The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-11-22
Directly in his way stood beautiful girl

| was afraid he would be crushed to death. .
He flushed to the roots of his hair.
cit was nothing miss, he said "Any
of the men would have done it.
That evening Ida went over the scene
with her father. He knew all about and
told her that the rescuer was Joseph Mad
ern.
Zone of the best men we have. he
said warmly. GA thorough mechanic and
an inventor We keep him at the forge
because there is particular part of the
machine that has to be done by hand, and
Madern does it better than anybody else.
Few men have the strength and skill COM
bined to do it. We pay him as well as
though he were foreman, but have to
keep him at the forge. I have ordered
that he be handsomely rewarded for his
heroism today"
"Papa, want you to invite him to
dinner" suddenly said Ida, after some
minutes spent in thought.
"Who p asked Mr. Norton, looking up
from his paper.
ssMr. Madern. I think it would be
much nicer way to show appreciation OF
his heroism than merely to give him
money"
Mr.. Norton smiled He was not wholly
undemocratic in his instincts.
eBut your mother, he said.
She had an answer, and the result was
that Joe Madern found himself with pal
pitating heart going up the steps of the
Norton mansion one evening.
He was neatly dressed and bore himself
with demeanor that charmed the girl as
much as his exhibition of strength.
Mrs. Norton absented herself from din
ner with cold disapproval.
After dinner Miss Norton took her
strange guest to the library, and was as
tonished at the wide knowledge he dis
played Of books and the strong opinions he
held ON economic topics.
He told her of their workingmen' s club
and the discussions they had. ''You
should attend one Of our open meetings, it
would interest you, he said.
81 will, she replied, and she did, and
was still more astounded to hear him in
debate where he stood like lion to fight
for his opinions, using always the most
forceful language and displaying the widest
reading and information
She invited him to call, and he did once
or twice. As he was about to take his
departure on the second occasion he said :
sI think this is the last time, Miss
Norton, that | will see you, and | want to
tell you how thoroughly I appreciate your
kindness and how much [ have enjoyed
the evenings l have spent here.
1.-THE last time r she repeated, the
blood rushing TO her face "What do
mean You are not going away?'
ssNo, but it is better that | should not
see you. We belong to different worlds.
They do not mix The very keenness of
the pleasure I feel in coming here warns
me that | had better not. -
"There is only one world for kindred
spirits" she said impulsively.
''Do you mean that? Do you know
what you are saying he demanded,
coming close to her.
She stood with downcast eyes. Then
Strengthening his broad shoulders and
throwing back his head, he said Miss
Norton, I am plain, blunt man Of the
people and not versed in the ways of So
ciety 1 have discovered that | love you
and know it would be presumptuous to
propose for your hand do not quite
understand what you mean by your last
remark. IF you mean that you consider
that we are on social equality, | want to
saw that love you with a love as deep and
as honest as man ever had for woman.
| can offer you nothing but that which my
arms may earn, and that is not what you
have been accustomed to. Still, if it
should SO happen that your exceeding kind
ness to me means that you love me, all that
is nothing.
He stood looking at her as in a dream.
She swayed, and fell into his arms.
ssThat's what it does mean, she whis-
pered. eYou are the only real man
ever saw.
There was a dreadful scene when Mad
ern spoke to Mr. Norton, but he sturdlly
told his employer that he had been accepted
by Ida and they were going to marry with
or without parental consent
Mr.. Norton summoned his daughter and
she corroborated the statement of her pie
beian lover.
Then Mr.. Norton told them that the
girl had not a penny in her own right, and
if she married Madern she never would
have.
To which Madern replied that that
pleased him exactly.
They we're married. Madern left the
J employ of the Norton works and found
another position.
The Norton's were unrelentlng until
some three years later, Mrs. Norton being
dead and a fine baby boy having been
born in a certain rose covered cottage IN
the suburbs, Mr.. Norton softened.
Now Madern is superintendent of the
Norton works and still better position
| may shortly be his.
Few people realize the immensity Of
Siberia, which extends through 12O de-
grees of longitude and possesses ninth