Fair play., 1915-04-17

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When she did not answer him he
looked at her attentively. To his
amazement he saw that there were
tears in her eyes.
"Why-whats 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.. Sandford"
Say! Turning pious?"
mo, but listen, Mr.. Sandford. I'll
tell you why couldn't listen to-what
you said. ! couldn't marry a man who
who did these things I'll marry you
if you'll do-do something else, some
thing honest, and give back these peo-
pies money to them"
Sandford whistled. That's stiff
price" he said. He tried to sneer, but
something in the girls earnestness
awolle 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 Sandford.
Tell her I've gone to Oshkosh to see
my parents"
well, 1t comes to this" said the
girl defiantly. II just can't stand for
this business any longer. Won't YOU
won't you give her back her money, at
any rate? You see, she-she reminds
me of my own mother, and-and she
reminds me of what your mother ought
to have been"
Sandford felt a flush of shame creep
up his face. He turned his head'away.
But the girl still stood beside him,
waiting for his decision.
"I'll give her back her money, if
you'll stay" he said
THAT isn't enough. cant stay un-
| less"
Now, my girl, do you think I'm go-
ing to sacrifice all the money that's s
come in these last three months?" he
demanded resentfully. why, those
suckers don't know how to take care
Of their money. They're not fit to have
money, Miss Lorimer. If / didn't ease
them of it somebody else would. Now
see here, if you'll marry me I'll quit
the game, but l won't give back the
money. What sort of fool would be
| if | did that?"
Then can't stay--I can't" said the
girl.
will you give me till tomorrow to
think it over? And will you marry me
at once if agree? Mind, don't prom
Use. | want to think about it."
She nodded: she could not speak,
and went back to her desk. And in
the silence of that afternoon both had
| forgotten all about the little old lady
until her bonnet appeared inside the
office at a few minutes after four.
Sandford, looking at her, felt sud.
| den contraction of his heart. Some
how she brought back vividly to his
mind his home days; his father, harsh
and unkind; his mother, loving but
| helpless in the face of the stern man
who, annoyed by some boyish failing
| had roughly turned the thirteen-year.
old child out of his home. He had not
meant what he said, but Harry had
seized the opportunity to leave a place
home to him.
He had not wanted to see the old
| lady, but, now that he saw her in front
Of him, he rose to his feet, swallow
ing hard.
We'll, Mrs. Burton, am glad to see
you" he said. we have had several
letters from you about your stock, and
I am sorry that there has been some
delay in replying to them, However
we are going to declare a dividend
next week of ten per cent, and latel
we shall have another, and-how mucl
was Mrs. Burton's investment, Mis-!
Lorimer?"
But the old lady was still standing
before him, looking keenly into hi
face. Suddenly she cried
Harry"
lie knew her. He knew his mother
after all those years He had changed
more than she; but she had know
him first by virtue of the love tha
every mother bears toward the chill,
that she has borne.
A moment, and her arms were abou
his neck, and she was clinging to hiI
and kissing him as though he were
little boy once more.
20, if had known it was you!" sh
cried inCoherently 1T was your nam
that made me invest, Harry, but
, never thought that il could be my ow
, boy, am so proud of you, my dear, t
! see you so prosperous and-and S
! handsome, Harry! Didn't they tell yo
had moved to Philadelphia when
married Mr.. Burton? But | never 70
got you, and after he died last yea
! | tried so hard to find you. And now
: have found you and you must com
, home"
"Will you take two children, mott
err" he asked.
She shot her keen look at Miss Lor
= u mer, who was crying frankly over ht
VI | tvppurritar