Saint Mary's beacon., 1873-08-28

softencd towards him. bus ths osxt she
rose up. and, sweeping her sye1 cver the
magnificent apartment. said. cFIy:
"No. no. | cannot live wist1 them. |"
! She ascended to her chambsry ohese he,
maid was awaiting her coming She yea.
sily submitted herself to her ski 4 hands,
and having substituted 4 md6u<se srap.
per for the party rehes. che dicn <rea her
sleepy attendant and Sank ipfo o-sn cast
chair which stood before the She
folded her white jewelled kssf - Jan.
! and shesxhs oves the events 81 Tie past
few years.
What yain. prof,less life I have
" she murmured. regretfully.-
"Who has been benefited by it? Not
even myself. And with the abundant
means have wasted. how much good
mi ght have done. Have I, indeed, been
happier than was when I sat in my lit
tie chamber. the only ornaments possess
sed, white rose for my hair. and nv
mothers old-fashioned wedding ring for
my finger" And with her mothers
memory came back tenderness. a soft.
ness to the heart Of Margery Leslie which
had not visited it for years. ut is not
too late to retrieve myself. and l will :"
she added resolutely. II cannot recall
the past. but can at least prove to nv
husband that am not dead to al! sense Of
honor and shame"
Margery descended to the breakfast
room different person. The elements Of
true womanhood had SO long .lumbered
in her breast that only the rudest shock
could have aroused them. With their
awakening. came the conviction other un-
worthiness. and a determination to regain
the esteem she had lost. Colonel Les
lie was not present at the table, and to
the servant who summoned him, he said ::
Excuse me to your mistress. and bring
me cup Of coffee. ! wish nothing else. !"
al will carry it to him myself" said
Margery, when she received the message,
and in few moments more she entered
the library where he was sitting.
"Can not assist Yea ?" she said, soft
ily' asshc deposited the unique silver break
fast service at his side.
lie had not noticed her presence before.
Ie glanced hastily into her face, and the
tears stood in his eyes.
81 do not know whether you can or
not" he replied. almost wildly. ..My
brain is in whirl. These papers. point
ing to the heaps upon his either hand
represent all | possessed. have been
here all night. Margcry. and nv couvic-
'.on. after thorough investigation, is,
that we are almost beggars."
You must rest now, at any rate" she
said. gently; land when you have drank
your coffee, We will talk our misfor,uues
over"
Whilst he partook Of the breakfast, she
busted herself in arranging the disordered
apartment. She turned off the gas, which
still burned brilliantly. and throwing aside
the heavy curtains. admitted the sunlight
INTO the room. Not until then did she
observe the change that had taken place
in her husbands appearance. He was
worn anu haggard. and his whole frame
trembled as with an ague Margery sat
down near him. and. leaning her arms
upon the table. looked into his face,
lou are too easily discouraged, Col.
onel Leslie" she exclaimed, wi,h emo.
tion.
IL comprehend our situation much
more e'"sfIy than you do" he replied
'Of the business details am. Of course, ,
ignorant, she answered but they do
not alter nor affect the fact which so inti-
mattel concerns u.s."
"fou realize it all then. and vet your
heart i. not broken r he gasped, rather
than asked.
You refer TO the conversation that
passed between us years ago y she inquir-
ed, the red flush mantlng her cheek, and
the tears gathering in her eyes.
''fes. You told me that you would not
care to live. if bcreft Of society and wealth.
That remembrance has been :he bi,terest
drop in this bitter, bitter cup"
Forget it. - she exclaimed. passion.
ATTY. Forget that was ever so unwo-
manly. so ungrateful Our married life
so far has proved failure. but there is
time enough to redeem it."
Colonel Leslie could scarcely believe
that he heard Alright. "You are no, jest
ing with me. Margery ?"
Indeed. indeed | am not" she ex-
claimed. earnestly. although I have
proved recreant to the trust you once re-
posed in me. am worthier to day to be-
your wife than | was upon our bridal
morning. II you will only esteem me
again as tcu once did. you shall never
have cause 10 regret It,"
! Colonel Leslie gathered her to his heart,
and pressed his lips 10 her forehead.
There is light ahead for US. Margery."
he said. as soon as he could trust himself
to speak. 1T is no. all as dark as i, was
while ego. l have education, talent,
too. my friends used to say, and old rs
am. they must be brought into requisi-
tion. In my early manhood | read and
practiced law. and a few months study
will fit me for the profession again"
There we're but few thousands left of
all of Colonel Lesiie's vast estate But
when Marsery left the spacious residence
which had been the scene Of so many So
cial triumphs, she felt but one sincere re-
gres. and that was that 50 many cpportu-
mites for doing good had been sasiec
| Though the home she entered was hum
bic in comparison. she realized that do
mestic con,entment which Otherwise she
never would have known.
Z With the vigor and energy which had
always been prominent traits in Colonel
Leslie's character. he entered into his rro-
fessiou and became distinguished as q
lawyer. Once in the rish, path, Margery