Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1890 — WORTH WON. [ARTICLE]

WORTH WON.

“Yes, Mrs. said Meriditb as she sa v dowr. in her traveling in one of the wicker chairs. “I’ve come down here to get you to teach, me housekeeping.” “Dear me,” said that lady, raising her hands in dismay. “T had no idea your father would ia’l. How does he take it, poor, dear man ?” • Oh, very well,” said Mattie. “But who are your warders. Mrs. Oxweed?” ‘You know all of them but Mr. Hazletine, my dear. I dare say they’ll be glad to see you. Shall I show you to your room?” When she joined the little group on the veranda that evening with the purple dusk glooming over the head of Alack mountain and the night birds whistling sweetly in the woods,her welcome was various. Mr. Jefferson, a tall, handsome man, who was supposed to be “well off," bowed low, but a little formally, Davidson Dover’s spectacled gaze shone frigidly upon her as he glanced up from bls b.g “Commentary on the Gospels.” “I hope I see you well,” said he. Mr. Ludlow bowed, scraped, and dropped her hand, almost as soon as he had taken it, and retreated back into the parlor murmuring something about letters to writ®. Lieut. Cooper shook hands so cordially that the pretty pink knuckles smarted full five minutes afterward, and then seated himself as closely to her as the rules and regulations of civilized society would permit. Mr. Hazletine said something polite and retired into a shadowed corner, doubtless to think up “something funny” for the new series of lectures which he was going to deliver in the Southwest that autumn.

Mattie Meredith spoke up as soon as she had established herself on the settee with the cat in her lap. "Mr. Jefferson,” said she, "what do girls do when they want to earn their own living?” Mr. Jefferson twisted and turned in his seat like an impaled beetle. "Really,” said he, "you have consulted a poor oracle. I—l am not capable of advising in such an emergency as this. Very sorry, of course, but—-” "Perhaps Mr. Dover could suggest something,” mischieviouslyadded Mat= tie. "Oh, I assure yon, nothing of the kind,” said Mr. Dover. "There’s the factories, yqu 1- now—and—Laidlaw might have some idea ” "Oh, no; no ideas at all,” said Mr. Laidlaw. "The mosquitoes torment me to death here. T guess I’ll take my desk up-stairs, if the company will excuse me.” Lieut. Cooper said nothing, but later on in the evening he proposed to walk down to the little spring in the woods. ."The moon is just rising,” he said, "and really there is no dew to speak of. Please come, Miss Meredith.” So Mattie wrapped, her white and gold burnos around her and walked with him down the shaded path; where they had so often walked before. But close beside the spring he turned abruptly to her and stopped. "Miss Meredith,"said he, "we havs known each other for some time now. I’m only a pour naval officer, but I’ve my pay. and there is always the prospect of promotion. It goes to my heart to hftar you talking.of earning your own living—a delicate girl like you. Let mo earn it for you. Promise to become my wife. For, indeed,” he added, in his honest, straightforward way, I’ve loved you ever since I met you here last summer, As an heiress 1 shou’d !ot have asked you to share my humble lot, But now "Oh, Lieut. Cooper;’’ she began, and then paused.

“Yes, I know it scorns presumptuous,” said he. “'hit we’ve a pretty old homestead in Virginia, where you? father and mother would be heartily welcome. And I would work my fingers to the bono to provide every comfort lor you and them, and,' oh, Mattie, is it possible that you can teach yourself to love me?” “I—might—try,” slyly murmured Mattie; • shat is, if ” And then she found herself clasped in the arms of the man who had loved her so long and so saith fully. “But you’re very much mistaken.” she added, after a little. “Notin supposing that you love me?” said the Lieutenant, in some apprehension. ‘ ‘ln believing . that I am such a pauper,” said Mattie. “Papa has met with no losses whatever. 1 came out here to learn to do housework, because I’ve just joined a domestic club, one of whose rules is that every member must thoroughly understand the details of her< own household: but that dear old Mrs. Ox weed took it for granted that I was penniless, and that when I saw that all the rest believed the same thing I couldn’t resist the mischievous impulse to gauge their true regard for me; and you, Harry, are the only one who was willing to lift a finger in my behalf. ” “Rich or poor,” said the Lieutenant stoutly, “I would go 1o the end ox the world for you, Mattie.” So he’won his wife. "It was a long time before Airs. Oxweed would believe that MaUla Meredith was as much of b ’’W as ever, for she could Dot • credit it that any girl oould lm.ru house w.xrk for her own pleasures. - “™ SO, T