The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-12-11

been left to the care of a cold uncle
and aunt, who thought that they had
done their entire duty towards you by
seeing that you were properly fed,
clothed and educated, and implaatin
in you a distrust Of every human be-
ing who came about you.
"You never knew the Joy that other
girls had Of being liked fer them.
selves. When suitors came you were
told they were fortune hunters. Peo-
pie. in speaking of you, never praised
you for any charm of your own, or any
grace. or accomplishment. They al
ways said that you were rich, and you
wondered sometimes If they knew how
their words hurt, or how it must seem
to girl to come to believe that there
was nothing about her that could win
love-that she must buy it with the
money she hated.
Finally you began to realize that
your whole nature was being warped
by your environment, that your soul
was being atrophied, and 40 you ran
away from it all. You persuaded dear
old Mrs. Bullion to take you away as
her hired companion to little quiet
place, where no one would recognize
you. You wore plain little cotton
gowns, and snobs who would have
flunkied before the rich Miss Maitland
snubbed and ignored you, but there
was man who saw the woman's heart
under the shabby gown, and0the wom-
ans brain under the common hat, and
he loved you, and asked you to be his
wife. I'VE shall be very poor" he
said, "for have my way yet to make
in the world but, please God. we shall
fight the battle out shoulder to Shout
der"
you remember" went on her Heart,
how, with your head upon his breast,
and his arms around you, you planned
out the future-the little house, with
the rose above the door, the dear little
economies, the struggles, and the final
success, and you drank deep of the cup
of JOY, for you knew life had made you
rich at last, for you were loved for
yourself alone-loved as woman
would be when a strong man trembles
at her touch. and his smile grows soft
and tender only for you. Then, at last
came the time when YOU had to tell
him that you were none other than the
rich Miss Maitland"
And he went white as death while
he listened, and said that had he
known it he would never have asked
you to be his wife, interrupted Pride.
But it was then too late" triumph
antly cried her Heart: "he loved you,
and nothing-not money, nor position,
nor anything, could change that. You
came home" continued her Heart
land your worldly wise uncle and aunt
called him furtune hunter. and said
that he was going to marry you for
your money. You did not believe them,
but, by and by, as you plunged into
the old life, with its sordid strivings,
and selfishness, and disbelief in all that
is high and true, the old distrust began
to creep up and poison life again"
He should have trusted your love-"
said Pride; "he should have known
that you were merely playing"
His life," said her Heart, sadly.
had not taught him how to play. It
had all been hard, bitter seriousness,
and SO when he saw you smiling into
this other mans eyes with the counter.
felt Of the look you had worn when
your head lay upon his breast, he
thought that you were faithless and
loveless, and that you-you who had
SO much-had come down out Of your
high estate to rob him of the little he
had, and to make life worthless"
Then" said Pride. desperately. che
came and flung back your promise in
your face and told you that he was
ashamed to have loved so poor .
thing"
Love does not go at any mans bid.
ding" sighed her Heart; you saw him
the other day. He looked i'll, and worn,
and poor. Tomorrow will be Christ.
mas day"
Think" began Pride; but Miss
Maitland had risen up with look on
her face Of great and exceeding Joy.
Think. l can think of nothing but
my Lowell" she cried.
The next morning Miss Maitland
arose early, and spent much time at
her desk printing a large placard in
bold and unmistakable letters. This
done. she donned q simple little gray
gown, much affected by her the sum
mer before, and over this she threw a
long cloak. An hour later she directed
her astonished coachman to drive her
to certain building on one of whose
upper floors a struggling young lawyer
was. at the moment, engaged In de-
vouring with his eye the photograph
Of comely young woman. AS she
reached his ONCE door Miss Matt.
lands courage wavered and sank, but,
taking q death grip upon it, she hur.
riedly passed the ONCE boy. and before
she knew 1t was in his presence.
"Alice!" he cried. starting to his
feet; but she did not wait for him to
speak.
"Tom." she said, hurriedly. I'll
I have come to bring you . little
Christmas present" and with that she
dropped the enveloping cloak aside,
and pinned upon her breast was q
large placard with the inscriptions: