Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-10-11

| could. for she liked Mr.. Doan. still
/ Mary would not listen to reason. She
said If sic had money it might be dlf'
ferent. To- then people could not say
she saved the man for his money. II
was really a silly and foolish position
| She had taken, but young women &c
silly and foolish things more times
than a few. Mr.. Doan thought there
might be a younger man, but sad
nothing.
One morning a week later Mary re-
ceived 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 introduce
lion. "can 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 Mt. DGSn without a question.
"Fd like TO borrow nickel OF it fol
car lars" she laughed nervously
"You won't need IT, Miss Howard,
said the lawyer politely.
Here are some papers, Mary, said
Mr.. Doan, handing her large packet.
"You won't unders and them il you
look at them, so / will merely tell you
that they are deeds TO all the real
property / own and include the GER
tifieates Of all the stocks in my pos
session. Indeed, everything is there
If you will look them over. They are
yours"
Mary, in a dazed fashion, opened the
packet, and the only thing she could
read was: know All Men BY These
Presents, that for and in considera-
ton of one dollar in hand to me paid, "
etc, etc, and she didn't do a thing but
drop the papers and begin to cry. The
lawyer discreetly got out of the OF.
fee, and Mr.. Doan stepped over TO
the window. The room was still ex-
cept for Mary's faint snifiie, and the
twittering of a couple of sparrows on
the telegraph wire in front of the
window. The stiffness seemed 10 soothe
the perturl ed spirit, and presently she
lifted her face from her wet hand
,kerchief and glanced shyly up at Mr..
Doan. He cid not see her. She got up
and went over to him, sobbing a little
yet.
"Mr. Doan," she said, putting out
her hand. only one hand, 10 him, is 1t
true that you have given me every
thing?"
Everything in the world own,
Mary, and l am poor as church
mouse"
"But Mr.. Doan--" she protested.
"Not a word" he broke in. IF il
hadn't beea for you l would have lost
it all by leaving it to lot of people
l don't like, and if you nave il | know
IL will be where it viii do much good.
Don't you worry, my dear. | am not
so old that can't hustle around and
make pretty good living yet. ! can
do it a good deal better than you
can"
Mary looked at him and again the
tears filed her eyes.
"Mr. Doan," she said. if l were 10
tell you that there was n younger
man / loved; one whom | had known
since l was a 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 il to me because you
do not know this and hope TO win me
with it?"
Mr.. Doan choked a little. He had
not heard Of this young man. Per-
haps if he had he would have been
less generous. He might have given
him a position in his Office or helped
him along in some other way. II was
hardly necessary to impoverish him
self for the sake of letting the woman
he wanted for his W .e marry another
man. But Mr.. Doan had the right
kind of stuff in his makeup.
Il don't know what you want to do
with it, Mary, and l don't care" he
said bravely. what | want il 10 do
is to make you the happiest woman
in the world, and that will make me
feel il is where it will do the most
good. All / ask is that when 1 am too
old to work any longer you will board
and lodge me at a reduced rate and
give me a fair funeral"
Mr.. Doan laughed at his Joke. but
Mary did not. She put out both her
hands to him.
There is no younger man. Mr..
Doan q" She said, "and if you viii have
me for your wife, you may
Mr.. Doan acted ridiculously for a
man of his years. He shouted and
made a wild grab for Mary.
You bet I" he began. when she
broke away from him and warned
1 him off"
ION one condition. she said.
"Name a Dozen" ne replied with
crazy liberality.
"0ne is enough. and that one is
that you give me back my dollar"
He handed her over the money and
shouted &c the lawyer to come in.