Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-02-25

ct my kind friend, which felt vexed that the,
should see.
| 81 hope you are not too il for the enjoymen
!! of this day" she said.
II "I am too i'll for enjoyment of any kind" h
answered, with Q sweet voice, and the accent o
an educated man. "I am here on business"
"whatw
81 had two things to do One was to secur,
for Lrs. Bond a happy day; and then-my voic'
10 weak will You come closer to me?'
We walked to his side, and Lady Margare
stopped her head.
"Then. to try and see you; and ask you
charity for the few days have to live"
Lady margaret kept her hand on my arm AND
looked at the sick man kindly.
His features were as perfect as a statues; his
face might have served a model for q yonng
Apollo. The whole countenance was of that
Sodlike character which belongs to such ideas
| 50 bold, sweet, and free without a touch of the
course or rude; it was like the assertion of q
superior nature that could neither be under
| stood nor restrained. L felt surprised at the
contemplation Of such living beauty and yet
u ere was gastliness when the smile died away,
which separated this sick man from the strong
and healthy living souls that were now stand
ing about US.
I Ao~ S3h hCip sou! SdiQ Lazy margaret.
| by saying that, when am dying if you are
| sent for, you will come
"Not till then ?" she said, softly.
"As you please. /" he answered and then az ain
there was that free smile his face which had so
| greatly struck me at first. Itwas grandly beau
tiful, no doubt, but, nevertheless it was a smile
that had in it more power than pleasantness
When the day was spent, and the last of the
crowd were gone, found Lady Margaret sitting
alone in the library. The door was open and
the windows also. She sitting still and
thoughtful. in the cool freshness of the evening
air.
Where is your mother. dear Nary" she
asked. ...
said, :. She walked home hours ago. She has
sent the pony carriage for me-"
."Ohr' said Lady Margaret, that will suit me
exactly. Send your servant back on foot, and
then you, Mary, can take me 8 drive"
II should like it very much,' 1 answered.
" But shall not know how to gel home. am
not allowed to drive by myself by the road, and
am afraid to take Robin by the deer-park;
tney jump out and startle him so.''
Never mind; will send you home, or take
you. Only stay with me now. and take me a
drive"
1t was odd TO hear Lady Margaret SO positive
thought. But was glad to do as she said, and
1 did it. The pony carriage came, and Lady
Margaret and drove away. When we got to
the lodge gates she said:
Drive to Mrs. Bonds, my dear"
Lady Margaretr
Yes; must see that man again. can't get
over what-what-whst felt, Mary; and this
delicious air cools me. Drive on, Mary"
Ifeit vexed. surprised, sorry. To blame Lady
Margaret, even to doubt Lady Margaret, was
new sensation; but drove on silentIy in the
direction Of the Grown and Salmon"
There we are!' she cried, with considerable
excitement in her voice. Don't be unnatural,
Mary. You can't speak"
II don't like being here" said
She touched my arm and made me look at
her. Her beauty was heightened 80 by what
she had in her mind that she quite dazzled me.
You must neither think nor speak" she
said. az feel sure that very wonderful thing
is going to happen toto me-" And then she
got out Of the carriage and went straight into |
the house
stayed in the carriage waiting. The river |
murmured away. Young men who had come |
for few days fishing strolled about talking Of /
the river, the weather, and the weight OF SAL !
mon. Half an hour passed. and then Lady /
Margaret came back. with q face, the odd e1-
element Of which she could not conceal.
$50 TO your own home now, Mary. 1t is too
late for anything else" So drove to our en-
when Lady Margaret got Iut, and
walked straight across the park towards the
Court. only saying, THANK you, dear: good
night" looked after her. felt as if there
was something wrong. did not like the un-
strong interest my perfect Lady Mar
garet had shown in this beautiful stranger. 1
disliked her whole manner so much, II felt 1t to
m fab baf oil hon = |
secret from my mother.
Days and weeks passed. Lady Margaret had
,ent two medical men, at different times to
'ee the sick man, but no entreaties of Mrs.
Bond, nor of her husband, could make him see
,ither of them. Mrs. Bond said that he must
lie. Lady Margaret sent all manner of dainties
20 the inn from the Court, which the sick man
appeared to relish exceedingly.
This man then became the chief interest of
,ur lives. He would sit in his armchair by the
riverside, refusing to speak to any one except
Lady Margaret. All eyes and mouths were open
% watch and to report proceedings. Lady Mar
Iaret was with him daily-once, twicea day;
md when he was worse for few days, she re-
NAMED and waited on him like a servant. ia
How things grew worse until they assumed
unpleasant dimensions, need not say. But
lady Margarets perfections frst grew dim, and |
1
toned me that 1t was a matter on which had
,etter not speak; and then wept bitter tears.
Down. down, down, in popular opinion, went
4ady Margaret. The whole county heard, talk
ID, wondered, and. for the most part condemn.
d.. At last my mother spoke to her.
20 yes, she said, standing up in our morn
ng room, 81 know people dislike my having
aiken to sick-nursing."- And she laughed [
lard laugh, such as We had never heard from I
Ter before. Then she stopped suddenly, and
Viped her eyes, which were full of tears. 81 I
annot help it," she said. II mus go there. ]
annot keep away. 1t would kill the poor {
reature If did" Z
Indeed, indeed, you ought" pleaded my '
mother. ,
II can't" she repeated, almost angrily; will s
ou believe me If say aDon't" Then she walk T
out of the room. But in another moment '
he came back again. She kissed my mother, q
ookIng with sad, entreating eyes into her face. I
Yeu win always stand by me- she said. "The 6
Ioyds have always been faithful to the Court. r
,ou will always make Mary think well of mef" c
hen she broke cut in great texcitement,- But,
a the name of Heaven, what have done?-
re we never to visit The sick, or comfort the i
fiicted?" My mother did not speak. But I, {
a an excess of girlish excitement, cried out,
o, Lady Margaret, that is not the question. 1t 8
SO dreadful, because people say you are in C
I'VE with that horrid man; and then at of
rying overcame me, and dropped my face on
ne sofa cushion, sobbing violently. '
" Is it as bad as that ?" she asked, with trem-
ling voice and a scared face. "But do not cry, ]
~ darling. You are q good bravegirl. Thank U
on for telling me, Yet do not call that sick a
ian 'horrid, it is not true; and cannot cease Ii
, care for him. But perhaps ought to take d
a. L.