Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1900-11-22

the mother promised TO do what she
could, for she liked Mr. Doan. Still
Mary would not listen to reason. She
said II she had money II might be diff
ferent. for then people could not say
she saved the man for his money. II
was really a silly and fooiisn position
ahe had taken, but young women do
silly and foolish things more times
than few. Mr.. Doan thought there
might be younger man, but said
nothing
One morning week later Mary re-
ceived n note asking her to call at Mr..
Doan's office. Greatly puzzled. she
went, and Mr.. Doan and another man
were waiting for her. The other man
was Mr.. Doan's lawyer,
Mary" said Mr.. Doan. after the
usual salutations and an introduc-
tion. "cGn you give me dollar?"
Mary took out her thin little purse
and found three quarters. three nick
els and dime. which she handed over
TO Mr.. Doan without question.
''I'd like to borrow nickel OF II for
car fare" she laughed nervously
"You won't need it, Miss Howard"
said the lawyer politely
"Here are some papers, Mary" said
Mr. Dsan, handing her large packet.
"You won't unders and them II you
look at them, so | will merely tell you
that they are deeds to all the real
property | own and include the GER
tifcates OF all the stocks in my pos
session. Indeed, everything Ia there
II you will look them over They are
yours
Mary, In n dazed fashion, opened the
packet, and the only thing she could
read was; "Know All Men BY These
Presents, that for and in considera-
tion Of one dollar in hand to me paid"
etc, etc. and she didn't do thing but
drop the papers and begin to cry. The
lawyer dascreetly got out OF the Of
fee. and Mr.. Doan stepped over to
the window. The room was still ex-
oept for Mary's faint sniille, and the
twittering of a couple of sparrows on
the telegraph wire in front OF the
window. The stiffness seemed to soothe
the perturl ed spirit and presently she
lifted her face from her wet hand
kerchief and glanced shyly up at Mr..
Doan. He did not see her. She got up
and went over TO him, sobbing little
yet
"Mr. Doan," she said, putting out
her hand. only one hand. to him, sis Il
true that you have given Inc every
thing?"
Everything in the world own,
Mary, and l am poor as church
mouse"
"But Mr.. Dom" she protested
mot n word" he broke In. "If II
hadn't been for you I would have lost
II all by leaving II 10 a lot OF people
don't like, and II you nave 1t know
IL will be where 1t will do much good
Don't you worry, my dear am not
80 old that / can't hustle around and
make a pretty good living yet. can
do 1t u good deal better than you
can"
Mary looked at him and again the
tears filled her eyeA
"Mr. Doan," she said, "if were TO
tell you that there was a younger
man loved; one whom had known
since / was n little girl and who had
been waiting until he could earn
enough to make us comfortable, would
you st.il let me have this money!
Aren't you giving II TO me because you
do not know this and hope to win me
with it2"
Mr.. Doan choked a little. He had
not heard OF this young man. Per-
haps II he had he would have been
less generous He might have given
him position In his Office or helped
him along In some other way. II was
hardly necessary 10 impoverish him
self for the sake OF letting the woman
he wanted for his wife marry another
man. But Mr.. Doan had the right
kind Of stun in his makeup.
II don't know what you want 10 do
with IL. Mary, and don't care" he
said bravely. "What want II TO do
Is to make you the happiest woman
In the world. and that will make me
feel IL Ia where II will do the most
good. All ask is that when | nm too
old TO work any longer you will board
and lodge me at reduced rate and
give me n fair funeral"
Mr. Doan laughed at his Joke, but
Mary did not. She put out both her
hands 20 him.
There Is no younger man, Mr..
Donn," she said, "and II you will have
me for your wife, you may"
Mr.. Doan acted ridiculously for
man OF his years lie shouted and
made a wild grab for Mary.
"You bet L" he began, when she
broke away from him and warned
him of"
"On one condition." she said.
Name dozen," ne replied with
crazy liberality.
"One Is enough. and that one IL
that you give me back my dollar"
He handed her over the money and
shouted 70 the lawyer TO come In.
Think OF IT," he said to that gen.
tleman, "she will marry me on the
simple condition that give her back
the dollar she gave me-"
(which means" said the lawyer
formally, that as there Ia no oonsid-
Grafton all the property and so forth
previously made over to Miss Howard
Is yours"
How the dickens did she know
that?" inquired Mr.. Dosn, but the
lawyer couldn't enlighten him. and
Mr.. Dohn wasn't particular, seeing
that everything was his anywsy.--De-