Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29


the heavy velvet carpet, and with a
hurried start she turns and faces
him.
Has he stood for full five minutes
in the open doorway watching her,
before he approached? Has he seen
| the clear-cut profile turned to him,
which he once knew so well?
| If he has, she does not read any
thing of all this in his face, as she
turns slowly round to him.
She is handing him his advertise
ment, which she has clipped out of
the newspaper. 1t can speak for her
as well as words, after her little bow.
and then she adds
Il have come at once, sir, hoping
| may answer for the place. / have
sore need of it."
These are your initials, Mrs.
Brown, the servant told me. What
does the A stand for?"
Anne"
He looked at her quickly. But she
is not looking at him; and presently
he asks her quietly to take seat.
You are in need of the place at
cnce?" he says, gently, breaking the
pause.
Sore need, sir. I've two little giris
dependent on me. Not that Id be
wanting to bring them here" she
| added.
Two little girls!" he repeats. and
his voice sounds hard and harsh.
Two little girls! How old are they?"
They are eight years old, sir.
| They are twins"
If she could have seen his face,
and the strange flash that spread like
a glad light over it! But she did not
see, until he came back quietly, and
| drew chair for himself in front Of
her. And then he says, somewhat
abruptly and unfeelingly, it might
seem:
You are widow. Mrs. Brown
Strangely enough, the sudden
twitch round Mrs. Browns delicate
mouth reminded one more of laugh
ter than of tears. She answers him,
to the point certainly, yet not with
simple yes. She says:
81 have no husband, sir"
well, then, ! think, Mrs. Anne
Brown, that you may suit my place,
if my place will suit YOU. First, then
you must know something about it.
In the first place. If you accept my
offer, do not propose to pay YOU any
wages
/ me--any-wages. she
gasps.
'In the second place. must ex
plain that this advertisement here
does not set forth my want alto
gether clearly. l want house
keeper, it is true; but l want to en-
gage her as my wife, not as ser
want"
1t is said very quietly and coolly-
much as he might, if he chose, have
advertised for wife in that same
newspaper.
But Mrs. Anne Brown is not cool
she is not quiet. She has started t.
her feet, her face in one bright, angry
glow.
You had better advertise again
and this time for wife. For me
Mr.. Marston, l will hire my strength
my life. to the last drop of blood tina
is in me; but not my love-not ever
for the children's bread!"
, Her voice breaks there, but she
keeps back the sobs.
He catches her hands in one of his
while with the other he deftly draw
away the spectacles. And when sh
she meets his earnest, honest eye
with something in them that she Ill
derstands as well as his words.
"Madge, Madge! you thought yo
could deceive me with pair of spec
!. stacles and a pair of twins! AS if
+. did not hear of the twins when
came back from the Continent aftt
Z Mr.. Testers failure. and tried to fin
YOU out. But when l came back t
= look for you, no one could tell m
y, anything about you.'
Margaret force herself to look i
ID at him steadily.
= I'VE left London for some tin
- after the failure she explain
J. Papa tried hard to get something
~ do, but he could not, and his heal,
- broke, then mamma s.
-, Tears fill the soft brown eyes.
~ And you would have really con
: here as my housekeeper? You won
=. have been a mental here, under IL
y roof, Madge?"
:. why not?" she asks. 81 want'
a. bread for the children. Won't y,
- 80 really listen to my application for /,
20 place."
:, I've made my OFFER he replies,
;, - the same tone. why, Madge. Il
=. darling!"-as he sees the hot bic,
= fame up to her brow again-"y,
- can't think that those words-y,
:, cant doubt they We're meant for yo
IL and meant for you because / To-
l. you, and have always loved you, b,
;, ter than my life?"
- He has drawn her closer to h
i now, the brown head, with the rus
NJ black bonnet falling from it, lying
-. his shoulder.
= He knows that he has his hous
70 keeper engaaed-New York News.
va GRAND DUCHESS sERGlus.
ut Noted for Her Beauty and Talents