Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-04-30
And twenty years passed by.


And twenty years passed by
To Margaret they seemed to bring
little Of trial or change.
She still dwelt in her old home
though her fashionable mother hac
long since left it to share the man.
sion of merchant prince upon Fifth
Avenue.
Margaret felt no desire to share
the splendor of which the ltte widow
was so inordinately proud. The dear
eli homestead was grand and good
enough for her, and all the denrer, il
the truth must be told, since that ar.
ring presence was removed. So she
dwelt there quietly. with a maiden
aunt for chaperon and companion ;
and ii her schoOlrnates were married,
and she alone remained as ever, Maj
garet Gray.
twas not, however, for lack of Of
fers that she lived this single, solits-
ry life. Many lover had come to
WOO for brown cnrls and soft, dark
eyes, and rosy checks and Grecian
features. and perfect lips, do not Of
ten 90 begging for purchaser, when
back ed By such fortune as Margaret
possessed. She had snitors by the
score, until it came publicly to be un-
dersLood that she wOUll rather see
the suitors at distance, or wo0ing
some one else. After that no one
to try bis luck with Judge
Grey's heiress, and he rejected low
ers coBsoled themselves as speedily
as possit /, by marrying the prettiest
Of her friends.
Margaret went cheerfully to each
wedding. wished the bridegrooms
Joy, anu gave the brides some beauti-
ful and valuable gifts. Evidently she
was then "wearing the willow" for
no one. What could The meaning of
eelibacy so determined be?
And the days and years went on.
And . birthday came at laet, which
showed how the school girl of fifteen
was now woman OF thirty five.
On that day, Margaret, arranging
D abundant ire sses before the glass,
Jaw the first gray hair.
She stopped TO look at it with
smile.
"Ah, he would not say was too
7oung now" she exclaimed.
And just then zap came at the
loor and the servant entered and
brought her card.
"The gentleman is below, Mrs
a argaret, and Do"li I;l,e 20 hP0"@
With you, If convenient, sain INC
,ill.
Margaret looked at the card
"ELLIsoN STRONG"
The room reeled round and round
md she turned so pal, that the gill
vas then frightened.
"Sure, Miss Margaret It IS III that
70 are, ard I'll 60 down and send Inc
gentleman away
mo, no = said Margaret, recover
ne her composure with an effort.
Help me to finish dressing Kate ; |
must see him"
Kate, with wOman's quickness
yuessed. something of tho truth, and
lid her best TO make her mistress
ook as pretty as possltl'.
With the old color in her checks,
md tho old happy light 10 her soft
brown eyes, Margaret went down the
stairs. But at the parior door sud
len thought star'lsd and checked
her
Il am thirty FIVE years old to-day,
and he il now a man OF nifty. ne
has been away for twenty years.
How can | hope or fancy that he has
bered me all this Ii ne as have
thought of him ?''
A little sobered by this misgiging,
she opened the door.
She looked for man almost o
stranger man bent and bowed
with the cares of twenty years;a man
whose brow was furrowed. and whose
statueeque beauty gone as If 1t had
never been.
And she saw before her Ellison
Strong as she bad seen him the very
day Of their parting twenty years
before. Stately and erect as ever,
with . brilliant col,r on his cheek,
and his blue eyes flashing with all
the fire of early youth, and not a
trace Of care or sorrow TO mar the
beauty which she rene mbered so wei
He sprang TO meet her and took her
by the hand, and looked down into
her eyes with searching almost i'm
perious gl4nce.
Ma, garrett" said tho deer, sweet
voice, whose music was unchanged,
{ have staid away from you whole
lifetime and at last, craving 10 see
or hear Of J GU grew toe strong to be
denied, | came here expecting TO find
YOU happy wife, with your children
at your knee, and here you are soli-
tary and alone, though young and
beautiful as ever. How is that 2"
She could not answer with those
deep blue eyes searching Der droop'
ing face so intentIy. But q deer
crimson blush rose slowly 70 hel
cheek, and neck, aud brow, as he
drew her close 10 his side, and spoke
for her far more q quently than ever
words could do.
Il left you twenty years ago, my
darl ng. because | was poor mar
al d fifteen years your senior. | an
rich now-but what about the years
Margaret They ase made me nj
younger am fifty years old tc-1ay.'
but am thirty -fve,' she said il
a low voice. Il see no gray hairs il
your brown lea, but they begin 4
come in mine. Fifty years old TO cay
You lock not an hour older thai
v hen we parted in the ball.
lie bent bis face down upon hers.
margaret, you liked me then
can you love me now--will you b
my wife r.
For an answer she lifted her lips t