Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-12-06

"Thc brayest little woman he ever
| knew
But the law-bOoks did not always
cover the table; many an evening
found their owner reading aloud, or
talking earnestly of plans for the fu-
ture. Once in a while he did wish
that work basket, dainty though it
wa, might not fill so conspicuous a
place, yet he remembered how every
stitch counted so much towards VIII s
educatiOn-fOT Margaret, not asham-
ed TO do anything honorable, occupied
her spare moments IL seWing-and he
blessed the fingers that wrought
/ such wonders, feeling that his was the
right to help them. The right, too,
hc claimed TO rest them when the
! clock struck half-past nine, and she
never demonstrated then, because she
/ said she liked to know that somebody
| cared for her-patient Magaret! who
| all her life had cared for others.
/ OF coarse the neIghbOrs gOssipcd;
thought it very improper for Roger to
spend every evening at the cottage.
| Miss Prfmpsey knew he did-had she
not watched to see. and for her part
she maryeled that Godfrey Woodward
didn't rise from his grave to repri-
mand his daughter for wasting so
much time, and she a poor girl. too!
Perhaps, because Godfrey did not do
any such thing, Miss Primpsey felt
it her solemn duty to do it for him;
and, after making a call upon Marga-
ret for that identical purpose, flatter-
ed herself that her words had pro-
duced some effect-her nearer had
turned pale and made no reply. In
decd the interested lady expected (as
the immediate result of her adVice)
that Roger would make his visits less
frequent; at any rate she was 'going
TO sce," and the next night walked up
and down the opposite side of the
street, when, To-! at the accustomed
hour the tall form of the law student
entered the gate, and Margaret open
Cd the door as if watching for him.
Miss Primpsey was vexed enough; !
she had already CXulted IN the pros
pcct of prOclaiming how she lust !
saved that poor, dear, Aargarets rep |
utation by her warning counsel"
Well, If debarred from charging up
on one thing, she would find another; |
and up and down that pavement she |
still walked, hoping, as Roger was IN, |
he would remain sufficiently long for |
her to report the late hour of his de- !
parturC; but again she was disap- |
pointed-the town-clock sounded ten, |
the door opened, and the frosty air /
bore to her listening ear the happy |
"goOd night" of the lovers.
Roger, happening to Overtake Miss |
Primpsey, remarked that it was late .
for her to be out alone, and Offering /
her his arm, smiled as he guessed .
somewhat of "trifling errand, for he |
had received a full account Of her call |
and its mission. Possibly the chill |
which kept her in bed the next few /
days led her to the conclusion that it /
did not pay to watch peoples front |
doors when there was nothing to see; |
at least it gave Margaret the oppOrtu-
nifty of carrying to her some of the |
delicaCies which she was ever ready |
to prepare for the sick.
So a year had passed. Will had /
been started in college with an i'll
creasing ambition to be a partner of
Rogers some day, when Margaret
should keep the home for them all
and never teach school any more.
One full year; then came the night
with which our story opened, as many
Il night had come, bringing Roger.
1t might have been the whistling
wind that caused Margaret to shudder
as she drew the chairs to their won't
ed places, or the sound of sleet
against the window pane; certain it
was she brushed away a tear while
she made the fire blaze, saying: ''It
shall look pleasant for him, and | too
Will be bright" then hearing the
lifting of the gate-latch, sprang to
the door ere he reached it.
He stood warming his hands and
she took the wOrk-basket as though
she would put it way, but he prevent
ed her.
"No, Margaret; leave it there.
love its very sight, speaking of the
happy hours when my dear girl has
encouraged me by her example.
think if could have that basket al
ways by me, 1 might bear the pain
better
On the little bench at his side knelt
MARGARET, aGi for a few moments each |
was silent, struggling with some in
ward suffering plainly visible on eth
er face. He was first to break 1T.
Il cannot bear it, he exclaimed
Pas-ionatCly.
"Why, it won't be long, Roger; 1
shall write you often, and if God
wills, twelvemonths from tO-night.we
will be together again. and such
chccry face raised toward his. II
have rented one room to old Mrs.
Hart, that may not be alone in the
house. 1 am so glad you have the
chance to finish your last year with
Lawyer Charming; the time will b7 /
gone ere we know it-and, 1t might /
be very much harder than it is. We +
have a great deal to be thankful for, /
Roger"
81 wish [ could see it as you do, /
but must confess L cannot be thank |
ful for whole years separation. |
Will you love me just as well when L
come back? Can you trust me thro'
it alp
Over her features there fitted
panied expression-it was gone when
She answered: ''Roger, do not doubt
where l love. We're you leaving for
twenty years Instead of one, returning
You should tindlme yOUrS. There is one
who claiIAs my highest love; because
true to Him, l shall be the truer to
you"
Could she say more? and yet there
was only slight response to the clos
er clasp which her hand gave his.
Brave Margaret! what a pretty pic
turc she drew of their future; what
words of hope and comfort fell from
her lips all that evening, while the
burden of her parting song was: ''It
won't be long, dear, aud then, always
together -
And he, with shadow on his brow
and tho deeper shadow IN his heart,
kept murmuring: '"Tis net so trying
for her as me, else she would show 1t
more" For he recOllected what
Charlie Maynard had told him that
week; how his girl nearly broke her
heart when he went away fora month;
how she declared it would kill her,
and did actually faint when he babe
her goodbye. And here was Marga-
ret, brighter than usual, Why, he
had dreaded that last evcning-al-
most hoped she would feel so badly as
to make him rolinquish his purpose.
She did not look like dying with such
a glow IN her eyes, and he had eN-
peCted to see them heavy with tears
all the evening.
All, Roger Ford. You viii yet learn
/ 10 give thanks that when you We're
weak the woman at your side could
/ be strong; to bless the eyes that met
yours so steadily;itO know the worth
of the heart that can sing even under
! the cloud.
Standing on the threshold where 50
many 'good-nights' had been spo-
/ ken, Margaret's hand did not shake
a she handed him parcel. "Only
some little things you'll need, she
whispered, and her voice quiyCred a
trifc when she said: God bless thee,
my beloved"
Ont into tho storm he went. bmt