Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-12-17

Z
advantage II he should see one whom
he could prefer, he should not feel him.
self teltered, aud give up his wishes Tor
her saks-should not come back, when
the ten years were over, TO keep faith
with a dowerless and faded bride. She
was firm in her decision. Philip, not un-
naturally, was indignant; he accused her
OF scf-wiil aud of Indifference. Self
will! when She would have given tho
world 10 yield. indifference , whcs her
heart cried out, every moment, against
her reason.
lie went away-uot teuderly; and
MargarcD was ler to find what consola-
ton She could in thc belle! that she had
acted lor the best
Occupation j, said to bc the best cure
10, sIivt. II SO, Aargare.'s Mould soon
have been aiiayed. Bat busy as She was,
she found time TO remember and to suffer,
Philip IIearn has not been here for
q lou- time, it seems to me, Ais. Leigh
lou observed one day
No, mamma.
Ill j.. very strange that he should
caoo,c such time TO neglect You, Mar
sat,t
1t i, moi neglect, mamma; it is by my
oua i,A ,ha, he has ceased 20 come /
have uy, ,.kcd to trouble You with it, or
You >aoU,l have Known before
And ,hc briefly explained th, new as
poet Nbcl then. ,rlriou, hnd assumed
M,,. Lyi.btou'- ,njud MSS dnilcd, "a, she
h>'cacd
rwJp M, i promising Young man,
anl i' vasa ply thai Margaret should
-.yc zap her prospects; su,i, lie con-
,cnjcacc Of tho arrangement struck her
vs,r ayccp;ab.y Margaret coa,l now
devote herself 90 her ouo family, who
had certainly the best claim upon her,
and there would lie no outside coaSidera
tions or m,crcs, to interfere.
Il must have been mistaken she
thought. "n fancy jug her 50 attached TO
Pajlip. II she had been, she could not
have given hjm up 50 readily. never
could have done il; bu: then, Margaret
i,u't Ike me. Wci,. these cold hearted
people have ono most comfortable lime
ot il, after ALL"
If hope, msmma, you do no, t3>ap.
prove wha. na>c done elid Margaret,
ausious)y.
"Disapprove? Oh, 40 dear think
/ MS all Tor the best, If you could 10 it.
/ am sure We shall he glad TO have You
to ourselves again. Bu. you Nigh; have
lcl, him "a little hope, Maggie you might
have said that, in ease of any fortunate
circumstances occurring, or some uu.5ob-
Sd Tor turn IN our affair, You woIId re-
new lhc engagement"
"BuJ don't lo0 see, mamma, la1, il
would uc on.y ano,he. way of binding
han. lie would have been very clad oi
such an opportunity. and would have
considered himself still pledged and
waited lor better times"
Very well dear; you know best what
suits yoo mus, speak TO ihc doctor
a,oa, my drops the ucNt time be comes.
They are affecting my appetite; and yet
don't Nuow how I'm to rest without
them. There is tic diliculI--what
help, in ono direction hurts in another.
BE tlanhluI, Margaret, that You keep
Your health at any rate"
II am. mamma. she answered, kissing
the pale, pretty cheek.
Mrs. Leighton had been pretty in her
youth and still retained many traces oil
her charms. Perhaps shc had never a
loudcr admirer than her daughter.
II believe could sleep now she
SAID. Draw down the blind, please, and
r.row shawl over my ice;. I'll not
scep YOU any longer; and don't trouble
Yourself 10 come up. will ring if |
need anything"
Margaret went down. She had told
hen story, and recciycl her sympathy
all she wa, l.tely 10 receive, if not all
she lonsel Tor. Perhaps it was Tor the
best, she told herself; perhaps any warm
e. expression would have overcome her
untitled her tor all she had to do.
Poo. mamma! she had been i'll so long
that anything outside her own room
seemed strange and foreign TO her;
probably TO any one who suffered much
bodily pain, mere matters OF feeling did
not look very important. Her thoughts
flew back-how sadly, how fondly-to
that last happy evening with the dear
taiher-the eyenin. before that dreadful
day which had seen him cut down in the
midst of health and strength. Could It
be tha, all love had vanished utterly
from tho world? That he, safe in the
serene heavens, cared no longer for the
sorrows Of those he had left behind?
Oh. 10 see him jus, once more. To feel
once more the rest and protection OF lis