The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-22
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Margaret'S Lover :
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Aunt Prue, how proud you must have
felt when you won that S1OO prize in
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" re
piled Mrs. Morris, but it can do no harm
to tell the story now. 1t all happened
ten years ago.
"As l was on my way home with the
two crisp $50 bills in my pocket l met
young man who had been one of my pu
pills two or three years before. He was
quite a favorite of mine, and l 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 awhile l won the
story from him. He had been speculat-
ing in stocks and had borrowed un-
known to his employers, 500 of the
| firms money He had lost AMI. in de-
| spair at being unable to refund the mon
ey, had forged his uncle's name to a
| check, which, however, he had not ye
| found courage to present 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 it all back in few
| months | believe he has always lived an
honest, upright life since, and l have
never regretted the first investment of
my prize money.
| A short time later, as Margaret Rim
mer was on her way home. she heard a
deep, manly voice say, Good afternoon
| Miss Margaret" And Professor Hay
| fell into step by her side.
81 have just been calling on my Aunt
Prudence" said Margaret, as they walk
ed on slowly Il have spent delightful
afternoon reading some of her old stories
You know, she won a hundred dollar
prize once with one of her first stories
"Yes, | remember" said the professor
| somewhat absently, looking down as he
smoke at a few fluffy curls that escaped
from beneath the brim of his compan
ions hat. 81 remember that met you,
aunt on the day that she received thu
prize. and she allowed me to walk par
of the way home with her. You know
she was my teacher in the old higt
school,"
"No. | did not know it," replied Mar
garet slowly, with shock OF surprise
To herself she was repeating with sicl
heart: This is the end of auntie's story
His name is Charles Hay, and it was n
| who walked home with auntie that day
He must never know that | know. Sh
forced herself to take some part IN tn
conversation, trying to put aside for tn
time the thought of what this knowledg
must mean to her, that she could neVe
again look up to him with the old re
, spect, that the sweet fancies that had o
late begun to come to her of q deare
friendship between them must be resd
lutely crushed out. No, it could neve
be Just the same again.
When few days later Mr.. Hay Gale
on Margaret and in few manly word
told her of his love, Margaret gently, bu
: decidedly, refused his offer. She woul
. give him no reason. except that II coui
never be. No, she cared for no one else
but it could never be. So the professc
went sadly away. and Margaret wit
!, male face and eyes dim with unshe
}. tears, sought her room.
4 For hours that night Margaret Rimmt
7 lay awake and wrestled with the pro'
lem-was it fair to condemn the man {
J, 30. honest, respected, who had won h
place in the world. for the folly and 81
of ten long years ago? Had he not nobl
). redeemed the past? But, still, ho
could she respect him as she might If 81
t. had never heard that wretched story!
forger, thief! No, she could new
trust her lifes happiness to one who
she could not reverence as nobler, grea
er, than herself.
Margaret was calling on her aunt
few days later, when Mrs. Morris T
- marked, by the way, you remember Il
r story | told you about the young ms
= whom l helped out of trouble with n
prize money!!
Eyes" said Margaret family, wonde
ing what was to come.
"He called on me yesterday al
brought me photograph of his two ch
dren."
His childrenr' exclaimed Margaret.
"Yes; he is married and has q love
wife and pretty little home"
Margaret listened as if in dreal
"Then-then it was not Mr.. HayT
stammered.
"Mr. Hay! No, indeed. Charles Hay
the soul of honor. Why, what in t
world made you connect him with IL
story?"
you on the day you received the pri
money, and he said he was one of yo
old pupils
Mrs. Morris looked puzzled. Il m
have met him that afternoon, and he m
have walked part of the way home wi
c me, but Why, Margaret"
For the girl had thrown herself do'
beside her aunt and. with her face h
den in the folds of Mrs. Morris gov
was half sobbing and half weeping.
O The older woman patted the girls bo
ed head, while her face lit up with 81
den understanding.
The next time Margaret met the p
fessor she smiled on him so sweetly Il
the poor man was bewildered. III
met frequently, and at Margaret's
quest the professor resumed his ca
At last he ventured once more to tell
Of his love. and this time her reply m
have been a favorable one, for when
professor left, some time later, he wa
ed as one who had received cro'
And so perhaps he had. for a man {
win no better crown than the love o.