Royal Ainsley drew near. For a moment, Ida May's great somber

ill forgive me, no matter what

and over again," he declared. "Surely you do

promise is strong

e wasting time, Ida?" h

world of comfort it will be for me to know that you will care for me, no matter what the world may th

ell, I had no regular position there, until, owing to the meager salary they paid my mother, I was compelled to le

pleased, Ida,' sh

erly. 'Only to make you toil year in and year out for a pitt

me, my dear child. That is everything

ed. 'I am quite sixteen. I must be ma

can you do?

y plans, she looke

ring would not ob

rrible rage when I summoned courage enough to go to th

living. She did not wait to hear me through, but flew

u, or your mother and you will suffer. Your father owed us a sum of money before he died, and during the past years your mother has worked to pay us off. Over one-half yet remains to be paid. You

this indeed be true, there is more need than ever

in which you can pay

falling on my knees a

ke a crash of thund

my nephew,' sh

terror. Marry any one!

t consent to anythin

t!' was the harsh reply. 'My n

her hands and tearing her hair. Her excitement

u all, Ida?' she

ther,' I

you what this nephe

, greatly puzzle

d as with a t

ned in an asylum. This nephew has a bachelor uncle, who has declared his[30] intention to make the young man his heir if he marries when he is twenty-one. Otherwise the great fortune goes to another branch of the family. They would make a victim of you, wrec

r met me with a w

s arrived with a valet!' s

up, mother," I cried. 'It wan

stay until you ma

ath a thousand times over woul

ise to obey a creature the very sight of

g to look behind me, and never stoppin

I made strange mistakes dur

Mrs. May stepped up to the w

o way related to each other. They were wealthy people fro

as[31] I noted the well-filled purse that she carried, the magnificent diamonds she wore on her hands, and whi

f the post office, she must have seen the train bear

prung to her rescue and dragged her by main force from the track just in time to save her from destruction, as t

reward you, my go

answered. 'I would have

usband is coming from Boston to-night, and h

her, and when I went home that evening and

not be surprised if they made you a handsome present. I once knew a gentleman who gave a la

ther and I-and twenty-five dol

3

r said. 'We could get a little ahead in our rent, an

ss! Oh, surely it would be mad

was stopping. Her husband, a very deaf old gentleman, sat at the window

o the conclusion that I will do something handsome for you-give you a pleas