Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-06-17
HOW SHE
WON OUT.

very well made in his own estimation.
In the estimation of the world, too,
Matt was an adm,lted success. Not
all the world approved his methods
nor desired his acquaintance, but he
was accorded the res utation Of high
order of common-sense, shrewdness,
industry and personal honesty by all
men.
He had been newsooy, bootblack,
barman, publican, contractor, specu-
lator and parochial politician
a politician, and had succeeded In ev.
eryth;ng.
He had ideals, too, % a rough sort.
For instance, he had dropped the
public house business 1t a consider
able personal loss before he married.
II amt goin' to keep Mary on mon
ey got by maxim othe. men drunk"
he announced.
Matt Sloan was think ng of all these
things as he sat in his den" in the
handsome new home he had fitted up
the year before when Mary had left
school and come hoIne-Mary, the
idolized daughter, who so strongly re-
sembled his dead wife.
He had loved his wife with all the
strength of his nature, and had re-
solved that little Mary should have
every advantage that his wife and he
had missed, and that all good things
of the world should pc hers. To this
end he had kept her in all the forma-
tive years of her growth in the best
schools and seminaries.
So before she had come home he
had bought a big house and fitted 1t
up in lavish style, and for some
months they had lived there happily.
He was thinking over all these
things and feeling greatly at peace
W, h himself and the world--except
for a secret confided to him recently
by the girl, that she had given her
heart to young Arthur Vincent, and
that presently the lover would call on
him and ask for her hand.
He did not dislike young Vincent
He was a manly young fellow and
well conducted. His father, Malcolm
Vincent, was power in the financial
world and the head of one of the
biggest firms in the city.
While engaged in these reflections
the door opened and Mary entered.
She fell upon her knees and buried
her face in her fathers knees, the
tears gushing from her eyes.
Sloan's heart stopped beating, and
that terror possessed him which all
strong men feel at a woman's tears
What's the matter?" he gasped
oh, father, father!" moaned ths
girl. 1T isn't true, is it?"
"What?" replied Sloan, wishing
wildly for something to do to help the
girl.
Mr.. Vincent, Arthur's father came
here to see me-" the girl went on.
weaving to and fro in her distress,
land he asked me to give up Arthur.
He said we were not fit family for
gentleman to marry into. He said
that our money came from public
houses; that we were low born;
that mamma was a woman of doubtful
origin and character"
"Stop!" cried Sloan, hoarsel~, leap
ing to his feet and nearly throwing
the girl to the floor. His face was
purple and the veins stood out in his
neck like whipcords. did he say
that?"
Those were the very words" sob.
bed the girl, clinging to the arm Of
the chair. "They are burning in my
memory"
His face assumed a livid white. His
great, square jaw was set like wise,
while his eyes blazed in a manner she
had never seen before.
Father, dear" she said, rising and
going to him. you must do nothing
rash-nothing to indicate We are low
born"
You are right child" the man re-
piled, slowly. I'VE must do nothing
to hurt ourselves-only him. What
else did he say?" He sat down heav-
lily.
He said that Arthur had told him
about our engagement, and when he
it him, Arthur told his father that he
would marry me if would have him."
she answered. 'He said he had come
TO me to save Arthur from an alli
ance which would not only ruin his
prospects and life. but could not fail
to result in misery all around. That
such a marriage would break his
mothers heart, and disgrace the
family name. He appealed to me to
save the boy from his own folly. and
refuse him, and so prevent all this
wretchedness-and OH father, | love
him, love him.
Poor, motherless girl" he NUT
tered Nobody to help you but an ig-
norant, coarse-grained old ruffian."
Then bitterness filed his cup to
the brim as she sobbed in his arms,
and he reflected that all his success,
all his power could not save from I'M
happiness the one object he loved.
All his life had been mistake, and
his money could not buy the one thine