The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-10-15

wise than wide awake. She heard deep
voice say, II know the way" and then
came face lronzed, fiery red, full blue eyes,
not altogether strange to Margaret-at least
she had seen such, her dreams-a mass
OF hair, beard, noustache, and whiskers of
hue which was pale only beside the face.
All this surmounted figure huge in
every way, but especially in breadth. Mar.
garet stood wondering, and the figure stood
wondering also. Like tho Ancient Mari.
ner, she fixed her with his glittering eve. -
and as he performed this operation he drew
OIL wrapping after wrapping, and. at leng,l,
stood confessed as Stephen Selon, weighing
mt least sixteen stone. He was not a tall
man, 80 appearances did not assist him on
that score. Then tho blue eyes danced
with amusement, the white teeth showed
themselves, and hearty, full and sonorous
laugh broke tho ice.
Margaret, do you not know mel" He
stepped forward aud kissed her, a. first light.
ly on'her cheeks, and then putting her back,
| with another glance and another laugh, lie
| followed up that kiss with many others, and
they came so fast and warm that Margaret
had not really presence Of mind to resist.
u ascertainea you wero still Margaret
Merton, or you would not have seen me
here tonight. Is this your fatherl
She led bim up TO the old man gently.
Speak tenderly to him, Stephen, he is
quite childish now" Something in the
subdued, womauly tone OF Margaret's voice
gave stephen choking sensation; however,
he cleared his throat, and shook hands with
Mr.. Merton.
l rf,Y
The poor gentleman looked up, with his
wan apprehensive smile. you'll be kind
20 Margaret, sir, you'll be kind to herr and
then he rambled on incoherently.
Margaret bad not forgotten bow to blush,
and a. this random speech of her fathers
the blood rushed up in torrents to her hair
roots, leaving transient crimson on her
throat and neck Apparently this enchan,.
ed Stephen; he rubbed his hands, and ar.
ranged his tawny beard, aud sa. down, aud
watched Margaret as she poured out coffee
for him, with the bright cheerful, trusting
look OF twenty years before.
"Ah, Margaret" lie continued, laughing.
| iy, VI swore that we're you faded, worn and
weazen, would still be true; but you have
not freited for me-you have no, The assn
rsnce to pretend it. Am | absolved from
my oatbl"
Margaret raised her eyes with malicious
glance, signi(yng, Et tu Brute
ayes, KNOW he added, surveying ra.
ther rufully his own ample person. awe
have both much TO forgive" There was
no explanation asked, for mono was requir.
ed iney both felt uncomnonly happy.
Shall we leave them soi All, young iov.
ers' wonld you believe it possible that tb at
happIr, handsome, comfortable looking wo-
man is Margaret Merton, who, score OF
years before, was condemned TO separation.
uncertainty, and work for her daily bread:
or that good man, so jovial, frank, aud port
ly, should be the exiled lover. Take cour.
age-'men die, and the worms eat them,
but not for love" They had each done
their duty, not sadly aud sternly, but mer.
riIy aud well, and their tree of love bios.
somed, though late in life. Perhaps one
OF the things we love best to see. is the
gentle, grave beauty of some autumna a!
flower, which gladdens our eyes when the
summer has fled, aud the unkindly drip OF
the winter rain is at hand, and the sky is
ashen gray, and our mother earth brown
and Iifeless.