Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-24

"You can't mean that you tpo,ld llte me
to marry Captain ContcayP
claimed. ''you don't understand
There is no question Of my marrying
Captain Conway. 1t is-at least he
never besides, my devotion to your
poor fathers memory should have kept
You from jumping to any such conclu-
sion. Captain Conway is good man.
and any woman might be honored in
marrying him. But my heart is in the
grave. and-and. besides, he did not
propose-he does not propose that !
should consider the question Of becom-
ing his wife. )"
Mary Hamilton stared open eyed at
her mother. Dear mother" she said
gently, 81 am tired tonight. The chill
dren were very troublesome today, and
the rooms seemed more stuffy than
usual feel confused. Do tell me Just
what Captain Conway did suggest to
you.
Mrs. Hamilton began to pour out the
tea with vehemence which showed
how perturbed in mind she was. "Your
poor father always said that was in
judicious in telling news. !" she cried
In honest self abasement. II ought to
have seen that you were tired. Here is
your tea. darling. Drink it at once and
have another cup to go on with The
truth is, Mary, Captain Conway has
furried me till hardly know whether
am standing on my head or my heels,
and-and l never gave thought to
your being tired out with that hateful
school. Oh. to think that my daughter
should ever had been a board school
mistress. not one remove from ma
tional school. and your father q clergy
man in holy ordersl"
Ny dear mother. do explain your
self. said Mary. fearful sense of COM
ing evil gradually overspreading her.
"oh. my darling. cried the older
woman. Tits all over now-all the
drudgery. all the pincbing and the nip
ping I've said little or nothing because
you were shaving your youth away in
that horrid. degrading school. but now
may speak, now may say how bit
terly and cruelty have felt it all. the
humiliations. the-the"-
Dear, there can be no degradation
or humiliation in honest work, !" said
Mary patiently and yet with dignity
which sat becomingly on her tired
young face ''And what do you mean
by its being overr Not surely that Cap
tain Conway wants to marry me.
'.Yes. you And. oh, my darling. it
has made me so happy" Mrs. Hamil-
ton cried. 'almost delirious with hap
piness!'
my dear mother. cried Mary. bolt
ing piece of bread and butter with
what was almost convulsion. ''you
can't mean that you would like me to
marry Captain Conway"
why not3' asked the mother blank
81 couldn't do it'll" declared the girl
stoutly.
Couldn't do It'll" Mrs. Hamilton's
voice rose almost to scream. Couldn't
do it! Why. dear heaven, surely you
would never dream of flying in the face
of Providence by refusing himl'
Certainly wouldl"
HE is richl" cried Mrs. Hamilton.
'He is old enough to be my father"
said Mary. "And Idoubt if he is rich.
Captain Of one Of the largest steam.
ships afoat. protested Mrs Hamilton.
"He is exceedingly we'll off. He can
provide for you adequately. He has an
excellent position"-
II don 't-couldn 't-never could love
himl" Mary burst out
perhaps not; but you can respect
himl" cried the mother.
~ don't know that should even do
that much" Mary returned. Then she
suddenly clasped her hands together and
looked appealingly at the excited wom-
an opposite to her. "Oh, motherl Don't
you understand why cannot do this
thing? Have you been so unhappy in
our little home that You want to sell
me to the first bidderf I've been SO
contented in working for you. Has it
all been for nothingP" q
"Working for mel" Mrs. Hamilton
exclaimed Indignantly. "Working for
me. indeed And what have done all
these yearsf Look at my hands, work
ed to the bone, cooking, scrubbing,
sewing, continuing, making my own
bits Of clothes and never place to
show them in in this desolate wilder
ness Of bricks and mortarl No one to
associate with, living a pensioner on
your bounty, without pleasures, inter
ests or change of any kindl And then
to have your work thrown In my teeth,
indeed"
90 slethsr