The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-03-22
handsome, stately "master" was gone
to return no more.

And twenty years passed by.
To Margaret they seemed to bring
little of trial or change.
She still dwelt in her old home
though her fashionable mother had
long since left it TO share the mansion
of merchant prince upon Fifth ave.
nue.
Margaret felt no desire to share the
splendor of which the late widow was
so inordinately proud. The dear old
homestead was grand and good enough
for her, and all the dearer, if the truth
must be told, since that jarring pres.
ence was removed. So she dwelt
there quietly, with maiden aunt for
chaperon and companion; and all her
schoolmates were married, and she
alone remained as ever, Margaret
Gray.
1t was not, however, for lack of Of.
fers that she lived this single, solitary
life. Many lover had come To WOO;
for brown curls and soft, dark eyes,
aud rosy cheeks aud Grecian features,
and perfect lips, do not often 60 beg
ging for purchaser when backed by
such fortune as Margaret possessed.
She had suitors by the score, until it
came publicly to be understood that
she would rather see the suitors at n
distance, or wooing some one else.
After that no one ventured tn try his
luck with Judge Gray's heiress, and
the rejected lovers consoled themselves
as speedily as possible by marrying
the prcttiest of her friends.
Margaret went cheeriully to each
wedding, wished the bridegrooms
Joy, and gave to the brides some
beautiful and valuable gifts. Evident
ly she was then wearing the willow
for no one. What could the mean
ing of celibacy so determined be?
And the days and years went on.
And birthday came at 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 it with 4
melancholy smile.
"Ah, he would not say | was too
young now," she exclaimed.
And just then tap cane at the door,
and the servant entered and brought
her card.
The gentleman is below, Miss Mar
garet, and would like TO speak with
You, if convenient said the girl
Margaret looked 1T the card.
ELLISON STRONG"
The room reeled round and round,
and she turned so pale that the girl
was then frightened.
"Sure, Miss Margaret, it is i'll that
ye arc, and I'll go down and send the
gentleman away"
NO, no." said Margaret, recovering
her composure with an effort. Help
me to finish dressing, Kate; must sec
him"
Kate. with a woman's quickness,
guessed something of the truth, and
did her best TO make her mistress look
as pretty as possible.
With the old color in her check,
and the old happy light in her soft,
brown eyes, Margaret stole down
stairs. But a; the parlor door sud
den thought startled and checked her.
Il am thirty.fiye years old to-day,
and he is now a man of fifty. He has
been away for twenty years. How
can | hope or fancy that he has re-
membered me all this time as | have
thought Of him."
A little sobered by this misgiving,
she opened the door.
She looked for a man almost stran-
ger; a man bent and bowed with cares
of twenty years; man whose brow
was furrowed, and whose statuesque
beauty gone as if it had never been.
And she saw before her Ellison
Strong as she had seen him that very
day of their parting twenty years be-
fore. 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 well. He
sprang to meet her, and took her by
the hand, and looked down into her
eyes with a searching, almost impe-
rious glance.
Margaret" said the deep. sweet
voice, whose music was unchanged,
81 have staid away from you a whole
lifetime; and at last, the craving to
see or hear of you grew too strong to
be denied, | came here expecting to
find you a happy wife, with your chill
dren at your knee, and here you are,
solitary and alone, though young and
beautiful as ever. How is that!'
She could not answer with those
deep blue eyes searching her dropping
face SO intently. But deep crimson
blush rose slowly to her cheek, and
neck, and brow, as he drew her close
to his side, and spoke for her more
eloquently that even words could do.
81 left you twenty years ago, my
darling, because L was a poor man
and fifteen years your senior. | am
rich now-but what about the years,
Margaret? They'have made me no
younger. I am fifty years old to-day"
''But / am thirty-five," she said in
low voice. Il see no gray hairs in
your brown eurls, but they begin to
come in mine. Fifty years old to-day?
You look not an hour older than
when we parted in the hail."
He bent his face down upon hers.
Margaret. you liked me then
can you love me now-will you be my
wife?"