The Portland daily press., 1870-10-29
Selected Story.
My Sister Margie's Romance.
BY JEAN MCLEAN.

[ have never seen a more beautiful face
than my sister Margie's when she was eight
cen. cannot describe her 10 you, for / do
not like to pick sweet flower leaf by leaf
ear only say rich, warm color dyed her
cheek, . brilliant light danced in her eye, and
her lips, red as the ripest strawberry she found
in the pastures, ever curved with smile.
Father named her Margaret after his moth
er, but she called herself Margie. When a
baby Margaret, second child of Charles and
Margaret Wilson" was written in the Bible,
but Margie became the household nah.e. !
s was ten years old when Margie was born
Mother took the baby's pink hand and laying
It in mine, said solemnly, II must leave her
Faith, leave my sweet babe. l give her to
you, and never forget that she is yours, my
daughter" l never did forget the Importance
fthe charge committed to me. Father never
brought any one to fill mothers place, and
had Margie to myself Besides sisters love
she gave me all that would have been moth.
9 er's. I never told her she was to mind me,
she always did what desired without a word
until-well. will not anticipate.
When Marge was twelve, Mr.. Bolton, the
village lawyer, made me an offer of marriage.
He was noble man. I honored him and il
maybe II might have loved him, but could
not make it seem right to marry and leave
1AeiSNs sAihh idbnCI Was plGdS6u WQen i
chose to live at home, but others blamed me
and thought had false ideas of duty. l have
never been sorry gave up all for Margie
When l see Judge Bolton with his handsome
g sons, think, Faith Wilson, those lows were
not meant for you; your children may never
rise to call you blessed, but there are some
who will say, "she hath done what she could
Margie had none OF my matter of fact tenn
permanent. She possessed vivid magma
rs vvlr o1,s i'll
people, filling the woods, the sunny slopes
behind the house, the hooks and glades, with
the bright creatures of her fancy. We had a
few fairy tales, TRANSACTIONS from the German.
These she eagerly devoured, and so gave
shape to the ideas that were filling her head
As she grew older, air castles which she
herself was to nhabit took the place Of her
other conceits. Many a night when the skies
were cleaning with stars, she has sat on the
low roof jutting out from our window, and
dreamed of the gay world in which she would
Live one day. "He will come for me, Faith,
my squire of high degree, and bear me off to
an elegant home surrounded by all that is
beautiful, and you will be our guardian an
gel" Icannot tell why, but it panied me to
hear her talk so. She would laugh at my
sober face, and say, "My matter-offact sister
cannot even breathe the air in which my cas-
- ties foat.o
Father and were anxious that Margie
should have better advantages for education
than our village afforded, and yet we could
not bear the thought of sending her away
from us. She had a decided musical talent.
and we were DESTROYS of cultivating it. While
we were making inquiries, some one told us
that the rector in the next town was increas-
ing his income by receiving a few pupils into
his family, and that his wife, an accomplished
musician, would give lessons to limited
number cvuoro do e.
gle to study with Rev. Mr.. Ormand, and take
vocal and instrumental lessons of his wife.
She was TO remain with them until Friday O
each week, when we were to bring her home,
and have all the JOY we could until Monday.
How long that first week of separation seemed.
Mareie's bird did not sing, but hoped uneasi-
ly in his cage, jerking his head from side to
side Tbs inspirator ofhis lie, as of ours,
was gone. The pet kitten, missing the glad
ness OF the house, took to rowing. The old
clock that we always thought had pleasant
way OF telling the hours, licked like a death
knei. Every thing wore a forsaken look. !
could see father busted himself more with his
patients, but courd find nothing to relieve
my loneliness.
Margie came back to us bright and happy:
sne mad seen something of the world outside
g our home and was charmed. She told us she
was not very much behind the others. and
'O-SS, - AASh ldu Decu highly
praised. Father, Faith she said, her face
glowing with animation, this is a beautiful
world we live in. l mean to attain to posi-
ton in it; all Is easy if only one is determined.
mean to have everything beautiful about
me.' !
The gossamer web shining in the sun is
beautiful, but the tempest bears it away and
!eaVes no trace OF what Was once so fair, said
father, as he laid his hand on her head.
/ hn n
brave little spinner can weave another delicate
WEB on the ruin of every castle and straight
way build nobler.'
with every thread rms the life of the weav-
G 40 not spin your web beyond your strength
my daughter
DO not look so solemn, father, mean to
sing all my lie long, merrily as my bird She
9id NOT know that the gay songster had had
his time of silence.
Two years came and went. Mareie improy
ed wonderfully. We could not help feeling
OF pride as we saw the admiring eyes of our
trends rest upon her. OF late she had spoken
OF certain Paul Clifford, who was boarding in
IN the village where Mr.. Ormond lived. He
was young EnglIshman-a tourist. and had
Deen fascinated by the charming scenery of
the country town. So he told Mr., Ormond.
and made SO far representation of himself,
and family connections, that Mr.. Ormond. ia.
vorahly impressed, invited him to his bonse
and presented him to the younger ladies. HE
Is lust my ideal of what the old knights were,'
SAID Magic, as she sat on the roof outside the
WINDOW one night in mid summer. so grace
lli IN MS bearing, so handsome in person.
You have no idea how much manlier he is
IMAM The men we have known Faith
Inc moonbeams fell full IN her face. She
must nave seen the expression it wore, for
she said quickly, Il do not mean more manly
thar fathers, there is no one better than he
you know had no thought OF father then
P.tul Clifford and his relation to nv darling
troubled me. i
y yes she said, leaning her face upon her
hand, and looking up to the stars as if read
ing her destiny there. HE is fine singer,
and Mrs. Orm0nd has allowed us to practice
duets together
oh, yes, lave seen a great deal of him.
Inc latter part Off the sentence she uttered in
allow tone, as if to herself. Faith, she said,
ater lew moments silence, She is coming to
see you and father s,
He will not find much CT interest here.' I
saio, more as question than an affirmation,
No, sne answered vacantly; then stepped
III from the window and sat down upon the
stool at my feet
Falth, she said, taking my hand and Law.
ing u on her unbounded hair, could Won bear
70 nave me love any one as well as do YOU
% Margiev cried out, you do not love
tnis aul CiH9rd, THIS adventurer! You are
only a'girl, scarce eighteen; you do not know
your own mind ','''"
Lifting herself to her feet and THROWING
back her heavy hair, she said: I have WON,
ana heart, Faith, and l love Paul Cliff
ford. He is no adventurer but noble man.
have promised to leave all for him if need
be-
%, Margiep could say no more, the blow
had ialien so suddenly.
'Yes,' she continued, 4 have promised to
leave all for love of him, but that will never
be. You will see him, and you will not WON
der love him. Long ago l told you / had
found my hero. Why were you not pre-
pared?'
saw Paul Clifford, and 1 wondered Margie
loved him. He was handsome and his eve
anu prov revealed intellect; but the express
,On VI ms mouth, the cold smile ever PLAYING
,.,a,. LIS ups, the inde6nable something in his
man n Impressed me strongly against him. |
cameo ono ~ %oolu never be martyr in any |
for himself wv" WOW, YOU'D % always tenderly care
elusion If had met him as stran@ nm'"i coii-
NOW, l thought, he is one who can navor
the jets of light that, arrow-ke ieaned forget
his side to mine. o Margie, how often ha IRON
thought, of that movement Of yours. Was =
prophetic?
Father did not see Paul Clifford with nv
eyes.
He saw only the accomplished man and
was pleased. 1t would be useless to tell how
! plead with my sister, urged her to wait, to
lest her lover. If avaiIad notbipo opd bod I