The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-11-26

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chance to arm a little money. Poor
Mary! It's a shame Clemens didn't
leave her enough to take are Of her.
self. Well. I'll go over and see her
this evening""
The Widow Clemens and Job had been
schoolmates. There had been a time
when he had hoped that they might
be still more t. each other. but a mis-
understanding had arisen between
them, and before it was explained she
was the wife Of Will Clemens.
The door was opened by Mrs. Glenn
ems herself. She was a plump little
woman with soft black eyes and a
| sweet voice.
why. Job, l am glad to see you.
Walk in. I'll have to give you a seat
in the kitchen. as there is no fire in
the other ROOM"
"How cozy you are here. M1ry"
Then he plunged at ono into his trou-
bic. He told of his firm determination
to give his usual Thanksgiving dinner
and his still 1rmer resolve not to &C.
cept Abigail's pronered help.
II want you to come and plan It ALL"
he said in conclusion. You can have
all the money to spend and all the help
you want I don't meal that you shall
work hard. Will you help me Mary?"
A delicate pink colored her cheek.
MRS. s~kinner-what will she sayT"
TITS none Of her business. Say yes,
Mary. III pay you anything you like"
She raised her head a little proudly.
"Of course l will ask you no more than
any one else"- she began. but he
broke in gladly:
(Which means that you will come.
Thank you. Mary"
All the way home Job Tanner was
contrasting the cozy little house he had
just left with his own spacious but
was assuring herself that she was re-
garded by her late caller only in the
light of a capable servant.
She went to her field of labor early
on the Monday morning before Thanks
giving. Sally was a warm admirer of
Mrs. Clemens and helped In her usual
careless fashion. All things for which
Mary asked were provided, even to a
box of cut flowers from a neighboring
city.
Thanksgiving morning dawned, gray
and overcast. About 8 o'clock Job IN.
tered the house from the barn.
Miss Clemens, she said for you to
come in the dinin' room and see how
things looked" was Sally's greeting.
When he opened the door he stood
speechless. The old room was trans
formed into a bower Of beauty. The
bay window was filled with evergreens
and adorned with yellow %chrysanthe.
NUNS and silver leaved begonias from
Mary's home. The quaint old mahog-
any sideboard was filled with choice
bits Of china and silver, quivering
molds Of amber jelly, a massive sill
yer cake basket filled with slices Of
rich. dark fruit cake and q bowl of
scarlet carnations. The long table was
spread with fine linen and ornamented
with smilax and roses. On a low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was a pyramid Of apples. oranges
and bananas.
1T all looks good enough to eat.
And 20 do you," he went on noting
her we'll fitting brown bingham dress,
white apron and pink ribbon at her
throat. "Mary. you make my home a
paradise. Stay here as my wife,"
She grew very pale. Twice she es.
sayed to speak, but the words died on
her lips. 1t was not until he came
nearer that she found her voice.
mo, no. You ask me because you
are sorry for me and your home is lone
~. l cannot be your wife on these
terms"
Il do not see why you cannot. l
will be good to you. Mary"
She smiled, although her lips quiv.
cred piteously. II know you would.
Job. There is something else"
mot another manY'
"Oh, no. Please don't ask any more"
II have a right to know. You must
tell me why you cannot DO my wife,"
There was a grave dignity in his
voice that she could not gainsay. She
must tell him the truth.
Because l love you, Job Tanner,
Nay, do not interrupt me. You would
indeed be good to me, but I know too
we'll the result Of a union where the
love Is all on one side, and so l will
not be your wife. Now. not a word
more on the subject I have outraged
my sense of womanly pride. but you
made me speak," And before he could
recover from his establishment she had
taken refuge in the kitchen.
The guests began to arrive in q short
dme. Job had no opportunity for an.
other word with Mrs. Clemens. One
tact was plain to him-Mary had re-
fused him.