Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-12-09

hope DEFERRED now congratulated
herself upon the delay caused by his
non-appearance. At last the baker
came out of the counting-house, hat
and stick in hand7-he had business
in the city, and could wait no longer.
AS her father aseended the ON
nlbus, Margaret's heart sank within
her.
IT might be halfan-hour later, and
she was attending to a GU Btomer,
when, suddenly raising her eyes, she
encountered those Of the 70 ung ar
tist, who was standing OF the opposite
side of the street, with his gaze riv-
ette b upon her. A sudden tremor
caua ed the biscuits that she was tying
up to fall from her hands. Her heart
beat fast, as she thought that he
would the next moment be at her
side, and that she would hear the
sound of his voice, which was music
in her ears. But why did he e~lingerg
The customer had departed, the shop
was empty She regained courage,
and glanced across to where he still
stood, his sorrowfal attitude and de
pressed eyelids betraying heart
trembling between hone and fear.
Her eyes met his. A ray of mu-
tual love shot from them; but, instead
of entering the shop, he turned, and
hurried up the street. Immediately
afterwards, james passed through on
his way out, tie bread basket upon
his shoulder; ard though Margaret
could not but think it was chance, it
was not without 4 sudden chill that
she saw him go with long strides at-
ter the young Scotcllman
The next two hours passed heavily
indeed with Margaret. To all ap-
pearance, she performed the various
duties Of the shop as usq qal; bat her
thoughts were far away, and she went
about her business mechanically
The weather, too, had changed, there
by adding to til he increasing gloom
The bright sunshine, which had gildcd
everything with its morning rays,
was now concealed by murky clouds,
and the rain begun to fall heavily
Poor Margaret was so sad and down
hearted, that she more than once re-
solved on setting out to seek her
father ANYTHING was better than
being thus loft a rHey to her own I'm
easy thoughts. But she stroye to
Danish this restless desire, for not
only would such search be useless,
but she ought not to leave the shop
in Her father absence. Tears rolled
swiftly down her fair face, as she re-
signed herself to patient waiting
But, hark! her father approaches,
and she fastened to relieve him OF
his saturated garments. Scarcely
had she performed this kind Office,
when James entered, and, laughing
triumphantlv, S shouted Have | not
always thought SO? The young
painter is married, orif bot, at any
rate ought to be!' 1t vas too much
for Margaret. She haste ned to leave
the shop.
The honest baker was scarcely less
shocked than his daughter. He
blamed himself for his inprudence,
andloaded the artist vita reproaches.
sThe young rascal he exclaimed,
Ito come here, and bring Misery upon
my once, e,happy home; and that, af-
ter / have been so generous to him,
and would have done so much for
him
But, when his anger had cooled,
he confessed to himself that, if either
were to blame, his had been the
greater folly. The young painter
had never spoken of love to MaFga-
ret, and, as to his glances, it was at
lea st not impossible that they were
merely the evidence OF his artlstIcal
admiration for her beauty. AT any
rate said the baker to himself, 1T Is
unfair to condemn any one for look
ing. And still, he paused Il never
saw anything IN my life that appeared
more like love. | may be wrong,
but | would sooner believe James to
be mistaken; he was always a stupid,
simple fellow. | will sound him, and
then enquire into the particulars my
SELF
With this determination, the wor-
thy baker went to his daughter; but
he was silent as to his design, and
only begged her to remain in her own