The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-03-22
IN TWENTY YEARS.

| anu so you really THINK there /,
nothing serious in Margaret's naught
mess, dear sir" said fashionabl,
dressed lady of five and forty sum.
mers to gentleman fifteen years hel
junior, who stood behind the oper
library window, regarding her with
an amused smile.
Nothing at all serious, my deal
Mrs. Gray" said the gentleman quiet
ly.
"And what do you think l had bet
ter do with her?"
''Send her to me if you like" wa'
the negligent answer.
The lady's anxious face cleared and
frightened at once.
"Would you really take her?"
"Ifit will give you pleasure l will
be happy to do So"
"Oh, it will be such a weight off my
mind, Mr.. Strong. l cannot tell you
what l have suffered from the girls
peculiar ways since l came into this
house to live. Fond as l was OF
Judge Gray, l doubt if ever could
have made up my mind to take him
had l known as much of his only
child as | know now. And, since hel
fathers death, she has run wild-posi.
lively wild, MIR. Strong. l have not
the 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 SEN
tence. " l can easily understand il
all. But send her to me and>we will
see what can be done. l have had
some wild natures in my time
Good afternoon, madam"
With these words human destiny
was decided.
The next day saw Margaret, the
only daughter and heiress of the late
Judge Gray, sitting quietly at a desk
in the village academy among group
of girls, who eyed her over their
school books as stealthily and curious.
ly as if she had been newly-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 heir
Thirdly and lastly, because they
had heard many q tale of her naughty
and capricious temper, and were in
daily and hourly expectation of a
strife for the mastery between her and
their grave and handsome teacher,
whose authority no one inside those
walls would ever dream of disputing,
unless, indeed, it would be her.
But much to the wonder, and very
possibly TO the disappointment, of the
school girls, no such outbreak had oc-
CURED. Margaret, perched in the
library gallery at home, among her
well l-belovcd books, had heard her
s.ep-mother's accusation and the teach
el laughing reply. Neither of the
spcah ers had been aware of her pres
ence. anl she did not make it manifest
by word, or look, or sign But when
they were gone she clenched her little
white hand, vowed passionately to
herself that she wsuid surprise them
both, and make her stcp-mother appear
to others the harsh, censorious and un-
just woman she herself, in her own
secret heart, had always been willing
to believe her.
Accordingly, when informed of the
existing arrangement, she uttered no
word of opposition, much to the as
tonishment of Mrs. Gray, who could
scarcely believe her own eyes when
she saw Margaret obediently leave
the house each morning, with her
satchel of books swinging from her
arm. Mr.. Strong was also puzzled.
His deep blue eyes often met those
brown ones with look of wondering
inquiry that made Margaret long to
laugh. But the one asked no ques-
tions; the other answered none. And
so the days went on, and Margaret
passed her first examination triumph
antly, and was proclaimed the best
and most promising scholar in the
school.
She ought, therefore, to have been
happy. But it was with very sad
face that she went up into the familiar
hall, just at dusk, on the evening of
the examination day, to collect her
books, and take one last secret look
at a place which she would never
again see tenanted as it had been ten
anted of late-the masters chair.
There it stood upon the raised plat
form, empty and desolate. The state
ly figure that filled it like a throne
was absent; and yet, to her dreaming
eye, present as plainly as ever, she saw
the high, white brow and curls of sun
ny brown hair, and the deep blue eyes,
and the beautifully chiseled lips that
closed SO firmly in spite of their beau
ty. She heard the deep, sweet tones
of that beloved voice-beloved! She
started at the thought.
ooh! my dear master" she said
aloud, and Lurying her head in her
hands she sat down in the empty chair
and wept.,
A step crossed the hall hastily, an
arm was thrown around her waist;
that voice, all hurried and agitated
was speaking in her very ear.
"My pupil Oh, if were younger
or you older; if were richer or you
poorer, would dare to say My Mar.
garet,' and do my best to turn this
girlish liking into a woman's love
But am poor man, darling, and ]
am fifteen years older than you. Re.
member me when VOL remem hei