Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-15

i
Jk is Bob Hunter?' "lle has gone
home"
so early. Why did he go?"
'He had letters to write, he said
The old woman glanced at the girl,
anXiousiy; her eyes were dim, but she
fancied that Louise looked as If she
had been crying.
"My dear" she said, softly. Bob Is
only Il man-and-you wouldn't let any
sense of duty stand between you?"
The girl flushed deeply, and turned
her lovely face toward her questioner.
mo, auntie, don't worry. it isn't Il
question of duty"
81 thought perhapS-Bob Is so close,
he would object to me- and l wouldn't,
not for the world. keep you apart. The
pOorhouse has no terrors for me-not
If 1t makes you happy"
'Iou have queer notion Of what
would make me happy. No you are all
l have left, and We'll 'bde a wee to-
gether.'"
And the girl pressed her soft cheek
against the one SO old and wrinkled.
ITS hard" murmured the old aunt.
"First there was the old father and
mother you nursed SO long, and now
there's me-and he's a likely lad as
ever was He'll be rich, some day"
yes" said the girl, quietly. II know
1t. He's made of the stuff that pro-
duces rich men. Let's forget him, for
he is not of our world"
But hoped, persisted the old wom-
an sadly. that he might lift you at
least, up to his world. You work so
hard, you are only girl. Your life
ought to have been so different"
Ellis world is not above mine" ex-
claimed Louise earnestly. sit is far be-
low. Il do not care to step down.
Never mention this again auntie,
please"
But when the winter of snow and
rain set in, and Louise had to plod
back and forth mile through the
storm to the little millinery store,
where she was hired at 10 cents day,
the old woman more than once brought
up the name of her old-time lover.
Hes gone to the city" she said one
day, getting salary that would make
us rich, one year of it."
Louise, pale and weary, answered
nothing, but the old woman continued
plaintively.
Now, if it hadn't been for ME you'd
n been a living like a queen. Seems
like instead of helping you, as want
to, only take all your hopes away
Dear, dear, how long do live"
flush" said the girl, sternly. "How
unkind you are! You are all have in
the world. You are all | have ever
had since-since they went away.
you're %" said the old woman
softly; you're the prettiost girl for
miles around l always thought"
I'D marry. Well, l won't answer
ed Louise, brightly, for I'm deter
mined to be an old maid"
Bob Hunter had been in the city
twenty years. He was no longer
known as Bob, but as Robert Hunter,
millionaire.
He had friends, such as they were.
astute business Gnanciers like himself;
servants who ran at his bidding, but
not one person in the whole world who
loved him.
Even the little errand boys knew
him for what he was, hard. cold and
uncharitable. They We're paid their
stipulated prices, never a cent more.
This world and this life was only n
place to live long in, in order to grow
rich and richer.
He seldom recalled his old country
home; there We're no ties there to hold
him. Only, sometimes, there came a
heeting memory of fair young face,
the one face in the world he had truly
loved.
"She was a little fool" he would
mutter; shes been martyr long
enough. didn't propose to saddle
myself with that old aunt Well, she
chose her way, l hope she's enjoyed
It."
Accident brought back his old home
wildly at last. There was a railroad
running through that part of the coun-
try that he desired to buy.
I'll run out there few days." he
said; lit will be prudent to do so, and