The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-02-01
Margaret.

1t had been very pleasant to be here but,
after all, 1t would be pleasant to be at home
again. And this was my thought, as | sat
IN my own room alone, on the eve of nv de-
parture.
These three months that had been away
from home were the first break during al
most twice as many years, in the lonely ron
tine of the life that Margaret and | had led
together. A lonely life, in a lonely spot, we
had led tor years; and though my heart had
sometimes sickened for human companion
ship. yet the black hills, the wide stretches
OF barren moorland, the dim forests that
bordered them, enclosed all that called
home, and these, too, I loved and longed
for.
Margaret and loved each other dearly
But did not understand my sister, nor
pretend to. She was older than |, and
greatly my superior; and was silent, and
seif-contalned, and very reserved. My sister
was not happy for days at time there
scarcely pass between US dozen sentences ::
and at these times | knew that the unfor-
gotten troubles of her early life were press
ing upon her-troubles which she had suffer
ed while was still child-and kept ST.
lence, merely doing noiselessly what l
could to distract her thoughts, and to make
our cottage bright and cheerful That was
not much, indeed, for no one was better
aware than how poor companion | was
for my sister. had nothing to recommend
me except pretty face, and the earnest
wish to make those about me happy.
AT first, Margarets letters had been few
and short and, much as | loved her, | had
almost dreaded to open them-they never
Jailed to make me weep, half with pain for
my sister. half with tender anger that her
eyes would never see the sunshine But
of late change had come 1t was as if the
pale rose of morning gradually flushed the
SHOWS of some bleak landscape And un-
derstood it. All, how rejoiced at it almost
unbelleving, smiling and trembling at once,
half afraid that should wake and find had
been dreaming. My sister was happy, be-
cause she loved and was loved again! She
had not told me so in words, but words
were not needed.
Hall dozen miles from our own. and far
superior to it, was the home of our nearest
neighbor, widower, and childIess except in
name, for his son had been a wanderer du-
ring many years. We had never seen him ::
and though the name of Percy North was
familiar to US it seemed rather to belong to
some imaginary hero than to any one with a
real existence
But Percy North had returned, so Mar
garet wrote me. She told me also that be
was handsome, brave and talented, and gen
erous. Then, after little, his visits to her
were mentioned-the books. the flowers. the
strange and beautiful souvenirs of his life
IN distant lands, that found their way to
our cottage. Then long time passed in
which no hint was given concerning him;
and when next his name occurred, that rosy
glow spoke OF shone upon every word, and
transhgured the very pages where they were
written; and Margaret called him Percy.
The night that reached home was bleak
and chill +; but once the door of the cottage
was opened, darkness and night seemed
banished even from thought Never had
the sitting room looked so cheerful and in
viting. Great lunches Of autumn leave.
dropped magnihcently from the vases; the
nrelight gllttered on the shining table-furni-
ture and danced cheerily on the wslls the
very pictures dear as Of old. looked new in
their new dress Of green and bright wreaths
As for Margaret, though she, too, was the
Margaret of old, it was with subtitle change.
Pale roses bloomed on her once colorless
cheeks; their outline had grown round and
lovely; her eyes beamed with soft, new
light. 1t was easy to see that Margaret was
happy. | could not forbear telling her
how beautiful she looked, and in answer she
blushed and led me gently to the mirror.
There, Annie" said my sister, lovingly,
"look there for beautyl"
hardly glanced at the face reflected, but
turned from the glass and kissed my sister
again and again.
Bot, see, Margaret cried, presently,
table is set for three. How is that ? Is it
for you and me and happiness ?"
=" Happiness is our guest also, tonight" :"
said Margaret, with brighter color; but
Percy North will take tea with US this even.
ming. He was so anxious to see my sister,"
she said, hesitatingly.
my sister is just as anxious to see
him, believe me-" | cried, gayly. What
pictures have / not formed of him. He
must be very grand to equal them, and uery
good, to deserve you, Margaret"
This added with an appearance Of great
boldness, because thought it so much bet
ter to be done with pretense and conceal
ment at once.
Hush" !" said Margaret with crimson
cheeks; 4" hush that is hel"
He entered as she spoke-a handsome
man, singularly handsome; q refined, no.
BILE and generous face. l noted, too, scan
ming him SO attentively as | did, the grave
surprise with which he regarded me, the
uab