Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-05-18
EARGARRT'S MISSION.


Agnes Gray says that every woman has
mis:icn. W lat do you suppose nly mis-
sion is mamma
Mission, indeed" laughed Mrs Al
leyre, looking proudly at her pretty daush-
ter Il suspect, MY dear Meggy, your mis-
sion Is to firt and Gance.
Mrs AIleyne was wealthy and Margaret
was her only child. Her whole life was
spent in rendering her daughter happy, so
Miss Margaret was ret,ed TO her heart ;
content. To look rs pretty and bewitchiGg
- possible. 10 be arraycd ike Solomon in
lis glory from morning til. night, 10 pass
her time in an endless succession OF BeigTa-
Wan Eayety. was her chiid'S mission, &c
curdiuE 10 Mrs. A!ieyue's idea; so Marga-
ret received sil the gifts fortune sbowered
uYoa her quite a. matter Of course. and
enjoyed life as her mother expected she
would do.
At last Margaret met her fate, TO the
great wnnderment of her friend, in tn. per
ron Of } ohn Graham, wealthy young mer-
,|Mut of Baltimore; toT Margaret Aleync,
wirh her baby face and ccqucfti>h manner.
was the last person III the world YOU would
Imagine the grave business man would love,
and he the most unlikely o.! al her Suitors
10 carry of the belle. But Margaret lid
love her lover; he Vas 50 grave and clever.
20. amidst the c0ns yatu!aJions II his friends
and lie tears Of her parents, John Graham
bore his iair bride of to his home.
He was very much in love with pretty
Na-garet. The Eoii. rose flushed face, the
tender blue eyes, the cringel golden hair,
never lost their charln for him. Bet he
never dreamed that this little fragile crea
taye could share the burden of life wiJh him
No, that d!mp.ed face was only made for
Smiles 50 he INDUCED and caressed her, but
hl= cares he bore alone.
The l.rgc fortune left ~ Johns father
had been doubled by his energy ; but now,
by the simultaneous failure Of two or three
firms he had trusted, and the v!lia0y Of a
confidential clerk, the wealthy merchant saw
himself upon the brink ut ruin. Love rem
dered Margaret keen ighted; she quick Is
perceived that all was not right with her
husband; his wan, haggard face frightened
her. Bat dearly as size loved him, she was
200 proud to seek his confidence; so both
were wretched, though each cndeavored TO
conceal it from the other.
When John saw that ruin was Inevitable,
he wrote 50 Mrs. Aileyne, frankly disclosing
the state of affairs The mother insisted
that her daughter should return 10 her; her
husband could claim her when fortune again
smiled upon him but in the meantime Mar
garet was better with her; to spare her anx-
ie,y, it was better she should not know of
her husband difficulties.
With heavy heart John agreed to all OF
Mrs. AIeyue's demands. Margaret's love
was the oaly brightness left in his life but,
of course. if she could be happier with her
mother, he could sacrifice it. His stern pale
tIcs, aud constrained manner a&ected Mar
garet painfully when be told her he desired
her % accept her mother invitation.
He no longer loves me-he wishes me
To leave him. the poor child cried after
ward, IN passion of tears. But before hinl
She presented calm exterior, and John
Graham thought that his youug wife, like
the rest Of the world, was ready to desert
the ship.
30 Margaret returned to the home of heI
EIrl-hood, calling all her pride to her assis-
lance 10 enable her to appear indifferent
t4i her heart was rent by bitter pangs, foi
she had persuaded herself that her husband
No longer loved her Whole nights spent in
tears leave traces; pretty Margaret grew
pale and thin, aad Mrs. Alleyne began to
lear that. after all, her tenderness could not
constitute her darling's happiness. Still,
the elri never complained, but bore her bur
den IN proud silence
One night Margaret was at bali given
By an intimate friend She had danced a
great deal, and being very tired, sat down
near an open window a heavy curtain en-
uTey concealed her Two gentlemen were
sanfing near, and she heard the converse.
ton distinctly.
SO, John Graham, of Baltimore, is hank
ruptt am very sorry to hear 1t; he is
most honorable fellow, said one.
les, answered the other; Il saw HIN
last week he looks wretchedly. You know
he married Miss Alleyne, a pretty little dol
without an idea, and, what is worse, with
9l; heart; now she has deserted him IL
his adversely. 1t is rather hard when
man own wife will not aid him to bear HI
troubles
>, Margaret's heart gave great bound
How she had misjudged him how true an,
tender he was He was alone and in trouble
surely her place was at his side Then
place.
The next day, John Graham's statel
mansion was to be sold. He had take
great pride in his home athousand tende