New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-25

youth, and still retained many traces of
her charms. Perhaps she had never a fOpder
admirer than her daughter.
Il believe / could sleep now" she said.
Draw down the blind, please, and throw
a shawl over my feet. I'll not keep YOU
any longer; and don't trouble yourself to
come up. will ring if l need anything"
margaret went down. She had told her
story, and received her sympathy-alI she
was Hkeiy to receive, if not all she lOnged
Tor. Perhaps it was for the best, she told
herseni perhaps any warmer expression
might have overcome h~er-unftted her for
all she had to do. Poor mammal She had
been Ill 50 long that anything outside her
OWn room seemed strange and foreign to
herj 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 fathcr-the
evening before that dreadful day which had
seen him cut down in the midst Of health
and strength. Could it be that all love had
vanished utterly from the world Thathe,
safe in the serene heavens, cared no longer
for the sorrows of those he had left behind +!
! Oh, to see him just once more To feel
once more the rest and protection Of his
presence!
Margaret's life soon assumed it's routine.
With the aid Of her little sisters she per
formed the labors Of the household, and
found, or took time, to give lessons in music
to a few pupils. With the means thus
saved and earned, che hoped to get through
the year without trenching on their slender
capital.
The invalid's room Was in the centre of
the family everything was arranged with
reference to it, that mamma might not feel
the Hraprmfopta of tbaTr oItaraI E,vt,,,,
Margaret could no longer devote her time
to the work Of Rursing; but Grace and
Helen were trained to fill her place.
from her brothers she heard often. Rob
ert had taken kindly to the change il his
prospects, and wrote in buoyant strain of
all he meant to do, ere long, to advance
ms own and the family fortunes. Edmund, |
less confident, still hoped another year to
tighten his sisters burdens. Both wrote
atteCtlOnately; to both home was still tho
chief place, the most to be desired, and in
that home she was most supreme. 1t was
she who planned, provided, decided all; to
whom the rest looked as their authority
and protection. There was comfort in this,
surely; it was much to be so useful, SO i'm
pOrtant. But was it enOugh} Could it
quite till a young heart and content it ut
terly2 Perhaps it would not have done so
but for a secret, half acknowledged hope.
Philip had left her, as has been said, in
dlspleasure, but a little reflection
made him do her Justice. He wrote then a
long, earnest letter, saying that she could
not, at any rate, prevent his cOnstancy. He
should wait and watch for the first ray of
hope. Meanwhile, he kept up a corresponds
enCe with Robert, through whom he learned
and communicated any news of Importance.
Margaret had read the letter a hundred
times more or less; and every time she said
to herself, He thinks so now, but will he
in six or seven yearsl He may have seen
who are a great deal more attractive
land those who have fortune and
O-nneCtiOns-tO marry whom would aid and
him. Not that he would. ever
marry for such reasons, but he might like
such a person. And | shall be getting older:
when he secs me, he may find me changed.
No; 1t will be unwise to depend upon it. 1t
5 only reasonable to suppose lie may get
tired Of waiting. Dear Philip"
And then she thought how good he was,
constant, and how generous; and spite
If all those prudent resolutions, kept her
iaith in him,
He came to Clifford where they Iived)
within a year, visiting an old friend Of his
81 shall not lose sight of you" he said,
TO Margaret, though you are such a despOt.
[ suppose you will hardly forbid Inc the
own"
"NO,' she answered, smiling, Il have not
he least desire to do So"
Il don't trust you. | believe you would
ike to pass a sort of five mile'act, forbid
ling me to come neal any city, village. or
town that contained you. Oh.
Margaret ~ he added, more seriously, chow l
cold and discreet you are Can you be- {
TOW just a CrHmb Of encouragement ; |
1--WE you everytbiug-nOt much perhaps,
Dut all | have and get nothing in return.
Do you call that generous p
Margaret trembled. 1t was easier to be |
irm in Philips absence than when his {
yOiCe sounded in her ears, and her own S
all the time seconded bis pleading. .
time, however, circumstances decided l
OF her; some one came in, and the CONVEX
alton was Interrupted. When they next I
net, she had resolved afrcsh. /
1t is the merest matter of form he de- Q
Jared at length. 81 am engaged to you; [
nd all you gain is to deprive us of the !
.~leasure we should have IN belonging
Denly to each other
Four years went by. The children grew /
all and helpful. The boys, in their separ- s
to ways. were pr~Uspering-with a modest |
rOsperity, it is true, but such as they were
ager to share at home. Margaret's efforts u
utiiced, as she had hoped, to meet newt r
bic wants, and the means which her
contributed served to add to the r
of the household, and give the s.
the advantage which their increasing
ours AtLldlAtus LtOLbLlttSs luDu4u -
-riCt, were NJ longer so grinding as at
rst. Margaret had become accustomed to g
er position, and a hundred things, once r
IthCult and perpleXIng, were now met II
18th perfect ease. In Mrs. Leighton's h
ealth there had been some slight improve
tent, and the daughters were left more at a
berty than for years previous. Alto c.
ether, the world was brighter, the pros II
eCt more cheerful than at any time since q
great calamity. Margaret sometimes n
lowed herself to think that in another u
ear or two, if all went on well, and Philip W
i'll wished it, there need be no serious OBJ III
acle to their marriage. 81
She sat, one afternoon, busy with her p
sedle work. her thoughts s~traying invoIdn- IL
ny toward the future, when Helen cams
. There was something peculiar in her ST
amer. Dl
"Why do YOU look at me so mysterious a. al
p Margaret asked, half smiling. -,
Helen was troubled. Il don't like to tell r
she said; "and still, perhaps, you 81
lght to know. | have been at the Sew a.,
ours this afternoon, and Julia has lust ~
home from spending a week at Ash f.
I'd, with Emily Dean. Emily has been at b"
lnteTbury for two or three months past
Id she heard a good deal about Philip.
10 did not see him, for she never knew
m here, and her friends were not ac- n,
tainted with him ne
She paused. vo
Very WE'LL said Margaret; go on" no
But she heard-Oh, Margaret! | hope Or
isn't true; | don't believe it can be-that an
was attentive to young lady there, and 70
ople thought that they would be married b.
Iry soon sa