Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-04-27

Judge Gray's heiress, and the re-
jected lovers consoled themselves -
speedily as possible by marrying the
prettiest of her friends.
Nargaret went cheerfully to each
wedding, wished the bridegroom
iov, and gave to the brides some
beautiful and valuable gifts. Evil
IDENTIFY she was then wearing the
willow" for no one What could
the meaning of celibacy so determin-
ed be2
And the DAYS and years went on.
And a birthday came st last,
which showed how the school girl
Of fifteen was now the woman OF
thirty-five-
On that day, Margaret arranging
her abundant tresses before the
| glass, saw the first gray hair.
She stopped TO look at IL with .
melancholy smile.
"Ah, he would not say | was toe
Young nOW,n she exclaimed.
And just then a tap came at the
| door, and the servant entered and
brought her a card.
ssThe gentleman is below, Misa
Margaret, and would like to speak
with you, if convenient" said the
Margaret looked at the card.
ELLISON STRONG"
The room reeled round and round,
and she turned so pale that the girl
was frightened.
ssSure, Miss Margaret, It is III that
We are, and Pll go down and send
| the gentleman away"
S.No, no ?" said Margaret recover
/ ing her composure with an effort.
"IIelp me to finish dressing, Kate;
must see him."
! Kate with a woman's quiekness
guessed something of the truth, and
did her best 10 make her mistress
| look a. pretty as possible.
With the old color in her cheek,
aud the old happy light in her soft,
| brown eyes. Margaret stole down
the stairs. But at the parlor door q
sudden thought startled and check
ed her.
Il am thirty-five years old to-day,
and he is now man OF hftY. He
has been away for twenty years.
How can hope or fancy that he has
remembered me all this time as L
have thought OF him."
A little sobered by this misgiving,
she opened the door.
She looked for a man almost a
stranger; man bent and bowed
with the cares of twenty years;
man whose statuesque beauty was
gone as if IL had never been.
Aud she saw before her Ellison
Strong as she had seen him the very
day of their parting twenty years
| before. Stately and as erect as ever,
with a brilliant color on his cheek,
and his blue eyes flashing with all
the fire of early youth, and not a
trace of care or sorrow TO mar the
| beauty which she remembered so
we'll. He sprang to meet her, and
took her by the hand, and looked
down into her eyes with asearching,
almost imperious glance.
Margaret" said the deep, sweet
voice, whose music was unchanged,
"I have stayed away from you =
whole lifetime; and at last the craV-
ing TO see or hear OF you grew too
strong to be denied. / came here ex-
pecting to find YOU n happy wife.
with your children at your knee,
and Eere you are, solitary and
alone, though young and beautiful
as ever. How is thatS"
She could not answer with those
deep blue eyes searching her dFooP-
ing face so intently. But a deep
crimson blush rose slowly to her
cheeks and spoke for her far more
eloquently than words could do.
81 left you twenty years ago, my
darling, because l was fifteen years
your senior and poor man. am
rich now, but what about the years,
Margarotg They have made me no
.. younger. am fifty years old, to-
day"
Margaret, you liked me then
can YOU love me uow-will you be
my wife?"
For an answer she lifted her lips
: 10 his.
ssTwenty years ago you would
! not kiss me; you bade me keep that
first kiss for the man l was to love
I and marry. l have kept it for you
twenty years. Will you take Il
, nowI"
He held her closely to his heart il
, silence.
! Thirty-five and fifty years OF age
Does il seem absurd to you, young
7 lady of sixteen? All mel l some
e times wonder If people ever really
= know how TO love before gray hair
!, begin to come to teach them.