Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-02-24


his fortune had been swept away IN
the late panic and Offering to release
her from he engagement.
He waited In suspense for her reply,
which came promptly. She coidly and
briefly agreed that the engagement
should be broken, owing to change Of
circumstances.
Wounded through and through. he
went abroad. nimiessly wandering from
n place to another. hating all women
for what one had wrought.
He was wondering now rs be walk.
ed along the dusty highway what had
become OF her. IInd she landed an
other m~illionaire3 What a useless,
helpless wife she would make for a
poor mani Then he thought Of the
struggling. sordld existence Of this
schOolma'nm. In his minds eye he
pictured her-lnnk. gawky and specta-
cled. beating the flames.
Even at that" he thought. "she is
more to be loved than a woman who
feared poverty. Faith, l believe I'll
marry the schOolma'am and settle
down 20 y country life IL she'll have
me"
A turn into a lane brought them
to the little schoolhouse, and Johnny
looked in through the open door.
'She's in there" he said.
"All right. You needn't come. Much
obliged" When he entered the school
room, which was darkened, he dlmly
discerned a form at n desk on the plat.
form. Her head was resting wearily
on the big dictionary.
81 beg your pardon. 1 came to thank
you for saving my property"
He had come neare now. She lifted
her head, and he saw her.
mabel" he gusped.
81 didn't know" she said coldly,
shat It was your property l was say.
Ing until afterward, but Of course II
made no difference"
mabel! You, a schoolteacher, here
why9'
Because" che answered bitterly, "in
that panic in which you pretended to
have lost your fortune my father lost
every cent he Ind"
II wish you'd tell me oil about It." he
said remorsefully.
There's not much to tell. Just ns
father had broken the news Of our loss
to me your letter came. l showed it tC
him. He said 1t was not true, so
thought 1t n ruse-that you had heard
of our reverses and did not want t
wed a pauper."
lie groaned and attempted to speak
but she hastily continued:
Father went west to look after som
claim he thought he had out there, ant
l came here to teach. That is ALL"
"No; not all. Listen" he cried. II,
told her Of the remarks, his test, hi
departure and ignorance Of her loss.
Forgive me, Mabel, and take IN
back"
NO" she said proudly. you didn'
believe In my love. You had to put l
to a paltry test"
He was thinking hard for the RICH
thing to say.
Then lot me WOO you again, not n
the Mabel Wallace l knew in New
York, but as the country schoolteache
to whom / came just now with Il hear
full Of admiration for her kind hear
aud stout arm. Mabel. look upl You'v
been crying!"
mo. 1t was the smoke from tn
fire." she said confusedly; "and m,
hands-see!"
She held out for his inspection tw,
Redeemed palms.
He seized them and pressed them I
his lips and then-well, then, john.
came running In.
"Oh, g'wan," he said to Thornton
"You know'd her all the time md pre-
tended you Jest guessed at her havir
red hair and specs"
Thornton laughed happily as he locke
at the soft, squirrel colored hair nm
the eyeglasses. "Well, l meant differ
ent red and specs. but l do know her.
"Be you her beau7"
YES, ! am her beau, and you'll hav
a new teacher. Here. take this for tel
ing me OF the fire." And he gave tn
delighted boy a silver dollar.
On the threshold Johnny paused.
Say, teacher, l cum to tell you the
want 10 II to hum at the whit
housed"