Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-06-23

Poor Mr.. Myers looked really alarmed.
"Not to-nighi-not tonight" he exclalm
ed, huuiedly, trying to effect an exit, an'
finding his attempts were frustrated by Mar
garct's manGuss. "lt was mere trine-
quite mistAke-any other time will do. v
And at last gaming the door by swiit anC
deNtrous movement, he fairly fed before TIE
advancing Medusa. who still pcrialnaciously
urged the revelation OF the promised secret.
As the hall door closed on him, Margaret
merry pcals Of laughter brought her cousin
TO her side, and the whole late scene was
faithfully rehcarscd for PhGbo's amusement
While the merriment Of the giddy gIrls was
al It's height, aud Margaret was just show
ING how Mr.. Myers tried to dodge her a, the
door, another ring then announced another
visitor.
"Thcrc thai is surely Winthrop North
Your other admircr," cried PhUbe.
Marrarc,'s laughter suddenly died away
she grew very pale, and turned to Nv pre-
cipi,a,ely to her own rOom. Thithcr she
Sen,, only pausiug on the stairs long enough
to decide BY the sound Of his footsteps, that
it was indeed Mr.. North. PhUbc followed
her.
In vain Margaret cndeavorcd to affect the
continuance Of her late merry humor. Her
uncomfortable agitation revealed even to the
uususpectinG Phubc, that the question she
was now about TO test, was to her lar differ.
en-, one from the last. Pcrcciying this she
sought to divert her friend from her intention,
But Margaret was determined to carry her
wbim out--saying, Il It was fair Tor one, II
Is fair for the othcr-,he love Is worthless
,ha, will not bear my test"
She desired Phubc, however, to GO down
and see Mr.. North, inform him Of her in,en,
ton Of receiving bis visit, and prepare hin
for a change in her appearance.
/ PoUbe soon returned from her errand, and
then Margaret, gathering up her foui'ude and
composnrc, descended the stairs.
Notwithstanding the amuscmcn, she had
derived from Myers Prcciptta,r retreat, 1t,
lesson had no, been los, uron her she rem.
bcd for the result OF her own wild slra,agcm,
Tor though unconf,sscI to all, even to her,
SELF the sccrc, Of her heart now revealed il.
self to her, hy the ,urnul, which agirs,cd her
bosom when she thought OF how much She had
siakcd on tha, venture
/ On reaching the rar'or door, she paused
with her hand on the lock--She wished for
one momcn, more To calm ,hc beaiings other
Heart, bu, while she We, fingered, the lock
turned beneath her hand, and Winthrop
North stood before her, face to face.
Inyoluntarly. Marrarc, sourh, to conceal
her dishcurcl couu,cnaucc IN her hands,
bu, she was too late, for Nr North had
sccu an.
With l-cndcrncss, such as be had never
vc, manifested towards her, he drew her arm
within his and led her 10 a soia-lcllinr her
of anxiety he had fcl, during her illness,
aud Of his ,hanktulncs, and joy in her rccoy.
cry. Other word, he said OF ,,ill tcudcrcr
import, bu, Margaret scarce rndcrsrood-
scarce dared listen TO them; she was saving
To herself over anI over araln-"llc has not
vet seen mc-hc will change when be sees
me- So entirely had her feelings entered
into the situation she had assumed, tia, she
actually lorgo, ,ha, she was playing part.
Tho blessed words she dared accept as hers
were still fall on her ear, aud a, las, shc cH.
claimed in despca,ion-
"Say-you have not yet-lookcd a, me.
/ am greatly changed. Pray--Pray, know
the worst"
1t true that hitherto, from a motive OF
Jelicacy. winthrop had rsir,incd from look.
ing at Mnrgarc,'s altered face but he now
turned his eyes full upon her, saying in his
cordial, manly way
Margaret, there is no rors to me, where
you are concerned. Change, alter as you
may you VIII '''' ~ "'' '''',''' ~
not weep NY '''' 'o"' ''''' '"''e" " vas
pleasant TO look uPo"' u'' "o' E1'" IVY -.''''
lions 'hey were WI" " So''''','S O''''
your "'O'e' E'"''"D' "'''''' , e ""'," . 'l''
'e' lou' S"u w. W" - ~ IN ''.s ~ -" -, ~ /,
p'Ne YOU D''' "''s' '''' "' '' ""'
have not loved IN vain"
But Margaret was unable to speak 50 'Io'
lently was she wcePinc-haPpy, blssiul
tears they were, bu, they compelled her To NY
from the apartment to regain her composure.