The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-09

LOVE TRIUMPHED.

Mary IIarold's father was farmer in |
small way, and, although he could not
afford expensive dresses for his daughter,
he gave her the benefit Of fair education
Mary was by no means an ignoramus.
Fer fathers only sister, Della, married
n wealthy city merchant, and when Mary
was 10 she was invited 20 pass the win
ter months at their elegant house on Muir
ray Hill.
Marys instincts and ideas were high
toned and her tastes artistic. She liked |
soft laces and jewels, she delighted to
wrap Aunt Delia's costly shawls about
her shapely shoulders and let them trail
gracefully over the velvet carpet and TO
fold the dainty laces against the clear
white and pink of her exquisite face and
imagine herself some fair princess.
Aunt Della encouraged the girl in this !
she arrayed her in the finest and intro
duced her into society and was proud of
the sensation her rare loveliness excited !
Mary's thoughts are best expressed by |
reading over her sisters shoulder the let |
ter that she received somewhat later.
This sister Louisa, was the eldest, very
plain and very good. Mary coniided in |
her without reserve.
Dear Lou-Oh, that you were herel But you
wouldn't enjoy it all as l do ] am in my ele.
mcnt.
Aunt's house is a marvel Of beauty. Thanks to
her generosity am attired dantily as a kings |
daughter. She will have II so, although rebel, |
for shame. Lou, fear can never don my plain
dresses again.
Let me whisper to you alone that I have two
admirers. OF there are a score or so Of
danglers ready to do homage, hirt or carry wraps
but there are but two eligible for matrmony
one Of them, Clifford Mason, is a perfect !
Adonis Oh, Lou, he is handsomel like him
much.
He's a gentleman; but, alas notwithstanding
all this, he is poor Aunt says that he'll have TO
take back scat" Poor folks must, you know.
Gilead Willoughby, the other candidate is fine
looking, too but he is self opinionated and al |
ways ready with covert sneer; but then he is a
millionaire, and. Of course, that will atone for
all his faults.
What would you say, sister mine, II you saw
your pet blazing with diamonds and dressed in
Worth's marvellous toilets2 What would you say
to spending your winters at Mrs. Willoughby's
elegant mansion and riding through the Central |
park behind pair Of magnificent bays2
All this and II marry the money bags
What shall do-how decde2 Send your homly
quickly, dear Lou. Oh, don't know well what
that viii be. stick to your principles, Mary,
whatever''-
p. 81 think even you could not help being
pleased with Clifford Mason. There is something
grand and noble about him.
WillOughby sent her costly bouquets
and seemed to live but for her smiles, yet,
with woman's intuition, she knew that
beneath his courtiy manner there was a
hard, selfish nature, but she thought that
he loved her as much as he loved any
thing beyond his own pleasure and COM
fort.
Her heart fingered lovingly upon the
manly words Of Clifford Mason. 81 am
poor, darling, but l could labor cheerfully
for you, for / love you"
She asked herself, Do l love Gilead
Willoughby? If he were poor or i'll,
would ! he willing to work for him?
Could l accept of shabby gentility" and
wear made over dresses for his sake? If
he should lose his wealth, could l be a
true, loving wife all the same?
"Gilead is not man TO die for Il wom
an, nor for Il woman to die for" she
added, and with the tears trembling like
dewdrops upon her long lashes she
struggled against the temptation of being
the envied wife of n millionaire.
And when the struggle was ended and
love had trumphed over ambition it was
a time of joy when she promised Clifford
Mason to be his own true, loving wife,
in poverty or riches, in sickness or In
health.
1t was n glorious day in June when
these true lovers were married ut the old
farmhouse where she had passed the
happy days Of childhood, but she was
quite content when her husband told her
that he had provided plain, comfortable
home in New York city.
1t was evening when they arrived and
when the carriage stopped before a
stately mansion ON Fifth avenue and
Aunt Della came out in the hall to well
come them she felt as If it was pleas
ant surprise Could it be possible, after
all, that her proud Aunt Eastman meant
to forgive her for the serious fault of
marrying Il poor mani
And when she had finished tour of
examination through the house and duly
admired the decorations of the rooms,
each perfect in its way, she congratulated
her aunt upon the possession of so fine
mansion. II loved the dear old place on
Murray Hill" she said, because it was
there that | first met Clifford, but this
is fit for kings palace"
''Do you regret having rejected the mil
lionare for the sake of one who has but
loving heart and willing hands to offer
yOuW inquired her husband.
81 own that / was tempted, Cliff; but,
you see, love triumphed"
Clifford Mason wound his arms around
her and, looking into her beautiful face,
radiant with love and happiness, said:
'Then welcome home dear Mary for
you are sole mistress here"
What" she exclaimed, in astonish-
ment.
"Will you not love me just as well for
having deceived you? For this is my
excuse: / wished TO be sure that you
loved me. Mary, am Dot the poor man
that you thought. fear that you will
have to put up with the incumbrance of
my millions after all'-New York News.