Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-02-16

She still dwet in her old home, thou. h her
fashionable mother had long since left it 10
share the mansion OF merchant prince upon
Fifth avenue
/ Margaret felt no desire to share the splendor
Of which the late widow was so inordinately
proud. The dear old homestead was grand
mud good enough for her, and all the dcarcr,
il the truth must he told, since That Earring
presence was removed So she dwelt there
quietly, with a maiden aunt for chapcron and
companion and all her schoolnlates were
married and she alone remained as ever Mar
garet Gray.
! II was not, however, for lack Of offers that
she lived this single, solitary life MANY a
lover had come 10 WOO for brown curls and
| soft, dark eyes, and rosy cheeks aud Grecinn
features, and perfect lips do not often 20 beg
ging for purchaser when backed by such n
fortune MS Margaret possessed. She had suit
ors by the score, until 1t came publicly TO he
understood that site would rather see the suit
ors nj u distance, or wooing some one else
After that no one venturcd to try his luck with
Judge Gray heiress, and the rejected lovers
cons0lcd themselves MS speedily as possible by
marrying the pretliest Of her friends.
Margarent went cheeriully to each wedding,
wished the bridegroom joy, and gave to the
brides some beautiful and valuable gifts. Evil
IDENTITY she was then wearing the willow for
no one. What could the meaning Of celibacy
50 determined be
And the days and years went on. Aud q
birthday came nj last, which showed how the
school girl of fifteen was now the woman Of
,hirty-6vc.
On that day, Margaret, arranging her abun
daat tresses before the gMss, saw the first gray
hair.
She stopped to look at It with melancholy
smile
"Ah, he would not say was too young
now she exclaimed
Aud just then n zap came at the door. and
the servant entered and brought her card.
The gentleman is below, Miss Margaret,
and would like 10 speak with you, if convent
emit, said the girl.
Margaret looked at the card
ELLISON STRONG"
The room reeled round and round, and she
turned SO pale that the girl was then frightcn-
cd.
'Sure, Miss Margaret, it is i'll that ve are.
and IN go down and send the gentleman
away
mo no T. said Margaret, recovering her
composure with AN effort. Help me to fin
ish dressing. Kate, ! must see him"
Kate with womans qnckness guessed
something of the ruth, and did her best TO
make her mistress look rs pretty rs possible.
With the old color in her cheek, and the old
happy light in her soft. brown eyes. Margaret
stole down the stairs But at the paror door
n sudden thought startled and checked her.
81 nm thirty -firc years old to-day, and he
is now u man Of fifty. lie has been away for
twenty Years How can hope or lnncv that
he has remembered me all this time MS | have
thought of him"
A little sobcred by this misgiring, she open
ed The door
She looked for n man almost n stranger n
man bent and bowed with the cares of twenty
years man whose brow WINS furrowcd. and
whose siatuesqne beauty was gone as il it had
never been.
And she saw before her Ellison Strong ma
she had seen him the very day Of their parting
twenty years before. Stately and as erect rs
ever, with II brilliant color on his cheek, and
his blue eyes liasbing with all the fire of enrly
youth aud not II trace Of care or sorrow 10 |
mar the beauty which she remembered SO well |
he sprnng to meet her, and took her hy the
hand, md looked down into he: eyes with u
almost imperiOus glance.
margaret" said the deep sweet voice
whose music was unchanged, Il have stnid
away from you whole lifetime and ut last
The craving 10 see or hear OF yon grew too
strong 10 he denied | came here expecting to
ind yon happy wife, with your children AT
'onr knee, aud here you me, solitary and
done, though young and beautiful as ever
How is that p
She could not answer with those deep blue
'yes searching her dropping face so intenlly
But deep crimson blush rose slowly TO her
heck, and neck, and brow rs he drew her
lose 10 his side, and spoke for her far more
,loqnently than even words could do.
I'll left yon twenty years ngo, my darling,
because was poor man aud fifteen ycnrs
your senior. nm rich now but what about
he years, Margaret They have lnndc Inc no
younger nm fifty years old to-day"
But nm thiriy-fve," she said in n low
'oice. ~ see no griy hairs in your brown
.uds, but they begin 10 come in mine. Fny
ears old to-day" You look not an hour
'ldcr than when we parted in the hall"
lie bent his face down upon hers
Margaret, y0n liked me then--can you love
ne now-wil you he my wife
For nm answer she lifted her lips 10 his
Twenty years ago you would not kiss me
on oade me keep that first kiss for the man /
vas 10 love and injury. have kept /, for you
wenty years. Will you take il now 2"
lie held her closely to his heart ia silence.
Thirty-fiye and fifty years ofnee Does il
ZEN absurd TO you, young lady Of sixteen ?" :
h me sometimes wonder II people ever
'nlly know how to love before gray hairs be-
in 10 come TO teach them.