The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-03-31
man who had been her husband, the

| need Of an explanation. He passed out
pausing for q final word with Mrs
Donsvan.
Tell Mrs. Gregory the things came
from the teachers at No. g."
TO be sure, Mr.. Davis" responded
the woman, who had recognized Mark,
I'll tell her all bout it. And may the
dear head".'
Mark hurried away, leaving a shin.
ing silver dollar in Royce's hand.
1t 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 re-
fusal. Then she had gone to a store
and begged for credit, but in vain.
She had reached the end. There was
but M way open. She would ask Mrs.
Donovan to give her children their din
ner. When she had rested and con-
quered the bitter rebellion in hS, heart
She would go out again and apply to
the city for charity.
Margaret Gregory was proud. She
: a already faint for the want of food,
yet she turned in loathing from the
thought of a meal obtained in that
way. 1t would be worse than death,
but death doesn't come at ones call,
and there We're her babies.
A dry sob burst from her lips. She
passed Mrs. Donovan's door in silence.
She must have a moment to herself be.
fore she could ask charity Of SO
pool as her kind neighbor. Hurryins
on she pushed open her own door.
A bright fire was blazing in the
cracked stove. Mrs. Donovan had pre-
pared potatoes for the oven and cut
slices ready for frying from the ham.
The open door of the wood closet show,
ed a huge pile, while the table was
heaped high with food.
For a moment she stood gazing wild.
ly around her. Then she dropped on
her knees and a shower of tears re
lieved her overweight nerves.
The next days mail brought a letter
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.
1t was an earnest, grateful letter,
blotted here and there with tear stains
She accepted his generosity; for he1
children's sake she could not refuse
charity. She referred to the friendship
that had existed between their parents.
but Mark was glad she was too WON.
anly q woman to even hint at the rela'
ton they had once borne to each other
When he finished reading the letter his
heart was light, for he understood that
Margaret knew of the treachery that
had blotted the sunshine 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-faced old lady. with soft white
hair and a serene face. When he had
finished She laid down her work and
sat for a long time gazing into the
dancing flames.
The only daughter of my old friend,
Rebecca Henson, in want Of food" she
said, a note OF pain in her voice. Mark,
you and l both have plenty Of money,
there is room in this house, and in u
hearts, for Margaret and her babies.
But she is proud. Go and ask her to
come and sew for me. Tell her / am
lonely, and ask her TO bring her little
ones to brighten me up"
Mark bent to kiss the placid face.
THANK you, Aunt Elsie. l see you I'M
derstand.' \ few hours later he knock
ed at Maragret's door. He saw that
the years had changed her. The wild
rose bloom had faded from her cheeks,
tears had washed the joyous light from
her blue eyes; yet it was surely that
Margaret that he had loved that stood
before him.
She met him frankly and with I'M
disguised pleasure. Her voice trembled
when she undertook to express her
SEdllluuc. MAIN llduS ISLl I'll llt
whole affair and insisted on talking of
their childhood days. The fruit and
nuts he brought proved an open sesame
10 the hearts Of Agnes and Royce. and
they were soon on the best Of terms
with the caller.
Margaret was very grateful for the
offer Of work. She hesitated a little
over accepting Mrs. ENerts' kind invl-
tation, fearing lest the children prove
an annoyance. But when Mark drew a
touching picture of the loneliness of his
aunt she gladly consented to come. 1t
was arranged that the carriage come
after the Gregories tie following after
noon.
One morning, two months later, Flor
ence Fox tripped across the hall at No.
s and entered Miss SHELLS room.
"Of course you are going to the we'd
ding reception Thursday evening" she
began. Il think it is such a lovely
marriage. don't you?"
Indeed 1 do replied Lillian, warm
ly. Yes, I am to go in the afternoon
and help with the decorations. The
whole house is to be in green and
white, smilaX, ferns, roses and carna-
tons. Mrs. Everts says Mr.. Davis can
-.-l g.. -. l. ,-.-.