The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-01-07
longer any pretext for prolonging the
stay, he spoke bravely enough.

longer any pretext for prolonging the
stay, he spoke bravely enough.
II need you very much" he said ear
| nestly. Il have house that covers
half a square in the most expensive
residential district in New York.
have three yachts. something like
dozen automobiles and all that sort OF
thing, but l have no home. Not since
/ was boy have l realized what home
was like My wife was no home
maker, and when she died | never
dared repeat the experiment with the
women in the set l lived in. You are
different. For years I have been hun
cry. Don't you think that you can
come and make 1t for me?'
The little woman paused for mo-
ment and scanned the face OF the
multimillionaire as earnestly as though
she had not devoted weeks in that pur
suit.
There was no ardent affection in tone
or look Fairbain discussed the matter
with as much feeling as though he was
discussing the making of some railroad
deal with his fellow magnates. He was
not the young lover, but the elderly
widower in need of a homemaker.
The girl-she was little more than
that-nodded her head In an afflrma-
tive.
"Ill make the home for you, but not
as your wife. I am not a widow, you
see"'
81 am married" continued the girl
hurriedly Il married when I was on
the stage l married boy who never
had had a home, and [ made one for
him-out here where nothing matters.
He was home hungry. l knew that
would spoil all his chances if / mar
ried him l also knew that he would
spoil his own chances II didn't, so
married him.
after our boy was born--that was
the second year we were here-he
went back east and took a name that
was neither his nor mine to show his
father that he was able to work for
the woman he loved. l am married to
your son, Mr.. Fairbain. l guess you've
forgotten that Gregory married Martha
Bodington. From what Gregory told
me, you called me everything but my
right name at that last interview"
perhaps | did," was the shamefaced
reply. Il guess 1 did not know what
I was saying, and I'm certain that l
didn't know the sort of a girl I was
talking about
''We'l forget that now" offered
Martha. LET the past be forgotten
for the sake of the boy
But Gregory asked Fairbain.
'There.' Martha pointed out over
the prairie. where the secretary was
to be seen riding across the section
with the mail.
And Wilson is Gregory? You mean
to say I didn't know my own boy when
hired him. asked Fairbain, with
chuckle ''To think that all the time
he has been here I've been fretting
because 1 feared that you might learn
to love him. And all that time you
were married to him. I'm rather glad,
my dear, that l made my second mar
rage by proxy. so long as you will
make a home for Greg and the boy
and me-
81 was SO afraid that you would rec
ognize Greg" said Martha as she re-
garded the tall figure Of the secretary
| with a look of frank admiratio
HE assumed an excellent disguise"
reminded Fairbain. Il never thought
to find my son worker, my dear.
That's another thing I have to thank
you for and Fairbain sighed with
relief He had found a home while
retaining his domestic independence,
and the son for whom his heart cried
out was restored to him again.