Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-08-21

himself IN the adjacent pew. The two
behaved, very vel. during the service, ia:
king only stealthy, innocent glances at
each other. andseyen these at long inter.
vals; but when the sermon was read, and
the benediction said. the girl remained a
little longer than usual on her knees, and
Stephen was waiting for her when she
rose. They walked silently together out
of church., and turned on to q broad
walk, shaded by trees, which bordered
the river on which the town stood. As
they got further and further away from
the departing congregation, Stephen, be-
ing an enterprising youth in all he IN
dertook, possessed himself of her hand,
and put his face under her bonnet in such
fashion that she could not choose but
look at him. And he looked long. but
not apparently making himself the hap
pier for so doing, for at the conclusion he
gave great sigh.
"Margaret, my darling, I've no good
ne US for you. I've been up to the dock
works; but the place Langford hoped to
give me is filed, and there's no chance
Of another opening. They don't want
young, untried hands there, and of brains
there is plenty and over. These are hard
men. Margaret; they might have given
me trial."
"But. Stephen" said the girl. and her
voice faltered little, as she spoke. "you
know what you wish cannot be-. 1 can.
not leave my father, he is aging sadly.
think his poor eyes are growing dim. and
now he would rather hear all his beauti.
full music played to him than do it him
self; and my idea. Stephen, my great
hope is. that 1 may be able to take his
pupils for him."
"You would do it well. Margaret; you
have wonderful knack ofmanaging peo>
ple."
Margaret smiled. and in her smile there
was peculiar mocking expression, which
seemed like ripple about her mouth.
She became grave again.
"You kon't know how hard practise
at nights. and how treasure up his in.
structions. i'll can induce one or two
families to let me take his place. that will
do much. And then, when he is so old
he can work no longer, can still sup
port him as he has been accustomed to
live. He has worked for me, it is fit that
should work for HIM"
Luz ~ Sou40 S6G "OIA u0dLS 1OU
need not leave him, Margaret; we could
marry, and all live together"
"No, Stephen. we are too young to fet-
ter ourselves with such uncertain pros
poets. Alone we may struggle, and If
we fall we fall alone, and drag down no
others; but were we married, and your
employment SO uncertain. cares would
come on us more quickly than we could
meet them. Believe me, we are best
SINGLE"
There was no selfshness about the
young fellow, and yet man-like he could
not forbear the answer. "Margaret. you
think more of your father than you do of
me. My young life" he stopped abb
ruptly.
IL should be no good wife to you,
Stephen, if failed as daughter; so do
not press me more, dear Stephen. God
knows am tried already" aud The pent-
up tears came at last.
Then Stephen inwardly called himself
many frighttul names, Of which unmanly
wretch and brute were the least severe;
but he only said audibly:
II know it Margaret-forgive me-"
and the words were hardly out of his
mouth, before he was forgiven, suppose,
for the hand was again placed con6ding
ly in his. He continued, "The worst is
yet 10 come, Margaret; have underta-
ken to work my way out to India, and
the captain has promised to get me en-
gineering work as soon as we arrive. 1t
is no degradation" he said stoutly. II
did hope to have begun higher up; but I've
never shirked work, and I'll show that q
gentleman can do as good a days work
as any one. I've toiled with dust, and
dirt, and oil, and what not, and I'll do it
again. know my trade thoroughly, the
lowest as well as the highest part of it;
it's only to begin over again, and I'm
young and strong"
Eyes. it's all true" said poor Mar
garet, and these few words were all she
could say,
II shall not forget you. Margaret; it
may be twenty years before We meet
again, but even then, shall be yours
only"
Margaret smiled, but this time it was
poor. wan, struggling smile. II shall be
old and faded then, Stephen"
"It does not matter" he returned.
with steady. loving gaze. "You may
be old and faded, worn and shrivslled; !;
but you will be more to me than any 9th
er woman"
Here they turned their steps back to
the church.
"Well, Stephen. 1 bind you by no
promise; we will follow the promplings
of our own hearts. We have the world
before us. and God to aid u.s." she said.
They walked on silently for little
time. 1--WE must part now, dear Ste.
phen."
II sail TO- morrow. Margaret"
Thev stood and pazed sadly on the