Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-12-06
LIVING LOVE.
BY MAMIE A. IIEPwOKTH.

A bright room made brighter still
by the light of an open fire. My
readers imagination may not cover
the floor with Brussels nor the furni-
turC with damask, for l shall picture
Margaret WoOdward's sitting-roon
Just as il appeared that winter night,
very humble but full of love and
warmth that were felt As soon as the
foot crossed the door-silL. That Cor-
tainly was a rag carpet; one thought
how comfortable aud clean it look
ed, conscious that the eye did not
weary in matching immense diamonds
or become dazzled by gazing at glar-
ing bouquets. 1t might readily be
guessed that somebody who knew
what tired heads needed had arranged
the pillows of the low lounge, CncaS-
ing them in soft, cool linen, instead
of the customary worstCd work that
is enough to put to flight the mere
idea of sleep; the same somebody
must have draped those pretty chintZ
curtains, giving them the grace of a
womans touch. There was pictures
on the wall; none of them costly, yet
an evident taste was shown in the Sc
lection of the chromos and simpler
photographs-litt treasures that
somebody owned and loved. What
delicate, tender, thought had made
sweet Evangeline look sweeter and
sadder than ever beneath that trailing
moss? while directly opposite the face
of Dickens seemed to hghtcned with
one of his genial smiles, rs if to think
the love which held him in remcm-
brance by crowning his head with the
autumn leaves, Around an engraving
twined luXuriaut ivy plant; over an
other dropped feathery grasses, and
vases of pressed ferns cast fairy
shadows behind them. 4 small book
case contained the only expensive ar
ticles to be seen: choice volumes that
had been handled-uscd, but not
abused.
A pleasant room at any time; per-
haps made more so by the light of the
study lamp and the open fire already
alluded to. OF little use was the for
mcr Just then, for the last numbeTSOf
magazine lay uncut on the table,
and by it's side the neat wOrk-basket
stood undisturbed, Margaret Wood
ward was an industrious woman. She
had need to be, and for so many even
ings it had been her habit to set ply
ing the needle while her companion
talked or read aloud; sometimes
brought his law-books for study,
growing stronger in her cheering pres
ence, and by it better fitted to meet
the task he had undertaken.
A year previous, when she gave hcI
heart aud hand in betrothal to Roger
| Ford, lovcr-like he wanted her all tC
himself then she said: "Nay, Roger
come when you will to our home, Its
door will ever be open to you; but
| YOU know my life i a busy one, anC
because now l am 50 rich III having
/ you, L can not neglect others. There
is hard work before You, and 1t would
indeed be sad if l should prove ,
hindrance. have brother VIII TO d,
for; he is ready to enter college, anC
my energy must be-redoublcd. W,
Join hearts now, dear, for mutual hell
as truly as though We uttered the mar
riage vow, and neither of us Will keel
the other from treading the path o
duty. Why, Roger, l think, instead
it will always be treading the path to
gether; don't you?'
Thus it came to pass that the yOnnl
lawyer found his way to the cottagr
every evening. Sometimes he aide,
Will with his lessons while MaTgare
attended to her household arrange
ments, for she was her own servant
sometimes when her checks wer
! flushed from teaching, he took her fo
a walk and she returned refreshed
saying as they entered the gate: "(
how kind you are, I'm 50 glad to hay
somebody care for mel"
Then they went to the cosy sitting
room, where the large arm chair wait
cd for Roger and the low rocker TO
Margaret. The winter evenings gay
two hours toward work, and often
pair of brown eyes grew moist wit
quiet, happy tears when they locke
up to rest upon the handsome face OF
pOsite, bent so earnestly over the p,
pers that would some day purchas
the little home the lovers had alread
built in fancy.
Occasionally, too, Margaret Ier
her bold penmanship to assist ROgC