Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-04-24
Their down for week or SO. Keep thing:

going on. Back SOON as can.
Then, when Jim started off on his days
work, it suddenly occurred to him that, as
George would be away probably more than
week, he would send his cross home to
Maggie for safe-keeping. He knocked
around so among the machinery, that it
might get broken or lost, and he knew
George priced it highly. So-the fates will
led it that he had no time to write note
he thrust it into an envelope lying on
Georges desk, already directed to Maggie,
and sent it on its i'll omened message, all
unconscious of the mischief he was brew
ing by the act
The long winter had passed away-some-
how OF other, but Maggie Carroll hardly
knew how. It was enough fol- her that
she had been very wretched and un uttera-
bly, miserable since a day, months past,
when, without word or sign OF warning,
she Lad received from George Wayland
the cross he had solemnly sworn to always
wear for her sake.
Ned Morrison, too, had seemed so de-
lighted when he learned-hoW such pitiful
facts do leak out-that it was all over with
Maggie and George, and full of pomposity
and self-importance over his inheritance,
had tormented Maggie half crazy to accept
him.
And now, when even his dull head had
been made to know it was impossible, and
he had transferred his attentions and atfec-
lions to Amy Harrow, he was to be married,
and George Maryland and Jim Carroll were
coming home on the same night.
Now it was shutdown, and in an hour
they would meet, for George was obliged
to see Maggie's father on business at the
earliest moment. And so she dressed in
the self-same suit she had worn that night
George had tied the velvet around her
neck, a dark, claret-silk dress, and i'll a
nful.memory Of that dear past, fastened
the cross in its old place. George Wayland
should see she had kept her word, if he had
not. She would let him know that though
carelessness lost hers still she would be
true to him no matter how false he was to
her. And 50, when her father called her
down from her room, she went with slow,
listless footsteps, and wildly throbbng
heart that would not be still, to meet the
man she loved so dearly the man who had
ceased to regard her almost as soon as he
was out OF her presence.
She had heard his voice, so round and
full, and so sweet to her hungry ears, be-
fore the door that stood ajar. Ned Nor
rison to be married tonight to little Amy
Harrows! Why l thought and that
very moment Maggie walked quietly in,
her face pale as death, her blue eyes burn
ing like stars.
George, [ am glad to see you. How do
you do =
She extended her hand and looked him
frankly in the face. And why should she
not ? Maggie had naturally supposed that
he would have been perfectly careless, ut
terly Indifferent, and here he was actually
trembling like man with an ague.
Had he been conscience-smitten at the
sight of her loyalty Haunted SO openly in
the very face of his treachery? Yes, ,
Maggie was deciding, it was the cross
that made and that Georges voice, this
time low, intense, addressed her:
Maggie, can you explain away this sick
ening mystery? find to my utter demon.
alization, that Ned is to be married, and
not to you. And yet the cross came to me
in his hand writing.
All over Maggie's face famed the red
surges Her lost treasure found by Ned
Morrison, and sent-oh, so maliciously y
to George Maryland. And then a giddy,
binding rush of happiness almost choked
her.
o, George l lost it somehow, some
where. never knew. Do you think, re-
ally, could have $685.
Her tears, yelling thick and fast, al
most choked her.
But this cross, Maggie, that you have
on p
1T came in q blank letter one day, two
OF three weeks after lost mine, and / sup
posed you wanted to get rid Of me. You
know what you said
Wayland looked utterly thunder-strick-
en-.
L have mine at this moment, have been
as true as steel. See y
He threw back his overcoat; there was
the tiny cross attached to his watch-chain.
ooh, George =
Maggie, my own darlingp
It was utterly incomprehensible to them,
but they loved each other, and what did
they care
That evening, when all the family, with
the two guests, were sitting around the
fire Jim Carroll asked Maggie if she ever
received the little cross he sent her, and
then it was as plain as sunshine, although
none Of them ever knew of Ned Morrison's
theft, nor in their new blissful happiness
did they care.