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

"Why not ?' said Margaret, trying TO
smile. There is no harm in being
young, surely"
No; but-no matter. Her father
is very we'll off, it seems, and she is the
only daughter; so that people said it
would be a good thing for Philip. Oh,
Maggie, Hope it isnot true ~
There is no reason why it should not
be rue said Margaret slowly, balancing
the probabilities in her own mind.
She had told herself, many time,
tha, 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 II was her own fault. She
would not allow him to bind himself,
and he had only used his freedom. Yet
The very last time they met-but it would
not do TO think of that. He might have
told them, though; they were old friends
they should not have bean lett TO learn
such Il ding from common rumor. The
next moment she owned in candor that
ii was not topic he could well broach
to thcm. Such young girl, too : All,
yes there was n charm in that first
ircshness Of youth, and she. with her
twenty-five years, had lost it forever.
Then sudden incredibly came over her.
1t is not 50 it cannot be SO, she In fought.
There was some mistake; reports were
g. title 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. II came
at .ast--a newspaper with it.
Il &oudcr what ho has sent this for, -
exclaimed Grace, opening it, as Mar
sarci read the letter. at muct be some.
thing especial oh here is a marked
paragraph.
She laid down the Journal with look
of dismay Margaret had no need to
ask. She had learned already from her
letter why the paper was sent ana What
it contained.
My dearest sister," Robert wrote, Il
don't know how this will affect you.
Without talking much OF the matter,
Philip always gave me 10 understand
tha, hc considered himself engaged to
you, and should urge you to marry him
rs soon rs home cares lett YOU more nj
liberty. own never supposed that he
would urge in ynu, and looked upon the
affair rs settled. Perhaps was misiak-
en- | am sure ! hope so. | cannot but
lhiuS he has behaved i'll to us-ycry III.
His last lcltcr, dated not u week ago,
'incdn5t the slightest intimation ol
auy,io. OF the kind. had not ans
Wctcd ii, and shall ncyer DO 50 now. II
be- could ica,e Us to learn this event
from tho newspapers, our correspond
cuco cannot be very yaluaLlefo him
Grace and Helen echoed tho cxclama.
,ioa They each looked again and
aSajn At The little paragraph, rs if some
thing new could be elected from it, but
found nothing save the one unpromising
iscj that Philip IIearn, of Canterbury,
had 1crn married on n certain day. by
certain clergyman, to Mary, &C., &c.
Margaret made no comment. Sus-
parse was now ended, indeed; but ill
this momeat she had not known now her
whole future had been identified with
Phi.ip; lhi, moment which forced her TO
reliDquish even his friendship; to feel
tina, ,hc had no longer any interest in
him She WAS devoid OF neither pride
nor courage; she made no moan over
her sorrow, even 10 those who felt for
and with her. After the first shock she
gathered up her strength and went reso-
lutcly about her dulios. Nothing was
omittcd-nothing sighted, but The
heart was gone ont Of all; the world
looked 50 weary and hard.
Thus week or two went by--lons,
dreary weeks. Then, rs she sat ono day
in her room. trying to fix her thoughts
on The letter she Was writing, Helen
came in, greatly excited.
"Oh, Margaret 7" she exclaimed, "do
you know what has happened. Philip is
down stairs -
Margaret sank on a seat almost faint
ing. How was she to meet him Why
couldn't he stay away, and spare her this,
at any rate' Yet, since he was here, it
would be best to see him, not to appear
to dread the meeting: best, too, to have
it over as soon as possible.
He came forward to greet her just as
of old. lie seemed the same Philip she
had known and loved all these years.
She wished to show no coldness-notll-
ing that should lead him to think she
felt a right to complain; but it was inn
possible that the constraint should not be
visible in her manner, Philip speedily
observed it.
Are You quite we'll p" he asked.
"Quite well" she replied, trying to be
natural and at ease ''IIave you been in
GuiIdford long ?"
"Only IN hour or two, as You might
have guessed" he said smiling. II am
never here very long without making
YOU aware of it,"
And he could speak thus. as if nothing
had happened 1t was quite time. Mar.