The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-08-29

add to the comforts of the household, and
give the girls the advantage which their
increasing years demanded. Economies,
though strict, were no longer so grinding
as at first. Margaret had become accus-
toned to her position, and hundted
things, once difficult and perplexing,
were now met with perfect ease. In Mrs.
! Leighton's health there had been some
slight improvement, and the daughters
were left more at liberty than four years
previous. Altogether, the world was
brighter, the prospect more cheerful than
at any time since their great calamity.
Margaret ometimes allowed herself to
think that in another year or two, if al
went on we'll, and Philip still wished
it, there need be no serious obstacle to
their marriage.
She sat, one afternoon, busy with her
needle work, her thoughts straYing in
voluntary toward the future, when Hell
en- came in. There was something pecu-
liar in her manner.
"Why do you look at me SO mysterious
ly?" Margaret asked, half smiling.
Helen was troubled. II don't like to
tell you," she said "and still, perhaps,
you ought to know. l have been at the
Seymours this afternoon, and Julia has
just come home from speeding week at
Ashford, with Emily Deane Emily has
been at Canterbury for two Or three
months past and she heard good deal
about Philip. She did not see him for
she never knew him here, and her friends
were not acquainted with him. -
She paused.
"Nery well,' said Margaret :" ego on"
"But she heard-Oh, Margaret hope
it isn't true !; I don't believe it can be-
that he was attentive to a yonng lady
there, and people thought that they would
De married very soon.'
Margaret turned deadly pale, but con,
trolled herself. did you hear any more?"
she asked.
"Only little-about the girl. That
she was very pretty ard accomplished,
and very young emily just left school. l
shouldn't think Philip would want any
one like that"
"Why not?" said Margaret, trying to
smile. There is no harm IN being young,
surely"
mo; but-no matter. Her father is
very well off, it seems, and she is the
only daughter so that people said it
would oe a good thing for Philip. Oh.
Maggie hope it is not trUe!''
"There is no reason why it should not
be trae," said Margaret slowly, balancing
the probabilities in her own mind.
She had tod herself, many time, that
this was what she had to expect, and yet
oh, how foolish she had been she had
hoped on, trusting in Philips love for her.
1t was her own fault. She would not al
low him to bind himself, anu he had only
used his freedom. Yet the very last time
they met--but it will not co to think of
that. He might have told them, though;
they were only friends they should not
have been left to learn such thing from
common rumor. The next moment she
owned in candor that it was not topic
he could we'll breach to them. Such
young girl, tool All, yes thero was a
charm IN that first freshness of yonth,and
she with her twenty-five years, had lost
1t forever. Then sudden incredulity
came over her. 1t is not so; it can not be
So, she thought There was some mistake;
| reports were so little to be trusted
II she could but know the truth And
she looked with anxiety for Roberts next
letter, which must, she thought, throw
some light upon the question. 1t came at
last--a newspaper with it.
81 wonder what he has sent this for"
exclaimed Grace, opening it, as Margaret
read the letter. at must be something
especial. Oh, here is a marked paragraph.
Sne laid down the journal with a look
! of dismay. Margaret had no mead to ask.
She had learned already from her letter
why the paper was sent and what it con~
tanned.
only dearest sister," Robert wrote, II
don't know how this will effect you,
Without talking much Of the matter,
Philip always gaveme to understand that
he considered himsel engaged to and
should urge YOU TO marry him as soon "a
home cares lett you more at liberty. I
own | never supposed that he would urge
in vain, and locked upon the affair as set
tied. Perhaps | was mistaken; | hope So
now. Icannet but think he has behaved
Ill To US very i'll. His last letter, dated
not week ago. contained not the slight
est inti"latiOn of anything of the kind.
had not answered it, aud shall never do
so nov. If he could leave US to learn
this event from the newspapers, our cor
Responsiveness cannot be very valuable to
him"
Grace and Helen echoed the exclama-
ton. They looked again and again at
the little paragraph, as If something new
could be elected from 1t, but found moth
ing save the one uncomprising fact, that
Philip Hearn, OF Canterbury, had been
married On a rtain day, by a certain
clergyman, to Mary, etc, etc.
! Margaret made no comment. Suspense
was now ended, indeed put till this mo-
ment she had not known how her whole
future had been identified with Philip !;
this moment, which forced her to relin-
ouish even hiS friendship to feel that she