The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-08-22
OXFORD, MISS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST %, 1860.

subdued tints was rich, and desirable match
for her Matilda.
But bark! the waltz strikes up. Margaret
PLAYED with ease and spirit, and Mr.. Hallow-
ell stood leaning over her as If enchanted
Her small hands glanced rapidly over the keys
keeping perfect time, although she lad never
before PLAYED for dancers Another waltz,
aud still another. Young ladies drew near
the piano, because Mr.. Hallowel was there.
Aud one of these he imprisoned, beseeching
her to take Margarets place while she danced
with him once. She was a good natured
girl aud complied < once. And soon the
gray dress was minsing its folds with white
lace and satin in the dance.
"Well," said Hallowcl to himself, when
nearly exhausted, as he led Margaret cool and
composed to her scat" well, she talks, plays
and dances admirably-thrce things that
Georgiana Morrison cannot do. Mrs. Morri-
son need not look so much ashamed of her.
Perhaps she will yet have TO withdraw her
daughter from the field, and leave it to the
niece"
And Hallowell smiled at his own conceit,
and brought glass of water to his partner,
to whom Mrs. Morrison now deigned to speak.
After the company was broken up, she could
not help telling her that she would rather not
have seen her to-night-that she had better
have waited until she could receive her alone
"But was very cold and hungry, Aunt
Morrison, and did not expect that you would
have any company too grand for your own
relations TO mingle in"
Her face colored. She saw that Margaret
Ashly was a match for her-cunning as she
thought herself
A week had passed. Margaret had gained
the absolute love and confidence of Kate Nor
rison, but Gcorgiana kept alooE She had
shown hersclffron day to day, a aprociticicnt in
all the elegant accomplishments which SO
beautify a woman's life; and NO less so in
the more solid and useful branches Of knowl-
edge.
1.-Two or three weeks" Mrs. Morrison had
named to stay, ana Margaret determined to
stay to the utmost verge OF the invitation.
All. in those few weeks she found it hard
cT and bard <r to think ofgoing away For far
above Ms Morrison's neglect or Gcorgiana's
haugl .tincss, rose the respect, the delicate
a.,entions, the lore, as she truly believed, Of
George IIallowel The time was out, and
She was to so in the morning. She had
walked out for the last time, and returning
just at twilight, Mr.. lallowell had joined her
She told him that she was going, and that
she was glad to see him this once.
"Goine, Miss Ashly-Margaret-forgive
me for calling You SO. But am indeed un-
prepared for this. You must not go"
"Indced must 60 back, Mr.. Hallowcll |
have illcd away time enough, and must go
bacl; to my work. 1t will be sweeter than
ever, alto eating the bread of dependence
for month"
"Of dependence !"
"Certaiuly. Am | not indebted to my
aunt for the first meal that ! have eaten since
my parents death, that my own hands have
not earned y
"And do you-can you think that she
grudges it to you!"
"No-but | do. Igrudge the independence
have sacrificed, the serenity have lost-for
will not conceal from You who have seen it
all, that my feelings have been wounded by
her Indifference to her sisters child. When
get back to my attic, shall feel so no
longer"
Margaret, You shall not 90 back till you
answer me one question. Will you give me
the right to take this independence out Of
your hands p
She looked up inquiringly, but did not an
swer. Only that morning, GcOrgiana had
blushed and looked consciously when Hal
lowell had ridden up to the door-and had
snatched a rose and some buds which he had
given the servant for Miss Ashly. The SER
want had demonstrated. ale said for Miss
Ashly, ma'am, indeed he did"
"Nonsense they arc for me-" And Mar
garet heard it all, and knew that Georgiana
would not resign them without hard strug-
gle.
"What are you thinking of you do not
answer my question. Speak, Margaret-may
l hope"
mr. HalIowell, am poor working girl,
and as such, must not mate with rich man
like yourself. Ny cousin were filter for such
a station. shall go back to my lonely home,
feeling that, at least, have not interfercd
with her rights"
"What can you mean! she has no claim
on me whatever. | know Of no woman who
has, except yonrself Pray, do not pain me
by SAYING this. Say, rather, that you will
think of what have said TO you, and that
you viii stay yet some weeks longer"
.sNo, that was impossible. She had made