Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-02-29
IN TWENTY YEARS.
80. ---

"Aud so You really think there is moth
ing serious in Margaret's naughtiness. my
dear SIR" said Acknowledgement lady
OF Eve and forty summers to gentleman
fifteen years her junior, who stood be-
hind the open library window, regarding
her with an amused smile.
- Nothing At all serious. my dear Mrs.
Gray" said the gentleman quietly.
land what do you think l had better
do with her y
Send her to me if you like was the
negligent answer"
The lady's anxious face cleared and
frightened at once.
Would you really take her ?"
eff it would give you pleasure l will be
happy to do So"
..Oh. it will be such a weight of mr.
mind, Mr. Strong. cannot tell you what
! have suffered from the girls peculiar
ways since came into this house ta live.
Fond as was of Judge Gray. l doubt If
l ever could have made up my mind to
take him had known rs much Of his only
child as know DOW. And, since her
f...a!:eeII's ....!:eIs death, she has run wild-possi-
lively wild, Mr.. Strong. have not tho
slightest control over her In fact she
sets every one at defiance, and what
"Yes, my dear madam. said Mr.. Strong.
bowling politely. as if he thought she had
completed her sentence. II can easily
understand it all. have had some wild
natures in my time. Good afternoon ma
dam"
With these words human destiny was
decided.
The noxt day saw Margaret. the only
daughter and ,heiress Of the late Judge
Gray. sitting quietly at desk in the vii.
lage academy among group Of girls. who
eyed her over their school books as stfalth-
lily and curiously as if she had been new
ly imported kangaroo.
First. because with her clear. bright
brunette complexion. her large. dark eyes.
and her curling. brown hair. she was BY
far the handsomest girl in the whole school.
Secondly. because she was an heiress.
Thirdly and lastly becsusc they had
heard many tale ce her naughty and
capricious temper. and we're in daily and
hourly expectation of a strife for the mas
terry between her and their grave and
handsome teacher, whose authority no one
within those walls would ever dream OF
disputing, unless, indeed. il would be her
But much to the wonder, and very pos
sibly to the disappointment. of the school
girls, no such outbreak had occurred
Margaret perched in the library gallery a.
home. among her well-beloveG books. had
heard her stcp-mothers accusation. and
the teachers laughing reply. Neither Of
the speakers had been aware of her pres
ence. and she did not make it manifest BY
word, or look. or sign. But when they
were gone she clenchcd her little white
hand. vowed passionately to herself that
she would surprise them both. and make
her step-mothcr appear TO others the harsh,
censorious, and unjust woman she herself.
in her own secre, heart, had always been
willing to believe her.
Accordingly. when informed of the cx-
listing arrangement. she uttered no word
of opposition. much to the astonishment OF
MIS-. Gray. who could scarcely believe
her own eyes when she saw Margaret obc-
dien,ly leave the house each morning with
her sa,chel of school books swinging from
her arm Mr.. Strong was also puzzled -
His deep blue eyes often met those brown
ones with hook of wondering inquiry tha;
made Margaret long to laugh. But the
Que asked no question; and tue other an
swered none. Aud so the DAYS went on,
aud Margaret passed her frs, examination
;riumpLan,ly, aud was proclaimed the best
aud most promising scholar in the school
She ought, therefore. to have been hap
py. But il was with very sad face ths'
she went up into the familiar hall, jus, al
dusk. on the evening Of the great exani.
nation day. to coffee, her books. and taxi
one las, secret look ct place which she
would never again see tenanted a it hai
been ,enanted Of flate-the masters chair
There il stood upon the raised platform
empty ard desola.e. The stately fgur,
shat filed I: like throne was absent; and
yet.- to her drcsming eye. present and
plainly as ever she saw the high. white
brow. and curls Of sunny brown hair. and
the deep blue eyes. and the beautiful Chi.
eled lips that closed 50 firmly in spite o
their beauty She heard the deep. swee
tones Of that beloved voice-hclovcd. Sh,
started al the thought.