Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-06-06

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reader, just what Maggie was thinking
about. ''0ne, two. three, four, said Maggie
in half whisper, while ler little white
hand made the steel snap again.
NO it aint," sung out uncle Nat.
"Aint what" answered Maggie.
at amt firc-and you've knit five into
three loops in succession and have only
counted four"
Oh! Uncle Nat, you are so provoking, you
put me out so?
do l darling? then put it away and come
and sit down here by my side; for l want
to have long talk with YOU
What in the world do you want to
talk with me about?"
"One of the most interesting things in
the world to most young ladies-abOut
getting married"
Oh! if that's all, talk away" said Mag
gle, with merry laugh-yOu would not
have selected theme of more indifference
to me.
Now Maggie Lawton that's not So
you are human, as that pOuting little lip
and half trembling little hand prove bes ond
dispute-yOu are now twenty are you not :?
Twenty only eighteen last fall"
"All the same. and | am your Guardian,
and hold in my hands in trust for you the
neat sum of five thousand dollars, which
am now ready to resign to you at any
moment when you desire possession"
Now 1 haYe seen you divers times in
company with Herbert FitzalOn (up came
the Iich blood to the checks AGAIN. and l
have seen that there is an interest in your
heart for that young man-that it would
be better for you not to eneourage-and
now am going seriously to tell you why"
oh! Uncle"
"Silencc pussy, must and will have
my say this time at least.
First, he is speculator and looks more
to FIVE thousand than to your frccklcd
cheeks.
Second, he is a gambler and spendthrift;
and third, and last for this time, he tar
ries long at the wine. Now my pussy, you
are all the child have to love, and since
the death of my saiuted sister, your moth
er, nothing on earth has ever been SO near
Uncle Mats heart"
20! knew it, dear Uncle" exclaimed
Maggie, as she threw her work into her
basket and brought her stool and sat down
at his feet and laid her head lovingly and
childlike into his lap.
You asked me once to tell you the stO-
ry of your mothers marriage and death,
and why L never spoke of her or of your
father" /
And you promised me, if would not
ask you again till l was eighteen, you
would tell me all.
Yes"
"Will you tell me tonight, Uncle Nat?
[ have 50 longcd to know"
1.-The story is not leng. Maggie, and if
you are strong enoug il to bear it, will tell
the tale, which for eighteen years has been
buried away in my heart" Il
"Jones Lawton, your father, came to
our village when your mother, my darling
and only sister, was just sixteen, and was
introduced to her, standing here almost
where Your feet arc now resting" i
Maggie started i
DO not start child, she Is not here, tho
l sometimes fancy l feel her presence and I
have more than once thought that her cold
hand was laid upon my brow when the
hard pain has been driving through my
temples in days past.
Maggie was very, very beautiful, tall,
and stately as a queen, and even in her :
girlhood, dignifcd and commanding Mr.. .
LaWton was one of the best looking men | ,
ever saw-he had beauty-if that werd
may be applied to manhood, was highly =.
full of talent, wit and genius
Interesting in conversation and well yersed
in the Ways of the world
1t was well known that Maggie was an a.,
leiress, that at our fathers death, the. vii ;
age property was all willed to her, while ,
was left sole master and proprietor of 7
he homestead. Lawton became a fire.
luent visitor at our house, and with assid- !
Ous attentions won the love of your moth =,
,r, who, though very cautious for one SO ;,
young, was still not proc against one every :
way so attractive. Of course. We were
boon companions, being of an age and at I
hat time disposed to sport in the same ;,
ound of amuscments and conyivIal pleas .
Tres. A
1t was not long ere one of my noble II
riends in whom | had the most implicit
confidence, warned me against the man. r
1t first l spurned his suspicious and judg- ;,
d him harshly of being jealous of Lawton. :,
But his earnest entreaty that should
Tatch and know for myself put me upon :,
ny guard, and it was but a short time till !.
found that in his frequent excursions ;,
rom home, he forgot his high pretensiOns :
f morality and goodness and was often ;,
ound, the gayest of the gay, in those p
laces where the truly chaste and upright :,
IAN would never appear. :,
To make sure of this, one night fol- h
owed him in disguise, and seen enough to f.
re my whole soul with indignation against q
man who would dare. under such a well M
Torn mask Of piety and virtue, sue for the h