Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-12-03
ssName it." she said, looking puzzled

MlttiilS HE 10 ne Cuc Ue0tei Vi AeS'S'
from yourself to Mr.. Bently!"
.ssThis is, an odd request"
II, am aware of it. Will you write
Mr. Bently letter. asking him to in
quire into this matter of the bank fall
ure, and let you know how serious a
business it. really is! !. ).
ssBut don't care about knowing"
81 do" a.
"Why not inquire yourself then9" ;:
'.He has SO much better facilities, for
nvestigation, The truth is. Miss
stone,;I am very much interested in
this failure, and Mr. Bently can find
out all about it for me-, But l don't
like to ask him to do so much for a
comparative strange"
Margaret looked doubtful still, but
she wrote the letter, and | took it to
the city the next day.
Ross Bently grew slightly pale as he
read. sr
81 suppose you know that the bulk
of Miss Stones fortune was in the hand.
of Clarke. Vernon & Co.," l carelessly
observed. =
81 was not aware of it," Bently said
losing another shade of color :.
s'Oh, well, it was. Can anything be
saved out of the crash, do you suppose
Not anything, am very sure" he
stammered And thinking he might
like to mediate upon the aspect of af
fairs, I took my departure, saying that
I would call before / NJ Men It, away again
to take any message he might like to
send.
When l called the next, day be gave
me letter for Margaret; but he looked
any where but at me as took it. -.
caught glimpse at Margaret blue
dress on the piazza as we drove up to
the hotel; and without waiting to go to
my room first, | FASTENED to her, and
gave her the letter
Then, much as | would have liked to
stay Until she had read it, had no e1
cuse for doug go, end therefore lett her
| waited with something more than
curiosity for her appearance at dinner
time, but she did not come at al. /
ate nothing myself, and spent the eve
ming pacing the piazza with my cigar,
and watching her window. But not SO
much as shadow Of what I watched
for crossed my vision.
Remembering Bently's face as he gave
me..the letter, I could imagine that he
might have written something unpless
ant; but even was not prepared for the
contents of the misSive Margaret
placed in my hands the following morn
ing, coming suddenly upon me where l
lcunged on the Shore.
81 suppose that was what YOU wen,
to town for, she said with all angry,
scern, under which quailed, for l felt
guilty; and IS l read | WINGED again.
The scouhdrel! A more disgrsceful
epistle never perused. If Margaret
had loved him ever so dearly, this
would certainly have ended it. He dis
solved the. engagement without SO
much as saying "by your leave" He
did indeed, say something about hast
ening to speak while there was yet an
uncertainty as to how seriously the
failure had involved other people. But
that was the n,erest gloss, and only
gave Margaret the clue to the selfish
reasons for this extraordinary conduct
| folded the letter, and gave it back
to her without remark.
"Well,," she asked, Greatly Vol have
nothing to say?
Shall I challenge him to mortal com
bat with horse hips?" ! inquired.
Tears of anger sparkled il Mar
garetfs beautiful eyes.
"How ceuld YOU hulniliate me eso'"
she said.
Il! Miss Stone!"
81 beg yonr pardon, Mr. Courtney"
she said haughtily.
"And beg yours His. Stone, for
meddling. ] Suspected Mr. Bently; but
not of anything quite SO cold blooded.
Shall you break your heart about such
a selfish feilowf'
''Indeed, no! but l am very angry"
"At whom him or me!'
cat both of you"
] suppose I must have looked terri
bly, a'has he'd and confounded-I tried
to, for she put little hand on my arm,
and then would have swiftly. with
drawn it, but l captured the frail thing
and held it.
~ suppose l ought TO be very thank
full to you" she said, struggling little,
and blushiinig in The most lovely man
ner.
off you viii permit me- ne, 1 viii punish
him for YOU" ! said, gravely.
She looked up inquiringly.
"By marrying you!'
"Oh!"
un. - .l;,.L :. M.a.,.,n ;,