The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-08-09
CHAPTER xXI.-CCOntinued.l

MS atlenuhhce upon tue pfOuu SVWlhtih -
beauty, whose fortune was valued by
hundreds Of thousands At first she re-
fused to believe 1t, but when Mary and
Jenny both assured her 1t was true, aud
when she herself had ocular demonstra-
ton OF the fact she gave way to one
long fit Of weeping, and then, drying her
eyes, declared that Henry Lincoln should
See i'that she would not die for him.
Still a minute observer could easily
have seen that her gayety was feigned,
for she had loved Henry Lincoln as sin
cerely as she was capable of loving, and
not even George Moreland, who treated
her with his old boyish familiarity could
make her for a moment forget one who
now passed her coldly by, or listened pas
sively while the sarcastic Eyron Hern-
don likened her to a waxen image, ht
only for glass case!
Toward the last Of April Mrs. Mason
and Mary returned to their old home in
the country. On Elias account Mrs.
Campbell had decided to remain in the
city during a part Of the summer, and
she labored hard to keep Mary also.
Mary promised. however, to spend the
next winter with her aunt, who wept at
parting with her more than she would
probably have done had it been Ella.
Mary had partially engaged to teach the
school in Rice Corner, but George, as
suming kind of authority over her, de-
clared she should not.
IL don't want your eyes to grow dim
and your cheeks pale in that little, pent-
up room," said he. you know I've been
there aud seen for myself"
Mary colored, for Georges manner Of
late had puzzled her, aud Jenny had more
than once whispered In her ear, II know
George loves you, for he looks at you
just as William does at me, only a little
more sol"
Ida, too, had once mischievously ad-
dressed her as Cousin" adding that
there was no one among her acquaint-
ances whom she would as willingly call
by that name. when | was little
girl" said she, "they used to tease me
about George, but I'd as soon think Of
marrying my brother. You never saw
Mr.. Elwood, Georges classmate, for he's
in Europe now. Between you and me,
like him and"
A loud call from Aunt Martha prevent
ed Ida from finishing, and the converse
tion was not again resumed. The next
morning Mary was to leave, and as she
stood in the parlor talking with Ida,
George came in with travelling satchel
In his hand, and a shawl thrown care
lessly over his arm.
Where are you going" asked Ida.
"To Springfield. have business there"
said George.
"And when will you return?" continued
ida, feeling that it would be doubly
lonely at home.
THAT depends on circumstances, said
he Il shall stop at Chicopee on my way
back provided Mary is willing"
Mary answered that she was always
glad to see her friends, and as the car
riage just then drove up, they started to-
gether for the depot. Mary never re-
membered Of having had a more pleasant
ride than that from Boston to Chicopee.
George was a most agreeable companion,
and with him at her side she seemed
to discover new beautines in every OBJ
ject which they passed, and felt rather
sorry when the winding river and the
blue waters of Pordunk Pond warned
her that Chicopee station was near at
hand
"0h! how pleasant 10 be at home once
more, and alone" said Mrs. Mason, but
Mary did not reply. Her thoughts were
elsewhere, and much as she liked being
alone, the presence of a certain individ-
ual would not probably have marred her
happiness to any great extent. But he
was coming soon, and with that in antici-
patton she appeared cheerful and gay as
usual.
Among the first to call upon them was
Mrs. Perkins, who came early in the
morning, bringing her knitting work and
staying all day. She had taken to dress
making. she said, and thought maybe she
could get some new ideas from Mary's
dresses, which she very coolly asked to
see. With the utmost good humor Mary
opened her entire wardrobe to the inspec-
tion Of the widow. At last the day was
over and with it the visit of the widow,
who had gathered enough gossiping mate
rials to last her until the Monday fol-
lowing, when the arrival in the neighbor-
hood of George Moreland threw her upon
fresh theme, causing her to wonder
III twas Mary's beau, and IL he hadn't
been kinder courtin' her ever since the
time he visited her school,"
She felt sure of it when, toward even
ing, she saw them enter the school house,
and nothing but the presence of a visitor
prevented her from stealing across the
road and listening under the window.
She would undoubtedly have been highly
edited could she have heard their con-
versation. The interest which George
had felt in Mary when a little child was
greatly increased when he visited her
school in Rice Corner, and saw how
much she was improved in her manners
and appearance; and 1t was then that he
conceived the idea of educating her, de-
termining to marry her il she proved all
he hoped she would.
He had asked her to accompany him To
the school house. because 1t was there
his resolution had been formed, and it
was there he would make 1t known. Mary,
too, had something which she wished to
say to him. She would thank him for. his
kindness to her and her parents memory:
but the moment she commenced talking
upon the subject George stopped her, and
for the first time since they were chill
dren, placed his arm around her waiA
and, kissing her smooth, white brow,
said, Shall | tell you, Mary, how you
can repay me?"
She did not reply, and he continued:
"Give me a husbands right to care for
you, and | shall be repaid a thousand
fold"
Until the shadows of evening fell
around them they sat there. talking of
the future, which George said should be
all one bright dream of happiness to the
young girl at his side, who from the very
fullness of her joy wept as she thought
how strange it was that she should be
the wife of George Moreland, whom
many dashing belle had tried In vain to
win, The next morning George went
back to Boston, promising to return in a
week or two, when he should expect
Mary to accompany him to Glenwood. as
be wished to see Rose once more before |