothing else. My name
is Paulina. Papa promised mama
to educate us, and kept governess
tor us most of tho time until ! was
sixteen and Minnie fourteen; then
ho sent us to college, whore we stay
cd two years. We returned homo
finished, and found papa in about
the same fix. I learned by chance
that our dear homo was mortgaged;
papa's hoalth had failed and he was
unable to work Hailstorms and
dry weather ruined his crops; his
horses, COWS and hogs died. Ho was
compelled to take us from school or
mortgage tho farm for money to do
fray our school expenses. He did
tho latter. Oh, how it hurt me to
look at him! He seemed to have ag-
ed ten years instead of two. Flo
would not mention his troubles to
ua, but bore it all in silence, not
wishing to give us moments pain.
1t WAS only by chance that learned
that tho farm was mortgagod and to
a man who coveted it, and who would
give papa no showing. Yes, unless
papa could raise five hundred dol.
lars by January first, this man would
get tho farm, and that would DO
death to papa. To you five hun.
dred dollars is small sum, but to
papa it is large, and he owes other
debts. He could not hope to clear
over three hundred dollars this year
on bis farm. You 500 he is a farmer
on q small scale. tried faithfully
to got school, but failed. l was
turned of everywhere for gentlemen
teachers. DR.. Arthur, Il dear friend
Of papa's helped mo all he could.
/ lead the wanted columns Of the city
papers in hopes Of finding something
bnt all tho wants were for boys,
boys! l became desperate, l wanted
10 much to help papa. where
there's will, there's way has al
ways been my motto. So whom
read your notice in the paper l de-,
termlned to masquerade in male at
tire and try for tho position. was
sure | could give satisfaction, and it
seemed my only chance. was des.
porate and determined to have work
somehow. I came to tho city on a
visit to my aunt, 40 papa thought,
but with tho avowed intention to ap.
ply to you for the situation as assis
tant secretary. I told Auntie of my
plan, but she wouldn't hear Of it al
first and said must try in the city
for employment before entering into
such n mad and reckloss scheme. ]
did try. tried at twenty. nine
places. tried hore; you did not
employ girls-~no ono did," bitterly
And you had no place vacant except