The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-02-26
Lady Margaret's Valentine.
TcoNCLUDED.7

under the shade or some stately OAKS
But could think only of the brillian
morning in February, and that dread
FIJI Valentine-for so called the mar
in my heart.
How do you do, Mrs. Bond?'
said Lady Margaret, walking straight
ND to the mistress of the little inn
Mrs. Bond courtesied and congratu
lated herself on being there. No
but that it was hard to come" shC
said, for | have a lodgey now, my
lady, whose fishing is we'll nigh for
ever over. l could not leave him a
home. He vowed like a willful chic
that | should bring him. I had 6
world of difficulty to settle it"
And how was it arranged?"
Why, with two poles and an arm.
chair; and there he isl He is one Of
those who always have their own way
and such don't last long,"
We looked in the direction pointed
out by Mrs. Bond, and saw figure
wrapped up in cloaks. sitting lii a
chair in the shade.
81 heard" said Lady Margaret
THAT a sick maa had been brought
here; / thought that l would ask
about him"
THANK you, my lady; just like
you. WISH yOu HOQlu SpCdA 10 MIN.
There, he looks this way-you may
almost see his eyes fash"
He is prodigious handsome" said
a voice close by; and Lady Margaret
a little shrunk aside from the touch
of Miss Nancy Bennett. ProdigiOus
handsome! My sister and / make
him often az object for a walk
pleasant to have an object" said Miss
Nancy. Mrs. Bond seems to take
great care Of him; sets him outside
to watch the river, and he admires
the river, and talks of your ladyship
talks vastly of your ladyship," gig
gled Miss Nancy; and though the
poor creature meant no more. | am
sure, than to DO honor to Lady Mar.
garet's perfection, yet felt could
have strangled her for her manner of
doing it.
"Well, and wish her ladyship
toould speak to him, if she will be so
kind" said Mrs. Bond, angrily. He
wants friends - people as can be
eyes on Miss Nancy. when
asked him the other day who should
send to, If anything happened, he
said, The doctor or the Coroner
which you please and if that is not
enough to break the heart of any
woman who has been wife and mother,
/ don't know what is"
What is his name2" asked Lady
Margaret.
THAT he don't tell" said Mrs.
Bond. But he pays his way, and
he had got that natural to me, that if
he didn't pay l could not turn him
out. He amt like other people.
He's got a wonderful way with him !;
why. my old man is just like his serv-
ant, and my grandchildren - they
adored him"
Nevertheless" said Miss Nancy,
spitefully. you will get into trouble
if you let him die in your house with
out doctor"
"Then trouble may come and well
come. A doctor he won't have, aud
not all the doctors that ever were
made would keep him here; for he is
dying, though slow; and | am doctor
enough to know that"
Very mysterious p exclaimed Miss
Nancy.
(which l never denied" responded
Mrs. Bond. But still know some
thing. Gentleman he is; i'll he is
dying he is. l wish, my lady, you
would go aud speak to him."
GOOD day, Mrs. Bond, said Lady
Margaret, with one of her quiet, pen
etratiDg smiles which went to the
heart directly; and then, with her
hand within my arm, she walked up
to the languid figure In the chair
under the trees.
He took off his hat as she came
near. Miss Nancy Bennett had GER
his beauty, He looked at Lady Mar
hOl Ia xvhT q
wonderful, but strangely free. Many
people stood by. There was some
thing in his face as he looked at my
kind friend, which felt vexed that
they should see.
L hope you are not too i'll for the
enjoyment of this day." she said.
am too i'll for enjoyment of any
kind, he answered, with o sweet
voice, and the accent of an educated
man. am here on business"
WHAT
Il had two things to do. One was
to secure for Mrs. Bond happy day
and then-my voice is weak; will you
come closer to me?"
We walked to his side, and Lady
Margaret stopped her head
Then, to try to see y,H; and ash
your charity for the few days have
to live"
Lady Margaret kept her hand OF
my arm and looked at the sick mai
kindly.
His features were as perfect as
statues; his face might have served
us model for young Apollo. The
whole countenance was of that god
like character which belongs to sucl
ideas-sO bold, sweet and free, with
out a touch of the coarse or rude; i
was like the assertion of a superior
nature that could neither be under
stood nor restrained. / felt surprised
at the contemplation of such living
beauty; and yet there was a ghastli
ness when the smile died away, which
separated this sick man from the
strong an healthy living souls tina
were now standing about US.
How can [ help your" said Lady
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; an,
then again there was that free smil
on his face which had so greatl
struck me at first. It was grandl
beautiful, no doubt, but, nsverthe
power than pleas antness.
When the day was spent, and tn
last of the crowd were gone, | fOunt
Lady Margaret sitting alone in tn
library. The door was open and tn
windows also. She was sitting still
and thoughtful, in the cool FRESHNESS