The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-10-30

and, as if that was the way to have it over,
| let James coax me to fix the day very
soon-six weeks from that of our engage
ment
There was abusy time at our house, you
may suppose. All my things to make in a
hurry. was in a sort of fever all the time.
They teased me.
"In love-" they said.
So l was, lassie, bit not with James
Reeder. So, one day, mother said to me,
"You are the only idle one maggie. Run
over to Mrs. Walsingham's and borrow the
pattern of Kitty's travelling basque. 1t
will just fit you, and l want yours to be
like it,"
| vent, of course, and got the pattern
of Mrs. Walsingham. She was merry soul,
and she would tease me. No one knew
why | blushed SO. 1t wasn't for the reason
they thought. We stood talking, and she
teasing, until all of a sudden she said
"And james isn't jealous any more,
hope"
jealous W.said 1.
"Oh, ne was wild the day our Kitty was
married" said she-"wild with jealousy of
Paul Cardell He told me all about it.
'They are paired off together" said he,
"and with girl it is the first who asks her.
Paul IS as much in love as 1, and she is
lost to me-" So Grannie and 1 set our
wits to work to help him. And we sent
for Paul, you know, and gave Jem his
chance. Now say "thank you," Maggie,
as he did,"
But [ conldnt. I took the pattern, and
ran away. l ran until came to the bridge
and then l stopped, looking down into the
water.
"No, no." I kept saying to myself-"no,
no; he never cared anything about me,
gave him chance enough to speak, and he
did not"
And while said it, heard step up.
on the bridge l looked aronnd-it was
Paul Cardell. I couldn't move. l had not
seen him before since Kitty's wedding par.
ty, when he came back to say good bye"
He held out his hand. "How do YOU
do, Mss Maggie? ?" said he.
| l didn't speak-I only bowed
"You are to be married very soon, hear,
he said,
"They say so," I answered.
81 hope you may be very happy he said.
James Reeder is asplended fellow, and
as rich as he is handsome" And he caught
his breath in little sigh. "God bless
you, Maggie"
He had never called me plain Maggie be-
tore. lie had never looked a. he did then.
tried to thank him, but l didn't know
what l said Suddenly he took both nv
hands.
II d like you to know it," he said some.
how, I'd like you to know it. Twas verv
fond OF you, Maggie. II loved YOU, NV
dear. II james had mt called me when he
did that day, | should have told you so,
aud had my "No," from you. l always
felt afraid you liked James best. No won.
der Its better for you-altogather better.
Only quite past thing better than life.
Maggie. I'm not going to pine 10 death
or make an idiot of myself. shall marry.
Lucy Swallow has promised to be my wife.
She would not care for.such love as I now
have to give; aud she's very good aud pret.
, ty, and we shall be happy. God bless YOU,
and good bye"
and went. 'p''
Only for what he had said Of Lucy Swal.
! low, Id have called him back. But i,
,, they were to be married, better let matters
! stand as thy were. l held myself up b,
the bridge rail nutil he was out of siobt
; then dropped like one dead.
y did not marry on the day fixed for me
for was i'll of a fever, then, and not ex
pe,ted to live; and afterwads l knew m,
heart too well. could not forgive Jane
' for cutting short the words that would bav,
made Paul and me both happy for lite an,
| told him plainly that l never coulc
e love him.
:, But Paul and Lucy Swallow msrried
= and she lived thirty years with him--tb;,t
i long years. What happy woman. 70 l;v
u thirty years with Paul Cardell!
L never married-never, as YOU know
\ And James Reeder never did, either
- When he was sixty he told brother Die
y there had been but one woman in the worl
u for him, and that was Maggie. Poor Jem
= he cried when told him he must 90. An
a. he was very handsome, so they saidoa yer
=, u fine man; but | can't remember mnc
- about his looks.
' And you see never forget Paul.
T could draw his picture now. | know tb
- touch OF his hand, and the tone of his yoic
e 10 by heart. lie was very happy with Luc,
'' they say. haven't been. But it was betr,
i than marrying any one else, after all.
- wasted life and wasted heart, but notl
T ing worse. Good night, asse