The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-01-05

| his fortune had been swept away in
the late panic and offering to release
| her from the engagement
He waited in suspense for her reply.
(which came promptly She coldly and
should be broken, owing to change of
circumstances.
Wounded through and through, he
went abroad, aimlessly wandering from
one place to another, hating all women
for what one had wrought
He was wondering now as he walk
ed along the dusty highway what had
become of her. Had she landed an
other millionaire? What a useless,
| helpless wife she would make for q
poor man! Then he thought of the
struggling, sordid existence of this
schoolma'am. In his minds eye he
pictured her-lank, 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 to a country life if 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.
Cali right You needn't come Much
obliged" When he entered the school
room, which was darkened, he dimly
discerned a form at a desk on the plat
form. Her head was resting YEARLY
on the big dictionary.
Il beg your pardon. came to thank
you for saving my property"
He had come nearer now. She lifted
her head, and he saw her.
Mabel" he gasped.
81 didn't know" she said coldly,
that 1t was your property 1 was saw
ing until afterward, but of course 1t
made no difference"
mabel! You, schoolteacher, here
why?"
Because" she answered bitterly, Gin
that panic in which you pretended to
have lost your fortune my father lost
every cent he had"
II wish you'd tell me all about it," he
said remorsefully.
There's not much to tell Just as
father had broken the news Of our loss
to me your letter came 1 showed it to
him. He said it was not true, so I
thought 1t ruse-that you had heard
Of our reverses and did not want to
wed a pauper."
q nnI nd tod 10 u
but she hastily continued:
"Father went west to look after some
claim he thought he had out there, and
I came here to teach. That is ALL"
'sNo; not all. LISTEN he cried. He
told her of the remarks, his test, his
departure and ignorance of her loss.
Forgive me, Mabel, and take me
back"
'No," she said proudly. "You didn't
believe in my love. You had to put it
to paltry test"
| He was thinking hard for the right
thing to say.
'aThen let me WOO you again, not as
| the Mabel Wallace I knew in New
York, but as the country schooIteacher
| to whom l came just now with a heart
/ full of admiration for her kind heart
and stout arm. Mabel, look upi You've
| been crying!''
'No. 1t was the smoke from the
| fire." she said confusedly; "and my
| hands-seer'
She held out for his inspection two
redeemed palms.
| He seized them and pressed them to
| his lips and then-well then, Johnny
came running in.
| ooh, g'wan," he said to Thornton.
"You know'd her all the time and pre-
tended you jest guessed at her havin'
red hair and specs"
Thornton laughed happily as he looked
| at the soft, squirrel colored hair and
the eyeglasses. well, l meant differ
ent red and specs, but do know her."
"Be you her beau?"
Eyes, am her beau, and you'll have
new teacher. Here, take this for tell
ing me Of the fire." And he gave the
delighted boy silver dollar.
! On the threshold Johnny paused
| Say, teacher, / cum to tell you thar
want no one to hum at the white
housev'