The representative., 1899-11-16
.'.Margaret's Lover.

felt when you won tnat $1VO prize III your
first story competition. l wonder what you
did with all that sudden wealth"
II have never yet told any one what
first did with the money, Margaret" replied
Mrs. Morris, "but it can do no harm to
tell the story now, 1t all happened 10
years ago. ..
"As was on my way home with the two
crisp $50 bills in my pocket, met young
man who had been one of my pupils two or
three years before. He was quite favor
ite of mine, and had known his people for
many years. On this day he turned and
walked with me, and soon guessed that he
was in some deep trouble. After while
l won the story from him. He had been
speculating in stocks and had borrowed,
unknown to bis employers, 500 of the firms
money He had lost, and in despair at be-
ing unable to refund the money, had forged
his uncle's name to a check, which, how
ever, he had not yet founo courage to pre-
sent for payment.
"Well, the end of it was that the crisp $50
bills in my possession changed hands, the
forged check was destroyed, and Charlie left
me, with broken words of thanks and a
few earnest promises for the future"
did he ever repay you the money.
auntie?"
"Yes. he paid 1t all back in a few
months l believe he has always lived an
honest, upright life since, and 1 have never
regretted the first investment of my prize
money"
A short time later as Margaret Rimmer
was on her way home, she heard a deep,
manly voice say, Good afternoon, Miss Mar
garet," and Professor Hay fell into step by
her side.
II have Just been calling on my Aunt
Prudence" said Margaret, as they walked
on slowly 81 have spent delightful at
ternoon reading some of her old stories.
You know she won a hundred dollar prize
once with one of her first stories :" .-
"Yes, 1 remember" said the professor,
somewhat absently, looking down as he
spoke at few fluffy curls that escaped from
beneath the brim of his companions hat.
Il remember that I met your aunt on the
day that she received the prize, and she al
lowed me to walk part of the way home
with her You know she was my teacher
in the old high school,.
'No, did not know it, replied Margaret
slowly, with shock Of surprise. To her
self she was repeating with a sick heart
This is the end Of aunties story; his name
is Charles Hay, and it was he who walked
home with auntie that day. He must never
know that I know She forced herself to
take part in the conversation, trying to
put aside for the time the thought of what
this knowledge must mean to her, that she
could never again look up to him with the
! old respect, that the sweet fancies that had
| of late begun to come to her, of a dearel
| friendship between them, must be resOlutelJ
| crushed out No, 1t could never be jus
| the same again.
| When, few days later, Mr.. Hay callet
| on Margaret and in a few manly word
told her of his love, Margaret gently, bu
| decidedly, refused his offer. She would Civ
| him no reason, except that 1t could neve
be- No, she cared for no one else-but
| could never be- So the professor went sadl.
away, and Margaret, with pale face ant
| eyes dim with unshed tears. sought he
room.
For hours that night Margaret Rimme
| lay awake and wrestled with the problem
/ was it fair to condemn the man Of 30, hon
est, respected, who had won his place in tn
world, for the folly and sin Of 10 years ago
| Had he not nobly redeemed the past? But
still, how could she respect him as sh
might II she had never heard that wretche,
story7 A forger. thief. No. she >coul'
| never trust her life's happiness to one whom
| she could not reverence as nobler, greater
than herself
Margaret was calling ON her aunt a fey
days later, when Mrs. Morris remarked
"By the way, you remember the story
told you about the young man whom
helped out of trouble with my priz
money!"
eyes," said Margaret, family, wonderin
| what was to come.
"He called on me yesterday and brough
me a photograph of his two children"
His children!" exclaimed Margaret.
.'Yes. he is married. and has lovely wit
| and pretty little home"
Margaret listened as If in dream. THE
then it was not Mr.. Hay?" she stammered
'Mr. Hay! No. indeed. Charles Hay
the soul of honor. Why, what In the worl
| made you connect him with this story?"
"He-he said he walked home with you o
J the day you received the prize money. An
he said he was one Of your old pupils"
Mrs. Morris looked puzzled. Il may hav
met him that afternoon, and he may hav
walked part Of the way home with me, bu
why, Margaret"
For the girl had thrown herself down be
side her aunt and, with her face hidden
the folds of Mrs. Morris gown. was hal
sobbing and half weeping.
The older woman patted the girls bowe