Tombstone epitaph., 1915-04-25

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 hs had had different opportunities. When he came back from lunch Hil- 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 attentively. 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, MT. Sandford." Say, Turning pious?" "No, but listen. Mir. Sandford. I'll tell you why l couldn't listen to-what you said. l 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- ple's money to them" Sandford whistled. That's a stiff | price," he said He tried to sheer. 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. Tt 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 d 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, it comes to this" said the girl defantly. T 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 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. I can't stay up' less"
 Now. my girl, do you think I'm go ing to sacrifice all the money that'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 I didn't ease them of it somebody else would. Now see here. if you'll marry me I'll quit the game. but 1 won't give back the money. What sort of fool would l be if did that?"
 Then l cant 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 ise. 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 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 a sud den contraction of his heart. Some how she brought back vividly to hi! mind his home days; his father, harsi and unkind; his mother, loving bu
 helpless in the face of the stern maI
 who, annoyed by some boyish failing
 had roughly turned the thirteen-year
 old child out of his home. He had no
 meant what he said. but Harry hat
 seized the opportunity to leave plac
 that had been more a prison than
 home to him.
 He had not wanted to see the ol
 lady, but, now that he saw her in iron ' of him, he rose to lis feet, swallow 4 ing hard.
 Well, Mrs Burton, am glad to SC F you" he said. We have had severn 5 letters from you about your stock. an + am sorry that there has been som
 delay in replying to them. Howeyel r we are going to declare a dividen a next week of ten per cent, and late f we shall have another, and-how muc e was Mrs. Burton's investment, Mis- s Lorimer?"
 l. But the old lady was still standin ]. before him. looking keen!y into hi d face. Suddenly she cried: e Harry"
 s He knew her. He knew his mothe d after all those years. He had change
 more than she; but she had know s him first by virtue of the love ths s every mother bears toward the chil d that she has borne.
 e A moment, and her arms were abo, d his neck. and she was clinging to hil
 and kissing him as though he were Ie little boy once more. d 70, If l had known it was you!" sf d cried incoherently. Tt was your nan i. that made me invest. Harry, but le never thought that it could be my ow le boy. am so proud of you, my dear, ct see you so prosperous and-and { ,e handsome. Harry! Didn't they tell yc h. had moved to Philadelphia when e. married MT. Burton? But never fo i'd got you. and after he died last ye;
 tried so hard to find you. And now to have found you and you must con
 home"
 ,1 twill you take two children, mot