The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-07-18
HtHc8UIT vases.

think ,os Cousin EicaHoFr. ! feel ao
rrdmoHiaons Of insanity.
Miss E.cau0rc Hastings, of Hastbg
Han, leaned back in Der velvet cushioned
arm chair and applied her viuaigrctte to
hef nose. II was more than She could
eympchgDd-ihis uuheard Of conduct In
hcr cousin and ward. The fashionable
women Of the world could have no un-
dcrstandlng Oft.
II Is incredible, Margaret ! always
thought you were a girl Of good sense.
Thank you Cousin Eleanorc, claim to
he.
Bnt you have no right to the claim
such an absurd thingl You will not per-
sist ia doing 1t, willyou, DEAR eoaXiugly.
Margaret Vance Ifled her handsome
head with an air Of quiet pride. Her
checks glowed, aud her black eyes shone
with a calm and steady light. There was
determination. like iron, Ia the curve Of
the scarlet lips.
! shall do IT, il is my duty! Heaven
belping me, | will never shrink from
that Aud should be doubly coward, If
! ! refuse to walk in the path OF Justice,
now that it lies so plainly and clearly be-
fore me. Should DO otherwise than !
propose to do, | should despise myself
forever.
How foolish! How ridicalousl The
property is yours. No person III the
world would doubt that fact for mo-
ment. johson Peck was of sound sense,
aud in full possession OF his faculties,
when he made the will which gives you
everything Of which he died possessed.
Granted. do not dispute that. But
when the win was made he was under
/ the influence Of a passion: and no man
eau he perfectly sane when passion sways
/ him utterly. You know the circum-
stances as well as do. lie had set his
heart on his sons marriage with Miss
Marshal lady Of wealth and social po-
sition, aud that son refused TO obey him,
choosing rather to follow the dictates of
his own inclination. lie married poor
curate's daughter; and from that day to
the day of his death, bis father never saw
his face. lie disowned him-nay, more,
. be cursed him-cursed him and his in
nocent children, and when Robbie Peck
died his own father turned from his door
the messenger who came TO bring the
melancholy tidings. You know how it
has been since. The widow of his son
has supported his two children by her
own industry, and brought them up
rightly; a son and daughter, so | have
been told, that any mother might be
proud Of The property of Jobson Peck
belongs not to me, but to those children.
Margaret, you are oyer-conscentious
Mr.. Peck gave it to you of his own free
viii. You savad his Hfa oad - ls--.I
you better than he loved any other person.
was fortunate enough to render him a
service.
A service? You speak lightly. The
dog would have killed him but for youl
Cousin Eleanore, no credit is due to
me. Fido knew me, and desisted from
his attack on the helpless old man, be-
cause | called to him. There was no sac
ri1ce on my part But for this Mr.. Peck
felt grateful; and during the time that |
visited the Sunday School near his home,
! frequently went in to read to him, or
tell him the news of the day. never
dreamed of being rewarded for it. lie
was a hard, stern, old man; but | enjoyed
his socity, and have been happiest, al
ways while doing right.
And you are resolved?
Yes, am resolved, Cousin Eleanore.
A bitter smile wreathed the handsome,
aristocratic face of Miss EleanOre Has
tings.
Very well, Margaret, hope you will
not repent your decision. | have tried
hard to do by yon as ! should, during the
few months you have been with me. Iou
know that do not approve Of voluntary
poverty. was greatly opposed to your
mothers marriage with Romncy Braithe.
Not that have anything to bring against
your fathers character -- but be was
poor Well, he is dead, and so is Mary;
1 will let them rest. But hoped to have
made their child understand what was for
her good. have failed it seems. hope
you know that yon can have no expecta-
lions from me.
Margarcts face flushed sconful
blaze in her magnificent eyes.
have four hundred dollars a year Of
my own, and would live on 1t easily,
without help from any one did so two
years, after my mothers death, before
came to stey with you. Therefore think
you need be under no apprehensions,
Then, her face softening a little, she adj
ded True, have no expectations, save
for your love.
You are my only living relation, and
you surely will not deny me that!
/ shall remember you are my cousin.
But what Of Percy Russell; Have you
thought Of this matter.
Margarefs eyes dropped; a soft flush
stole up 10 her forehead.
He will desire me 10 do what Is right,
| think II not, then we shall be better
apart,
Well, you have chosen, and you will
see. Have you spoken to him about your
absurd decisiont
! have written him.
Viii you let me see the repyE
Ily0u wish IL, But, 81 course, a right