The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, May 29, 1908, Page SIX, Image 6
A WILL A1
BY MRS. ET1
The Story of s
I
(Concluded.)
"My father is Benjamin Drake
a poor farmer in county
niv mother died when 1 was fou
and sister Minnie two years of age
papa never married again. I was al
ways a tom-boy, I am sorry to say
and papa nicknamed me Hoy. lit
and Minnie call me nothing else
My name is Paulina. When main:
was on her death bed, she ma<l<
papa promise to educate us. We lia<
a governess till I was and Min
nie 1.1 and then we were sent to col
lege for four years. Well, al tin
end of four years, we came home
finished and found papa in abom
the same lix. It was only by chance
that I learned how he was situate*
itnd that he was hopelessly in dc'?i
lie would never tell us his troubles
seeming lo think that we could <le
nothing to help, and tha.t we miisl
no? have a moment's uneasiness o;
pain, if be could help it. lie, like
thers. thought that girls were more
for ornament than anything else,'
bitterly, "and vet how could lie
think that, and remember mother:
Alter learning that papa would
lose his little home the coming
January if something was not done,
I became desperate. I tried long and
faithfullv t<> met work as a girl. but
without success. 'Where's there's a
will there's a way' has always been
my motto. So when I rea<l your nolice
in the paper I determined to
try for the situation, dressed in male
attire. I tried hard to get a ]>lace,
though. before I did that. The dav
before you employed me. I canic
:< you as a girl and pleaded for the
place. I )o you reineinber? I purposely
wore a veil, knowing that
you would refuse me and that I
would come the next day in masquerade.
That's the way it all came
about. You agve Paul Burton tli;
position and as I'aul Ihirton I have
tried to serve you faithfully. With
the money I have sent papa and
with what Mil.nie has saved and
made, papa writes that lie can now
see his way through and 1 cannot
bear to longer deceive you. Papa
does not know that I am masquerading?
forgive nie oh ! forgive
me and let me go home to papa and
Ducky?and please, please don't
ever let any one know! Please kee|
my miserable secret" and breaking
down completely, P?ov slipped from
the chai?* and knelt in shame at the
Id gentleman's feet. Tie laid lib
hand tenderly on her bowed head
and said with enioti*>n:
"Hear little tried and true hear!
? noble L'irl. What would I not give
to be the proud lather of such ;i
daughter. Zound>. it beats am thins.:
I ever heard in my life. I'm glad
\ or. c:;nie here glad I ;;ave you tIk
place. Lookup Paul Paulina, don't
\ on realize that you are a great
hero luroiue and that I appreciate
and applaud the course you
have taken: Look up dear link
girl and -mile as you used to do."
Slowh the beautiful face was upturned
l liL and the glorious eyelooked
into the kind ones bent above
her and a tremulous smile parted
her lips as half in doubt, yet with a
glimmering hope she whispered:
"( Mi. Mr. Lawrence. You do torgive
nie?you will, won't you?"
"bully, freely. And as a father
loves his child, so 1 love von. 1
loved you as Paul, and shall continue
to love Paul-ina. 1 low tunny
it seems. How glad I'll be to see
you dressed as your sex demands.
< Mi. I know you'll be a beauty. And
now let me beg that you have iu
lingering dread or feeling of shame
for you have nothing to regret oi
be ashamed of."
A blush mantled the girl's cheek;
as she thought of Cecil and hi:
words:
"I'd think her deuccdly immodest
to say the least." And though he:
heart was no longer burdened bj
the secret of her deception, still i
was heavy as lead and throbbc<
painfully. Mr. Lawrence continued
"Well. well. well. There was i
hidden significance in those word:
you wrote for my inspection tha
day : "Where there's a will there's
way.' Zounds. Yon proved the trutl
of that old adage with a vengeance
didn't you? Well. well. well. Yot
brave, noble girl. Any father migh
well be proud of such a daughter?
any many will be blest who win
you for his wife."
"(Mi. sir. I shall never marry,'
blushing painfully, then turning
pale. "I ou t feel that I could lool
at a young man if this should be
MD A WAY.
H1EL THOMAS. #
t Girl's Courage
conic known and certainly I'd never
. marry one who didn't know. So I
; shall just go home to papa and
r Ducky and live in seclusion the bal
ancc of my days."
"Nonsense Paul-ina, there's no
t one on earth who would not admire
j and love more for what you have
And oh. just think of it; but for you
t a girl, my wife and little niece might
2 now be dead. And Paul?Paulina,
1 a boy, wiil get credit for that?a boy
- will be made a hero for that brave
. deed : a reporter interviewed me as
I came back to the office. ' Pon mv
_? soul I mtisi rectify that, Paul is a
l I hue felow. but honor to whom hon:
!or is due* and he mustn't steal from
1 j Paulina." chuckled the old gentle,;
man.
, I "No, no. Paul P.urton is welcome
) jt<? all that. Paulina Drake cares
t nothing for all that?cares nothing
for the name of heroine. Onfv let
nie feel assured of your forgiveness
: and I am more than content."
"Pest assured of that Paul?littL>
girl. And you are a heroine in more
' ways than one. And see here, you
I must not leave us?we can't do
without you. Your services are in,
valuable to us. You have proven
the worth of girls, of one particular |
girl, any way. and it would be cruel j
to leave us now. If you persist in I
doing so I shall think you arc not J
a hit sorry for what you have j
i clone:" teasingly. "but if you stay
you shall receive seventy-live dollars
1 per in<mill fr<>m this on."
Hoy's heart leaped joyously. She
: could >lay?she was not discharged
attir all. And yes she woud accept
the kind offer, and she'd show that
stuck tip Cecil Lawrence that she j
cured absoutely nothing for his j
opinion. I'ears filled her luminous'
brown eves and she kissed the kind
old hands:
"( >h. how can I thank you. how
can I ? You are so kind to me." j
"By not trying, Paul-ilia. I real-1
ly could not do without you. You'
have been here five months, now, I
believe: how many times have you
1 been home**"
"Only twice, sir. I was afraid to
, risk it too often."
"W'oudn't you like a holiday and
' a visit home, and wouldn't you let
. me go with you? I am anxious to
know the father of so courageous a
! girl."
"( >b. .sir, I'd like it so much. And
I will yon really go with me?" and
her face glowed with genuine pleasure
as she looked eagerly at him.
"Zounds. It will be a delightful
i trip lor me. I 11 be glad to go. And
1 t now you mu>t not work toclav. < live
: i nil' your address and I'll come alter
| you iu (lie morning: we'll leave on
| thi' S o clock train it that will --nit
i}"ii. and we'll give your lather and
>ister a delightful surprise."
| I'.oy gave him her address and
'tasked timidly while her lace grew
t pale :
j "Will you?shall you?tell?tell
M r. l Vol < >1 me ?"
"W hy. I must, little one, for of
. course you will stay with us?"
"Yes. sir. gladly, thankfully. P?ut
i I do dread to tace him after this,
[lie? he? says that a girl who
1 I woud masquerade in male attire is
Pdeucedly immodest,'" she falterl
ed.
" The mischief. Fiddlesticks. We
don't care a cent for that young
fop's opinion?no we don't. What
he says is not worth that," snapping
* his lingers scornfully. "But how
' came him to say that?"
* "I?one day I was so miserable
; over the way I was deceiving you?
and him, that 1?T asked him what
he thought of a girl who would
; masquerade for months in male at*
tire, and?and that is what lie
said."
,1 Old Mr. Lawrence looked at the
r contused girl, noted the downcast
' eyes and changing color. lie rct
ineinbered in a flush the confidential
1 chat Cecil had once had with him,
: and how the young man was puzi
/.led over the strange influence of
< Paul, and a happy smile lit up his
t features as he replied:
i "()li, well. 1 know that young
i scamp. When he knows all he will
. be the loudest in your praise and
i the last to condemn. He would
t agree with me that circumstances
- alter cases, always."
s "\\ ell. sir, I don't want to sec him
any more, or speak to him as Paul
Burton. I want to slip out without
X a word to him."
v "All right, little girl. T understand
- and I don't blame you. And now
you had better go to your aunt's
and ease her mind a little," knurl
A window in Air. Lawrence's
office that opened on the street was
slightly raised, and had rliey looked
out, they would have seen a young
man leaning up against the warm,
sunny wall, busily engaged in writing
in shorthand in a reporter's
note book, while surprise, delight
and triumph lot up his pale, sallow
face. Surely he had found a piece
of startling news and would astonish
the inhabitants of the citv
bv a different write-up of the morning's
runaway in which Paul Hurton
was made a great hero. Oh, he
would be careful that the other
papers did not get an inkling of
the true state of tilings until thev
read the startling facts in the paper
he represented. It made no difference
to him that the young lady preferred
to remain in the background.
I le felt to allow such a thing would
be to do a great injustice to her sex.
( >h. it should be the best write-up
and the greatest compliment that he
could possibly transmit. The heroine
should not hide behind false modesty.
W ith a heart lighter than it had
been for many a day P.oy left the J
I store and went back to her aunt's,
joyfully relating all that had happened.
()l course, a great stir was
made over Hoy's adventure, but as
that brave little heroine so stroughobjects
to so much praise for what
she had done, we will pass over
that. I low happy she was as she
rushed to her room and kicked off
tlu- now despised pantaloons and
| dressed up once more in her own
I clothing. She had not bought n
, sin^ie w inter dress as yet but Aunt
[Kllcn had thought fullv provided for
i this occasion, and with great satis- i
faction she now brought forward a !
beautiful blue broadcloth tailormade
suit, over which I'ov scream-!
t'd in delight. There was a lovclv I
hat to match, dark blue, with great
[drooping pumes that was a perfeer
[gem in the way of millinerv. Then
there was a set of furs, presented hy
her uncle: also a dainty pair of
shoes and some gloves, with no end
ot handkerchiefs and collars.
\\ e ve had these things rcadv
for this occasion for the past two
months." explained Aunt Kllen. delighted
over Hoy's pleased surprise,
"and I have been feeling like shak-1
ing von because you wouldn't bring j
things to a climax by telling everything.
I've been half crazv to see
you in these things, and if Captain
(Overton hadn t almost sworn me
to secrecy. I'd have shown t' '.*111 to
you long ago." she declarec'..
"Dear, blessed aunt and uncle.
( >h. I ni the happiest girl iiving.''
And P.ov danced and capered in per- j
feet abandon, feeling that she must i
. now make up for the time she had!
I lost in being so quiet and dignified 1
I'oy. I 111 so glad you are going,
to stay on. I don t see how I could
, d< 1 without you. and vour uncle!
(traveling >0 much. I do wish lie'
j would ?|nit drumming and stav at
t home with me. !iv the way. he'll "be I
; here tomorrow, and you'll be i;one."
And at the store Mr. Lawrence!
1 wa< explaining things t ? ( "ceil, half |
| inclined to kick him because he |
1 didu t show more surprise. It was 1
| old Mr. Lawrence who was sur- ,
priced, though, when Cecil said:
1 "I knew it ? I knew "anl was a
girl! I found it out yesterdav."
"Well, she's going to stav here,
and you'd better mind how .von
treat her. She hates vou now. I
think, and small wonder."
And the old gent reman chuckled
with delight over the look of pain
and surpise that settled on Cecil's
face.
"Cecil," he whispered, "do you
understand the things which puzzled
vou so??Paul's magnetism,
for instance."
"Yes. uncle. I understand that
and more. I'm miserable and
wretched! That girl will never forgive
me. and I don't blame her?
poor little Paul! dear little heroine!
how can I bear your scorn?" brokenly.
"Hies* my soul!" ejaculated Mr.
Lawrence as he left Cecil. "Well! I
don t care if the young scamp does
suffer a little, he's been such a flirt.
Put pon my soul. I hope things will
all work out right, and I believe
they will. It won t do to push things,
though and I won't say a word."
Next morning at 10 o'clock our
heroine and Mr. Lawrence were at
Dunroon village. After a little bustling
around the old gentleman procured
the finest carriage and pair
that the best stable afforded and
with it a well groomed driver, who
carried them quickly over the distance
to the home ot Parmer Drake.
Imagine, if vou can. the delight
of the fond father as he clasped his I
l?ov in his arms once more, fairly j
bewildered at the beauty of the girl
Iso handsomely dressed in blue, MinI
nie, too. was no less delighted and
! it was some little time before Boy
could present Mr. Lawrence who
was suspicions)' blinking his kind
old eyes over the touching meeting.
But at last he was presented and
cordially welcomed, feeling that he
was going to thoroughly enjoy this
trip to the country.
The two old gentlemen were soon
conversing in the most friendly and
animated manner, and at last Mr.
Lawrence said:
"I tell you, friend Drake, she's
.... 'ic. whole-souled girl I
iver saw and a perfect heroine. She
saved my wife and niece yesterday
from almost certain death by stopping
their runaway horse."
The old farmer looked bewildered
for a moment:
"What's that? Mrs. Maggie Lawranee
and little Elsie? Minnie was
just reading about that, but the paper
said Paul Burton." putting on
his spectacles and picking up the
paper, intent 011 reading it again.
"Oh. ah. I've done it now!" exclaimed
Mr. Lawrence in dismay
and looking at Boy imploringly. She
rose laughing sorry for his discomfiture,
saying:
"Wow you've fixed it. I'll just
leave you to explain to papa. Tell
him all. It has turned out so nicelv
that he can t scold.'' And lauhing
she caught Minnie around the waist
and said :
"Come on. Ducky, and I'll help
you with dinner and tell you a lot
ol things that you are just dying
to hear. And the girls skipped from
the room, leaving the father gazing
after them in perplexity
Nothing loathe?in fact he was
delighted to do it?Mr. Lawrence
realtcd all of Boy's lips and downs,
easily convincing the fond old fanner
that she was an angel. The face
of farmer Drake was a study. Tears
dimmed his eyes and his hands
trembled. At last he spoke:
"By (ieorgc, it's jest like her. I
might ha' knowed that she was into
some devilment. (iod bless her. Rut
if I'd ha' knowed that she was what
she was bent 011 doin' I'd ha' locked
her up <>n bread an' water before
she should ha' gone to ihe city, by
George. The darlin'! 1 shall al'avs
thank < Iod that she got in with sicli
a kind-hearted gentleman, and i
thank you for hein' sicli a good
friend to her." ringing Mr. Lawrence's
hand. "It was a reckless,
dangerous piece of business an'
might ha' ended quite different for
mv precious motherless lamb. Do
you know, sometimes I believe that
my dead wife's sperit watches over
her two little ones and keeps them
from harm. You hain't got no idee
of the hairbreadth escapes Boy has
had from death., and al'avs comes
out without a scratch!" tremulously.
A feeling of deepest respect and
reverence tilled the heart of Mr.
Lawrence as he listened to the good
but illiterate farmer.
"IVrhaps so my friend?that is
a beautiful thought. And. 'all's weli
that ends well.' I've arranged to
keep your daughter at >eventy-live
dollars per month, and I sincerelv
hope you won't object. She can;
come home more often now that she
no longer masquerades, von know
She lia^ made herself so necessarv
to us we can't bear to give her
up." 1
"What? You don't mean it? That
little gal make seventy-iive dollars
per month? Well, by (ieorgc! If she
does she must keep the money. She
has helped me enough, bless her.
With her help and Minnie's I see
my way clear now. By the first of
January please God. I'll be out of
debt and think it will be easy to stay
out. Yes, she must keep the money"
"But she won't. She declares her
intention of making a thousand dollars
for you besides what she has already
made. It will take her only
eighteen months and allow her
about $350 for expenses in the
meantime. I doubt if she spend that
much as she doesn't have to pay
board, and she is naturally saving."
"A thousand dollars." By George
that's more than I've cleared 011 a
farm in five years all put together.
"An the old gentlemen talked on
and on, each deeply interested in
the other, while Bov and Minnie
were hustling around in the kitchen
and exchanging confidences.
Minnie told of how Mr. Benson
had insisted 011 helping her cook,
and how he had proposed that they
put u]) a little establishment of their
own where she should reign supremely
as both queen and cook,
and how glad she was that the
school was out and the horrid thing
gone.
"And you didn't consent? Why
Ducky, how could your tender
.heart send him adrift? For shame,
Ducky," playfully.
"I?L?like some one else?and I
?and some one else li?likes me,
continued the blushing Minnie. Dr.
LaRoche. lie buys all my chickens
and I believe he pays more than
they are worth. He says he doesn t
though. And he always comes tc
select them himself, and then sends
for them."
"And you entertain him as
charmingly as you did your first
ealer?Paul Burton" laughed Boy.
"What is he like Ducky? Describe
him."
"He's a great deal handsomer than
that conceited Paul Burton was. lie
has dark eyes and hair the loveliest
mustache 111 the world, is tall and
and is perfectly and divinely handsome."
"I hope you will be happy,
Ducky," softly and earnestly, thinking
of blue eyes, fair hair and a
glorious mustache.
1 can't tell you how old Mr. Lawrence
enjoyed that visit, lie was a
little surprised to find the old farmer
so illiterate but recognized in
him a noble hearted Christian gentleman
who commanded respect.
illo praised Minnie's conking, admired
her chickens, making the
sweet girl very happy. M rry. lighthearted
Boy returned with Mr.
Lawrence to the city nex; morning,
carrving with her a lov."g father s
blessing.
The rich blood mounted to her
cheek < when introduced 'o Cecil as
"Miss Drake" but her Have eyes
looked squarely into his :-s much a-to
say: "I don't care a ig for you
or vour opinion, so tiiere.
"And what has become of our
handv wishing that his i mgue had
been paralyzed rather than to have
made such an unfortunate remark
as he saw it was.
Cold as a breeze from icy mountains
came the answer: "We left
him in the country, sir. ! le s had
enough of city life?hates evcrythin
in it and will never venture out
again."
1 kr brown eyes flashed, telling
Cecil quite plainly that if he thought
her immodest, she ilidn I care. 1 hen
with dignified grace or." beautiful
heroine walked composedly to her
desk, leaving Cecil g:i::ing after
her for a moment. Then with quick
strides he reached her, saying quite
low:
"Forgic me. Miss Drake. I am
ready to swear that the heroine of
your novel is without blame?the
most noble and unselfish charade1"
I ever heard of. Let me assure you
that no one adm.res more than I
the courageous self-sacrificing and
independent spirit of said heroine.
Do forgive me and let us be
friends." pleaded the young man
with an irresistably charming manner.
Boy flashed him a little smile,
nodded her curlv head, and sent
Cecil back to his desk with a lighter
heart.
Later m the day Cecil la;d a paper
on Boy's desk and pointed to the
conspicuous headlines of a full
page .article.
"Miss Pauline Drake the Bravest
and Noblest liirl on Record, alias
Paul Burton. Assistant Secretary
for the (ireat Lawrence Mercantile
P.stablisbnunt. Five Month- Masquerading
in Male Attire. Interesting
Details, etc."
It was a minute account of all
Bov's trials and troubles from the
time she came from college up to
the present moment. It rectified the
mistake that had been made in announcing
the brave act of Paul
Burton in the runaway affair. It
stated that Miss Drake would remain
with Mr. Lawrence, who had
found that she really was a most
efficient assistant, and worthy to fill
the responsible position and would
up by declaring her the most perfect
heroine in every sense of the
word, one in whom the city was
justly proud.
Boy read the long article with
burning checks and flashing eyes.
At last she dashed rt down and
faced Cecil Lawrence angrily:
"You did it. Oh, how could
you?" passionately.
"On my honor, Miss Drake, 1
did not. Neither have I the least
idea who did. We arc all puzzled
over it," earnestly.
' Forivge me then. Mr. Cecil. Oh,
these horrid papers." tearfully.
"There s nothing 7>ut the very
highest praise for you?why feel so
badlv over it?" tenderly and soothin?lv
"I hate so much publicity-?its
awful. I tell you. But forgive me
please Mr. Lawrence for accusing
you wrongfully," smiling through
lier tears.
"There's nothing to forgive."
Then softly: "Won't you please
call me Cecil? T should like it so
much!"
"No. indeed, sir!" frigidly, and
Cecil sighed and went back to work,
while at the same time Farmer
Draek was carefully cutting said
article in the right shape to be4^^|
, pasted in the back and on the fly
; leaf of the old family Bible. Cap-^^H
i tain Overton came home from his>^^H
: travels and was highly elated over
? the way things had turned out. Me
had seen the first article in the paper
and confessed that lie had told
some drummer friends who were in jj^B
the same hotel with him all that he UJ
knew of Paul Burton. W|
When Captain Overton wanted flfl
to tease Boy he caled her his little
plenipotentiary. Boy continued to
board there and of course, the servants
all found out the secret that
fellow obediently kept his distance
jealously.
Boy now went to the theatre occassionallv
with Cecil, and hundreds
of admiring eyes followed the beautifill
girl wherever she went for
she was known to be the great I
heroine and was lovely as a June jj
rose. Cecil knew perfectly welT '
that Boy was his fate but also found ji
that it was no easy matter to address
this calm, cool and collected
country girl. For months the poor
fellow obediently kept hi* distance
as plainly marked out for him. Xever
before had any girl filled him 4
with such con Hiding emotions, or
kept him so completely under lici
thumb. At last Cecil found that uti- Mi
der the guise ol poetry, be could
put into language passionate words
ol love that otherwise he bad not \lHjj
the courage to utter. So every I^H
chance be recited the most touching
and tender poems to Boy, watchin.CoMHg
longingly and always in vain fojjflB
some sign of the desired effect. ^
At last he saw with distnav th?(
nothing but a straightforward difr'fjH?
claration of love would get froi'jV5jSB|
Boy what he wished yet dreaded
know?for poor Cecil was bv nji
means sure that he would get
favorable bearing.
lie nearly always escorted Bo.i
home from the office saying that th-'ii^^H
city was full of kidnappers seekim >^9H
young and lovely girls for then .KB
prey, and that they made a specialty
of heroines. Irafl
( hie lovely evening in June, just
one year since Boy Had come to VRfl
the c:ty, (. ecil had called to bring
Boy some new music, and to help
her practice it on Aunt Ellen's new
piano. After conscientiouslv practicing
till in desperation Aunt Ellen S
and I nele ()verton had taken them- 8H
selevcs to another part of the house,
C ecil sang for Boy a sweet and tender
son of love, every word of
which was laden with the all-ab- ?
sorbing love he felt for her. It Bl
" 'Dear heart thou canst not know I
The love T give to thee: w
Strong as the rivers onward flow, 1 fl
Vet calm and silently.' " I
Xot by word tone or gesture, ' fl
did Boy betray the emotion she felt.
She had learned the art of masking J
her feelings, and could do it per- fj
U'Ctly. She wondered win-it a man 1
loved a woman, he couldn't tell
; he r so in a straight forward and
manly way, without so ridiculously
resorting ol other means. Where is
the woman who does not like to be
.claimed in ;i bold masterful man- J ]
ner? | '
( ecil must have read her thought-,
i<?r he seemed suddenlv t'o lose all
baslilulness : determination settled'
over his handsome face ami as Boy
saw him rise from the piano and
come toward her she knew irhat she 4
could play with him no longer; that J
the time for surrender had come. I,
She was standing at a window, gazing
out on the beautrrul moonJight '
hojiing to impress him that she) did"
not recognize the passionate llojvWtilr?
that vibrated through the sw; 5 IIW
song. TTe reached her side and
her hands in a firm grasp. ?Jjr ||
"Miss Drake. Pauline. I'm goi , ?11
to quote one more piece of poetrj , fill
the very last! I.ook up, deare. 1 c'flP
look into my eyes while T repeat JV
In a sweet, shy, surprised and l" V
hesitating manner. Roy's eyes were t' 1
raised obedicnty but timid'y to his . 1
" 'vi^v f'v> tell-tale blunhes dyed'
her cheeks a lovely crimson.
" 'Oh. vou'd be an awfuly jolly
Little helpmate little Patili'e; J* "
" nendant nor a shocking , |
Stuck no frumo of a blue stocking,
But i. devr little woman? ft*1!
Most gloriously human? (r
Born to cheer me all through life, ^
Will clear Pattlie be mv wife?' ^.cj
^^'i 11 von darling? Oh. you have
held me oil long enough--a thousand
ve.'M's it seems fo me?and now
T must know my fate. T can't bear
il any longer. Sweetheart, give me
an answer straight from vour heart
mav \, flare T. hope fo win vou ? fi
Bov s eves fell before fbe passion V.
and longing in his own. LoUvr.and
lower sank the brown head while
crimson flood dyed neck and cars. )
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N I