The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-06-25

intuition, that he was the victim Of cir
cumstances. She knew that his father
had disowned him when he was a boy,
that he had run away, returning home
to find his father dead and his mother,
turned out of the home by a greedy
landlord, gone for ever from the little
village where he was born. If he had
had different opportunities.
When he came back from lunch Hill
da Lorimer was bending over her work
very attentively.
well, any more suckers come in?"
he asked.
When she did not answer him he
looked at her attentiyely. To his
amazement he saw that there were
tears in her eyes.
"Why-what's wrong?" he inquired.
The girl looked up at him. Every
thing" she answered briefly, She could
no longer fight down her rising indig-
nation. "The business, Mr.. SANFORD"
Say! Turning pious?"
mo, but listen, Mr.. Sanford. I'll
tell you why l couldn't listen to-what
you said. l couldn't marry a nan who
who did these things. I'll marry you
II you'll do-do something else, some
thing honest, and give back these peo-
Pies money to them"
Sanford whistled. That's a stiff
price," he said. He tried to sneer, but
something in the girls earnestness
awoke a responsiveness In his own
heart.
THAT little old lady from Philadel-
phia, Mrs. Burton, was in while you
were at lunch" said the girl. 1T nearly
broke my heart. Because, you see,
she wasn't angry. She has such faith
in you. She says she invested in your
stock because she knew you had a
good honest name. And-she's com.
ing back at four O'Clock to see you"
"Thunder!" calculated Sanford
Tell her I've gone to Oshkosh to see
my parents"
well, 1t comes to this" said the
girl deiantly. 81 just can't stand fol
this business any longer. Won't you
won't you give her back her money, al
I'M rate? You see, she-she reminds
me Of my own mother, and-and she
reminds me of what your mother oughI
to have been"
Sanford felt a flush Of shame creeI
up his face. He turned his head away
But the girl still stood beside him
waiting for his decision.
"Ill give her back her money,
you'll stay" he said.
THAT isn't enough. l can't stay un
less"
Now, my girl, do you think I'm 80
ing to sacrifice all the money that
come in these last three months?" h
demanded resentfully. why, thos
suckers don't know how to take car
Of their money. They're not fit to hay,
money, Miss Lorimer. II l didn't cas-
them of 1t somebody else would. Nov
see here, II you'll marry me I'll qul
the game, but l won't give back tn
money. What sort Of a fool would / b
II / did that?"
Then l can't stay-I can't" said tn
girl.
"Will you give me till tomorrow t
think it over? And will you marry m
at once II agree? Mind, / don't prom
Use. | want to think about It,"
She nodded; she could not SPEAK
and went back to her desk. And Il
the silence Of that afternoon both ha
forgotten all about the little old lad.
until her bonnet appeared inside tn
Office at a few minutes after four.
Sanford, looking at her, felt a sue
den contraction of his heart. Some
how she brought back wildly to hi
mind his home days; his father, HAIRS
and unkind; his mother, loving bu
helpless In the face Of the stern ma
who, annoyed by some boyish falling
had roughly turned the ~thirteen-yeat
old child out of his home. He had nc
meant what he said, but Harry ha
seized the opportunity to leave a plaC
that had been more a prison than
home to him.
He had not wanted to see the oil
lady, but, now that he saw her in froI
Of him, he rose to his feet, swallow
ing hard.
well, Mrs. Burton, l am glad to sc
YOU" he said. I'VE have had sever
letters from you about your stock, an
l am sorry that there has been SON
delay in replying to them. Howeve
we are going to declare a dividen
next week Of ten per cent, and late
we shall have another, and-how muC
was Mrs. Buttons investment. Mil
Lorimer?"
But the old lady was still standiu
before him, looking keenly into h
face. Suddenly she cried:
Harry"
|, He knew her. He knew his mothe
after all those years. He had change
more than she; but she had know
him first by virtue Of the love TIL
! every mother bears toward the chi
! that she has borne.
2 A moment, and her arms we're aboi
y his neck, and she was clinging to hi