Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-04-19

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$4,000. Is that the way you under
stand the bargain2"
Exactly, madam" returned Fred
little dignifed, because not a little
angry with the cruel fate that made
him poor and an artist, while the
triumphant image of Squire Upham
arose in his mind. rich aud boor.
The picture was brought the next
day and the farewells we're spoken.
Theo was very quiet and Fred very
formal, Mt first, until he said:
II shall be away three years at least,
perhaps forever. When return, if
ever do, no doubt l shall find you
married"
Then her lips curled little scorn-
fully, as she said:
'"That is very improbable. People
gentlemen, mean-are not in the
habit OF talking to me about marriage;
in fact, they talk to me about every
thing else."
''But Theo, darlingr' Fred did
not look to see if Miss Charity was in
sight; he only knew that the girl he
loved was standing there, with blush
ing cheeks and downcast eyes, and he
must speak or die. ''You know am
only happy in your presence, that to
call you my wife is the one wild dream
of my heart. If dared, / would ask
you to wait for me. would promise
to move Heaven and earth to win the
means of providing home fit for you
to dwell in.
''Those who dare not, win not, said
a sharp voice near them.
"But, Miss Charity" Fred turned
his bright, eager eyes to her face, still
holding Theo's hand in both his own,
"if I work steadily and patiently for
three years, then will you give your
consent to our marriage?'
''Not unless you have $1,000" was
the grim and determined reply.
Fred's countenance fell He had no
faith in his own ability-he could
never earn $4,000. But Theo smiled
hopefully.
"We can wait" she said.
I'VE. darling! my angel" mur-
INJURED the happy fellow. ''Can it be
that you will wait for me?"
"Yes, il you work real hard" and
she smiled again, more from pity for
his handsome helplessness than from
any faith in that possible fortune and
the attendant bridal.
But for him there was courage and
abundant self-respect in her words,
and he went away full of a great de-
termination to conquer Fate.
If people would only be romantic
in real life Fred would have painted a
great picture and so won fame and
fortune at breath, but he didn't. He
went down to his Jersey farm, found
q stolld old Dutchman and his quiet
wife to live in the comfortable stone
farmhouse and prepare his iood, then
he fixed up one room for his own rest
ing place, put his desk there and his
easel, nailed one of Theo's slippers to
the wall for a watch case and went
resolutely to work as a farmer. 1t
was not yet time for plowing, so they
concluded to sink well, as tne old
spring was nearly choked up aud the
brook was not handy to reach.
Fred blistered his hands the first
day and went to bed with them
wrapped in mutton tallow, poor boy.
The next day he could not hold
shovel, but while moodiIy watching
the Dutchman, that worthy and usu-
ally most impres sive tunctionary
threw down his pick, and, raising both
hands, as if in de, out alteration of
his patron saint, he exclaimed:
''Mien Gott! mien Gott we haf
find Franklinite!'
Fred did not know if Franklinite
was buried township or the grave of
n philosopher which had been dis
turbed by the implements of we'll
But he learned upon inves.
that IL was a kind of metal,
by combination of zinc and
iron, Franklinite being local name
for it.
Here was his $4,000 and quadrupled
a hundred and thrust into his hands
by the very fate he had Leen bemoan-
ing. He could see Thoe's face in
every shining particle. Theo as Mrs.
Fred, happy wife and mother, a
gracious matron. And there, in that
dull gray ore, lay leisure hours for
reading or painting, blessings from
poor people, help for struggling
artists, peace and home.
And Theo, with her face on his
shoulder, said reverently, as Miss
Charity gave them her blessing:
''Truly, the power that guides lis
and cares for us is wiser and kinder
than we know"