The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-11


young and ardent did not believe that
human nature could be 20 low. In fact.
ventured To espouse your cause. and, In
my youthful ignorance (ny uncle believes
me TO he abroad doing the grand tour de-
terminhd 10 obtain q stool in your Office
IN order 70 see what manner OF man yon
were. han also been reading al sorts
and Conditions OF Men and Il occurred
to me that ! might be able to furnish Sir
walter BsEaut with few ideas for a
similar novel some day on the subject
Or city clerks. or the whole. | don't
mink they are as badly off as East End
sernpstrssses: but still they sometimes
nave d good deal Of trouble 10 make both
ends meet"
riggs. you may leave the ROOM" said
air. Smudge. family
MI smudge made two or three irreso-
Tile turns uD aid down the room Then
~ went 10 the safe and carefully brought
oul niue cash box Inside the cash hox
vas a check for thee thousand mounds
dated 1866
draw anotheg check for the
amount and interest up to date" he said
lou VIII see by this check that always
i.,e"ueu 10 repay ny benefactor / was
ap,e 10 repay the money three years after
/ ooIIoWed II; but | kept putting il of
anu oi' thinking what "A large sum il was
ana mat there was no hurry Don't fmag-
me 50 badly Of me as to believe I didn't
mean 20 pay II back. There isn't a night
l uoh think OF all ! owe to Sir Charles:
out love money, and 1t has always been
hafd Tor me 10 pert With it, | have stat
60 the Whole affair in my will. so that If
anything had happened to me Sir Charles
would nave got the money at once: but
Couldn't bring myself TO repay it before.
even though | knew Eew meanly he must
think Of me-
Then was right after ALE"
Yes, young gentleman. you were" said
Mr.. Smudge. colorinS violently; 'but II
haven't treated YOU very nicely either.
You see, I've got into habi. of relying
on Tugs, and he's made the most of IT
In order 10 gain his private ends Tuggs
Is very useful for dirty work gentlemen
wouldn't care to touch-and then he's so
umble. | feel for Tugs; he was a foot
man, too"
Oh, wasn't thinking of Tugs" said
Percy. carelessly. 1T might be "a well
not TO have things done in your Office
which gentlemen couldn't do: | think il
would be better for you. l may as well
tell you my uncle promised me the money
If / could gei it from you. The best way
will be for you TO go down and see him.
and make your peace. I'll write to him
tonight and explain everything. Mean
time. I've something much more import
ant on hand. Good-day."
That evening when Mary Blame returned
from the bread shop. she found Percy
Clarke sitting in the armchair as if he
had been there for some time Miss Nc
Gosh went off to look after the peecant
Adolphus. who could be heard mewing
dismaly on the roof and Mary sat down
by the fire, for the April evening was
chilly.
I've lost my situation. said Percy ra-
diantly.
The tears rushed to Mary's eyes. Of
course it was very foolish but she had
known from bitter experience what losing
situation meant. And lately Mary
dreamed day dreams. Life had assumed
a roster aspect She lived more intensely:
existence was altogether different. Now.
this unfortunate youth would suffer, aud
she did not like to think of so sunny
nature being clouded by sorrow How
could she help him? She pulled down the
blinds with trembling fingers. as she
thought of her once luxurious home. and
the cold-hearted stepmother who now
reigned paramount there. He should not
want But he was so proud. 1t was very
bitter to stand there and think of the
trouble I'm store for him. Her tears began
to fall
He came to the window. Mary, I've
lost my situation; will you help me to an
other?'
He had never called her Mary before
She must not let him do so any more: but
how could she be cruel to him in the cir
cumstances. In fact, she did not want to
be cruel to him at all
With all my heart and soul" she said;
with all my heart and SOUL
1T sounds rather like the marriage serv-
Ice, he said, drawing nearer to her.
She looked at him in amazement.
Mary, Mary. my darling, dearest girl.
don't you see how it is with meg' he
cried, taking her In his arms. "Am mis-
taken? Am | to go away into the dark
ness. or stay with you for ever? l loved
you the very first moment ] saw you, and
| shall love you till die"
Miss McCosh entered with the rescued
Adolphus. and deposited him IN a coma
tose condition on the hearthrug He's
the wick. Why Mary, what's the mat
ter?'
There's nothing the matter, auntie?''
audaciousiy said Percy, taking her hand.
"Auntie. said Miss McCosh, with a
twinkle in her kindly old eyes. "Auntiei
Not unless Mary says so too"
Say It, please, Nary" implored Percy.
And Mary said it.