The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-04
BILLS MOTHER
By ALICIA RAIN.

secret is that I am not Margaret Bar chester. l am just Orphan Maggie"
 The girl sat very erect among the cushions of the window seat in the sun parlor of Eagles Nest, the newly-built abode of MT. Barchester, head of the gigantic business corporation of which Bill Pogue was proud to be considered one of the promising younger mem- bers
 That's why I didn't want to say that l would marry you; because you couldn't marry me, of course, when you knew that I was just an orphan. The Barchesters adopted me.
 Bill, please don't hate me for being ashamed of it, for it wasn't quite that But Mir and Mrs Barchester have been so good to me, and they made me promise never to tell anyone that l was not their truly really daughter. When you began to come to see ne and when you told me that you want ed me to marry you I knew that Daddy Barchester wanted me to like you. For he is very proud of you, Bill, and always calls you his boy
 "Oh, l have tried so hard to tell you, Bill, but just couldn't Bill, your mother would hate me if she thought had made you think was really and truly MT. Barchesters daughter"
 For the first time, Margaret paused in her talk, but Bill forgot all the com forting and reassuring things he had intended to say.
 She held out two imploring hands and, now that her little speech was over, her eyes were filled with the tears that she had been keeping back so bravely.
 But Bill did not yield to the tempta- tion to comfort her.
 I'm glad you have told me, Mar garet. Of course, it was the only thing to do," he said, still avoiding her entreating eyes. I'm glad too, to know your reason for not giving me your answer" He paused again as if thinking deeply and then turned and faced the girl, watch in hand. His voice was entirely changed when he said, Well, let's start now for that long g-promised visit to my old home. It's in the other end of town"
 Once or twice as Bills car bore them swiftly onward, Margaret tried to get back to the question uppermost in her mind. Why didn't he tell her that the fact of her humble origin made no difference to him?
 They moved less rapidly through the outskirts of the city, dropped down through the crowded streets and on beyond to the older section, where sag. ging pavements and ill-kept green squares proclaimed the neighborhood to have outlived once-fashionable era
 At one such corner Bill signaled for the car to stop.
 "Well get out here and walk to the house." he said
 Perhaps" she thought, "the street where Bills mother lives is being re- paved"
 But in minute more she found this conjecture to be wrong. It was an un- usually large and imposing mansion, out of date and in not too good re- pair, to which Bill turned their steps
 What perfectly lovely old home" she said as they neared the massive black walnut entrance door. Secretly she felt disappointed. If Bill had led her to some simple little cottage or even up flights of stairs to humble fiat she would have felt that the lit tie Maggie she had confessed herself to be would find warmer welcome.
 ''It is fine old home, isn't it?" an swered Bill, with evident satisfaction. And some twenty-five years ago it was the scene of great festivities. Pretty good times still go on within it's walls"
 Just then stout, middle-aged wom- an came to the door.
 ''The mother, please" said Tom, and then: She expects us. Shall we go straight to her study?"
 He turned to the little room on the right of the imposing though meagerly furnished hall and entered, unan- nounced, what was apparently his mothers study. Margaret first caught the brilliance of the stand of red ge- raniums that stood in the sunlight of the window to the south, then the im- pression of immaculate cleanliness and then the little mother came toward them from her low rocking chair with two outstretched hands. Margaret took one and Bill the other.
 50 you have brought her!" smiled the mother, with tone that gave Margaret all the reassurance she had longed for. And then she found her self seated cozily in low rush-bot tom chair at the mothers side and Bill in another.
 Tt Is wonderful thing to me-" the mother was saying in her kind voice. that not one boy who has left us and made good has been ashamed when the time came, to bring the girl he has chosen for his wife back to thp old home And not one has haan