Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-03-18
Rv hls SIDE vas a

many blossoms. By HIS SIDE vas
beautiful glrl in whose curls the sun
shine seemed entangled. He bent low
er and the rose-red lips of his compan-
ion murmured, Il love you, Mark
Still lower mis- head sank until his lips
touched the ones that had uttered the
sweet words.
A start, and he sat upright glancing
around him. That was ten years ago
He was poor then, and Margaret, beau
tiful Margaret Henson, had been the
only daughter Of wealthy home. so !
their engagement had been forbidden.
They parted, yowing eternal constancy'
A year later Margaret became the WlIe
of Vance Gregory but it was not unul
months after that Mark learned OF the
treachery and deceit that had been EN-
ployed to urge her to that step.
1t was too late then. There was
nothing to do but endure.
He had known for some time that
| Margaret was widow and lived in the
! city. He knew nothing of her poverty
sunrosing that her means were ample
To 20 to her now with a story OF love
| had never occurred to him. She knew
nothing of what had parted them. lie
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,
pauslng for final word with Mrs.
Donovan.
Tell Mrs. Gregory the things came
from the teachers at No. 81
ITO be sure, Mr.. Davis" responded
the woman, who had recognized Mark,
I'll tell her all bout it. And may the
blissln's of all the saints rest on your
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 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 one way open. She would ask Mrs
;, Donovan to give her children their din
. ner. When she had rested and con
uuered the bitter rebellion in her hear
she would go out again and apply tt
q the city for charity.
: Margaret Gregory was proud. Sh'
# was already faint for the want of food
Il yet she turned in loathing from tn
thought of meal obtained in tha
=" way. 1t would be worse than deat
Il but death doesn't come at ones cal
7 and there We're her babies.
4 dry sob burst from her lips. Sh
,s passed Mrs. Donovan's door In silence
She must have moment to herself b'
" fore she could ask charity of one s
,r poor as her kind neighbor. Hurryin
,a on she pushed open her own door.
n. A bright fire was blazing in II
n cracked stove. Mrs. Donovan had pr
pared potatoes for the oven and CT
ID slices ready for frying from the hal
n The open door Of the wood closet shoN
GO ed huge pile, while the table WI
. heaped high with food.
! For moment she stood gazing vii
i " around her. Then she dropped
her knees and a shower of tears l
ueved her overwrought nerves.
The next days mail brought lett
from Margaret to Mr.. Davis. T
- writer had gone to Miss Smell to thai
M her. From the young teacher she h
3 learned of Marks connection with
I affair.
II 1t was an earnest, grateful lett
II blotted here and there with tear stat
She accepted his generosity; for
children's sake she could not refl
charity. She referred TO the friendsl
that had existed between their parer
but Mark was glad she was too VIC
anly woman to even hint at the IT
- ton they had once borne to each 9th
no When he finished reading the letter
Ger heart was light, for he understood t
or Margaret knew of the treachery {
had blotted the sunshine of his lif
Winu W Mark went straight home and
'ne his aunt, who was also his houseke
ue- er all about 1t. Mrs. EvertS was X
,'t ting before the open coal fire. She '
NV a brlght-faced old lady, with soft WI
W hair and serene face. When he
80, finished she laid down her work
~ sat for long time gazing into
,..,a dancing flames.
,ich The only daughter of my old fri,
of kepecca Henson III want OF loou,
said, note of pain in her voice. M
rers you and both have plenty of MOI
:, | thnrn Is room, In This houSn and In