Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-06-26

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interpret the daring of his eye, the re-
solve about his handsome mouth. Evi-
IDENTIFY he was vastly lazy or Indifferent
more evidently he viewed preserve
making, housekeeping young lady as a
bore.
On these two topics ON which Mar
garet was supposed to be at home, Ade
laide piled her vigorously. George
listened disdainfully, as he lay lounging
ON the sofa, with eyes half closed. Mar
garet saw and understood perfectly, but
answered nevertheless. It was only
what she expected. There was no reason
why she should not be content to have it
so. She had not even pang of mortifi-
cation.
A few days after Adelaide bounced in
on the Derwents most unexpectedly.
"Where is Margaret 1 want Mar
garrett" was her salutation. "Maggie,
we want you to come up and help us.
Mamma is i'll with the rheumatism-and
1, you know, am wretched nurse, and
have my hands full with her; and I
don't want any of the Polly Prys of the
village. Come up and stay week, will
you9"
Margaret had a popularity not often
developed in heroines-a willingness to
oblige. She might have thought in her
heart that George Leighton would prove
no very gracious patient; but she went,
nevertheless.
George, on his part, was lying in wait
for her, Adelaide having extolled her as
so practical, and the best nurse in
Stapleton; he had expected to be lee
tured and tutored; to be dosed and deaf
ened with receipts and prudential max
inns; but Margaret was repose itself.
She would read to him if he would allow
her; she was strict in enforcing the doc
tors directions; otherwise, she was very
much like the atmosphere. Her care
surrounded him, yet he scarcely felt her
presence.
He observed, as she sat quietly near
the sofa working, that she had white
hands and lively little fingers. He fell
to studying her collar and cuffs, and all
the exquisite details of her neat dress.
Then he began to speculate if, when she
sat there SO quietly, she could be think
ing. Gould she think, in the true sense
of the word He fancied that her eyes
and forehead answered yes, and that her
mouth assured him that the thoughts
we're pure and sweet.
He resolved to use his privilege, as
patient, to make her talk.
"Why are you SO silent2" he COM
menced, abruptly. "Don't you know
you should amuse me?"
THAT is not my fault. I am good
at administering medic ines and arrang-
ing sofa pillows"
81 am not sure; but one thing I
know-you are letting me worry myself
into nervous fever, trying to find out
if there is anything in that heart of
yours"
"Moke yourself easy, then. I can
assure you there is not"
81 do not believe it. If that had
been the case you would have been more
shy in avowing it."
81 mean nothing that will interest
you"
"How do you know what will interest
me2 You have no right to jump at con-
clusions."
Margaret was not to be browbeaten
into loquaciousness, SO she sat mute.
81 beg pardon" went on George.
81 know [ am a savage; but pray have
pity on me. You can never guess how
it gals and wearies me, lying here, an
invalid. [ am sure you are sensible.
Won't you shed little of your light on
me2"
This was too much. Margaret burst
into hearty laugh, and the ice was
broken. From that time she and George
Leighton met-not as strangers spying
out the land-but with the hearty cor
diality of those who know that they
have something pleasant in common. It
was astonishing how Georges GONZALES
cence was prolonged, and how impossi-
BILE it was for any one to anticipate his
wants, with the exception of Miss Mar
garet Derwent. TWAS equally astound-
ing the change that had occurred to
her. People said:
"Why, Maggie Derwent is blooming
out at last, and growing rosy and hand
some. declare, if she isn't handsomer
than Sarah, now she has that sparkling
look and bright way with her. I don't
see what has come over her,"
George Leighton knew, however, and
smiled, after hearing such remarks, into
Margaret's eyes, with a triumph that
puzzled her little, though she troubled
herself very little about it, or with any
thing at that sweet time. All things
mortal have an end, though, and so had
Georges convalescence. He was quite
able now to ride and walk, and, of
course, one of his first visits was at the
Derwent's house.
There he saw Sarah, and seemed
struck with her beauty. Margaret saw,
aud gliding into the background which
was always assigned her at home,
watched him. She had seen all the
other young men of Stapleton whisper
ing soft notbinos in Sarah's ear. md