The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-22
~

,r's business, as we'll as domestic \
affairs; their neighbors' likes and t
dislikes and each others personal 4
history, and where, as is usually t
the custom, they felt free to gossip /
and discuss their neighbors' affairs. 6
Among all the bright and comely |
maidens of Langley, none could 9
boast of a fairer or more lucious p
beauty than Beatrice Langley, after
whose father the town was named.
George Langley, her father, had
settled here in the early days, when
property was cheap. He had, by
iudicious investment, accumulated
money and property, and was by
far the richest man in the little
town. He owned the largest gen
eral store, was president of the only
bank; and perhaps one fourth OF
the business and residence property
paid their rentals to George Lang
lev, besides numerous tracts OF tine
adjacent farm property. The Lang
lev Home was the most imposing,
and costly in the town. 1t occu-
pied large grounds, well laid out,
with large, natural trees of maple
and elm, shrubbery and flowers OF
the choicest kinds; while the In
TERROR furnishings we're equal IN
Iluxurance with the house and
grounds. Mrs. Langley was the
social leader, and while holding her
self aloof from the more common
herd" of the little town, with
somewhat naughty PRIDE" (some
saidl, yet, woman OF many excel
lent traits of character.
In this home was Beatrice reared,
and, being the only child and the
idol of fond and doting parents,
her every wish was gratified and
: her wants and wishes became the
, law of the household. She was
not what you would have called a
! spoiled child, but grew up with a
3 bright, sunny nature, not snobbish
with her associates; a good, pure,
9 high-minded girl. Though proud
of her position, she was not above
t mixing with the young folks of her
Q age in all their little social affairs,
4 and with good health enjoyed life
+ to it's utmost. She had host OF
! friends and her parents had high
hopes of brilliant marriage fol
e her. Beatrice and Robert had beer
/ playmates and chums from child
$ hood. They had attended the vii
d lage school together, had graduated
IS from the high school in the same
e class, with honors, and while ONT
e read the Glass Prophecy" thu
s other read the ''Valedictory" at thu
e commencement, amid the applause
1t and good wishes Of all their friends
IS Their future seemed so full O
'r promise. Then Beatrice was sen
'e away to famous school for youn.
le ladies to have the finishing touche
put on, returning, after four year
It of absence, to her home, to ente
g society, and at once to become tn
d. belle and reigning queen of tn
st towns younger set.
is Roberts school days ended wit
as his graduation and he sought an
er obtained position in the grocer
as department of Mr.. Langley's ger
lie eral store, where, at the time G
ed Beatrice's return he was manage
a and buyer for the entire establish
a ment. Hewas not only her father
ne most trusted man, consulted an
nd counseled with by his employer
y. but honored and respected by a
III who knew him.
he It was natural that these tW
ut young people should have been a
RS tracted to each other. They wei
RS about the same age, both full (
life's hope and joy. They ha
h, played and studied together fro
I'd, childhood; they had been eac
ed others prince" and Princess"
lin their first love ideals, and now
lily maturity the same facination fl
I'll one another filled their h carts
lily They were deeply in love and
e d spite of the determined opposite
tie of Beatrice's parents, they we
if- quietly married in the old chur,
lch where they had sang their fir
tn Anthem together, and began the