The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-04

seAL az Gne omce or Beck &c 90. no one
would have suspected by her appear
ance that she was in need of employ
ment. On the contrary, she caused
quite q hutter of curiosity, prompted
Oy admiration, as she passed through
the main room into the private Office.
The senior member of the firm, MIR.
Beck, was not in, but she was met by
q fine looking, dignifed young man
who introduced himself as the Junior
member OF the firm and who said he
could act for Mr.. Beck in his absence.
Mena was seated and then began to
inquire about the nature Of the posi-
ton. After considerable interroga-
ton from the young man she told him
something of her circumstances.
During the conversation her eyes
had rested on a small gold locket that
hung from his watch chain.
Pardon me-" she said, looking up
and smiling, for staring SO at your
locket. It looks SO much like one I
used to have"
"Doesit it, indeedG" he said quietly. st
is one | have had many years" He
stopped a moment, as il to give his
thoughts time to go back to his child
hood, then, looking up half sadly, he
said:
when I was a child I was very poor,
but one Of my playmates was a little
0S@H -hA1n Ra&hnM -0n "n01AhU 0nH
whose mother was a naughty woman,
who forbade her coming to play with
me, because we were poor and had no
social position. But she used to run
away and come, even though she was
scolded, whipped and even locked up
for il. remember how it hurt me TO
think she was punished on my account
but I loved her all the more for it. She
was an idol to my childish heart, andsI
loved that child as I shall never love
any living creature again. We were
finally separated, and ! have never
seen her from that day to this; but
she has always been a kind Of guar
dian angel to me, and I have eve
loved @ woman becauseI could never
find n who equaled the sweetheart Of
my childhood. This is her picture"
he concluded, opening the locket.
But Mena scarcely needed to look.
lis this really you, JimmyP" she
asked, eagerly, her hands stretching
out involuntarily toward him.
Yes, Mena-didn't you know met"
His eyes we're shining enid the spar
kle OF teays-partly from wantonness
of joy at seeing her and partly, per.
haps, because of of the pathetic YER
sion Of their circumstances.
"Mena. do you remember the last
day you came to see me-the day you
brought your bankH" he asked, cross
ing the room and opening the heavy
doors Of a large safe. "You remem,
Der / didn't have a bank in those days.
/ have never forgotten that day, Mena;
it was the happiest and the saddest of
my life"
He had taken a jewel box from one
of the drawers of the safe, and took
from it a dainty handkerchief of fine
old lace.
DO you recognize that, Menaw he
asked, holding it up.
"And here is the little gold dollar
you gave me to buy gun with. Do
you remember that9 I wouldn't have
spent it for forty guns-not after that
dayl I wanted to keep everything
you had given me. They have always
been my most valued possessions"
Mens began to laugh and talk about
their housekeeping days, and all the
times they used to have, utterly for
getting her present self. But finally
she remembered where she was, and
becoming suddenly serious, she said
coldly: But those days are now over,
and yon remember I came here on bust
ness"
But ! cannot realize it So" said
Jimmy, II cannot set down the great.
est pleasure I could have hoped for
that of finding youth the cold cate,
CORY of business.
He looked at her a moment, hest
tated, and then said, slowly: cinema,
when we were children, you would
have given me all you had in the world.
Now, may not / do the same for you4"
During the next few minutes there
were refusals and e~ntreaties, tears and
smiles all sWeetly blended in the con-
versation of two lovers; and when the
senior member of the firm came into
the room, he was formally introduced
to the charming francee of his bust.
ness partner, Mr.. James West.-De