The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-15

ly 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 good honest name. And she's
coming 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 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 re-
minds me of my own mother, and
and she reminds me of what your
mother ought to have BEEN"
Sanford felt a flush of shame
creep up his face. He turned his head
away. But the girl still stood be-
side him, waiting for his decision.
I'll give her back her money, If
you'll stay" he said.
THAT isn't enough. / can't stay
unless"
''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 didn't ease
them of it somebody else would. Now
see here, If you'll marry me I'll quit
the game, but I won't give back the
money. What sort Of fool would
be If did that?"
"Then I 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 j agree? Mind, don't prom
Use. I 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 in
side the office at few minutes after
four.
Sanford, looking at her, felt sud-
den contraction of his heart. Some
how she brought back wildly 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 place
that had been more prison than a
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, swal-
lowing hard.
swell, Mrs. Burton, I am glad to
see you," he said. I'VE 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 later we shall have another, and
how much was Mrs. Burton's i'm
vestment, Miss Lorimer"
But the old lady was still stand
ing before him, looking keenly into
his face. Suddenly she cried:
Harry"
He knew her. He knew his mother,
after all those years. He had changed
more than she; but she had known
him first by virtue of the love that
every mother bears toward the child
that she has borne.
A moment, and her arms were about
his neck, and she was clinging to him
and kissing him as though he were a
little boy once more.
I"Oh, If I had known it was you'll"
she cried incoherently. "It was your
name that made me invest, Harry. but
never thought that 1t could be my
own boy. I am so proud Of you, my
dear, to see you so prosperous and
and so handsome, Harry! Didn't
they tell you had moved to Phila-
delphia when married Mr.. Burton?
But I never forgot you. and after he
died last year I tried so hard to find
you. And now have found you
and you must come home"
'Will you take two children. moth
err" he asked.
She shot her keen look at Miss Lori
mer, who was crying frankly over her
typewriter.
This is Hilda. my future wife,"
said Sanford