The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-29
TRIED AND TRUE.

-
Agnes Gray says that every woman
has mission. What do you suppose nv
mission is, mammal"
Mission, indeed" laughed Mrs. AL
leyne, looking proudly at her pretty
daughter; 6 1 suspect, my dear Meggy,
your mission is to f1irt and dance"
Mrs. Alleyne was wealthy, and Mar
garet was her only child. Her whole
life was spent in rendering her daughter
happy, so Margaret was petted to her
hearts content. To look as pretty and
bewitching as possible, to be arrayed like
Solomon in all his glory from morning
till night, to pass her time in an endless
succession of gayety, was her child's mis-
sion, according to Mrs. Alleyne's idea
80 Margaret received all the gifts fortune
showered upon her as a matter of course.
and enjoyed life as her mother expected
she would do.
At last Margaret met her fate, to the
great wondernlent of her friends, in the
person of John Graham, wealthy young
merchant; for Margaret Alleyne, with
her baby face and coquettish manner,
was the last person in the world you
would imagine the grave business man
would love, and he the most unlikely of
all her suitors to carry off the belle. But
Margaret did love her lover; he was 30
grave and clever. So amidst the con-
CALCULATIONS of his friends and the tears
of her parents, John Graham bore his
fair bride off to his home.
He was very much in love with prettv
Margaret. The soft, rose flushed face,
the tender blue eyes, the crinkled golden
hair, never lost their charm for him.
But he never dreamed that this little
fragile creature could share the burden
of life with him. No, that dimpled face
was only made for smiles, SO he in
dulged and caressed her, but his cares he
bore alone.
The large fortune left by Johns father
had been doubled by his'energy; but
now, by the simultaneous failure of two
or three firms he had trusted and the
villainy of a confidential clerk, the
wealthy merchant saw himself upon the
brink of ruin. Love rendered Margaret
keen sighted; she quickly perceived that
all was not right with her husband; his
wan, haggard face frightened her. But
dearly as she loved she was too proud to
seek his confidence so both were wretch.
ed, though each endeavored to conceal il
from the other.
When John saw that ruin was inevi
table he wrote to Mrs. Alleyne
frankly disclosing the state of affairs
The mother insisted that her daughter
should return TO her her husband could
claim her when fortune again smiled
upon him; but in the meantime Marga
ret was better with her; to spare hel
anxiety, it was better she should moi
know of her husbands difficulties.
With heavy heart John agreed to all
Mrs. Alleyne's demands Margaret:
love was the only brightness left in hi.
life but of course if she could be hap
pier with her mother he could sacrifice
it. His stern, pale face and constrained
manner affected Margaret painfully wher
he told her he desired her to accept hel
mothers invitation.
He no longer loves me-he wishe.
me to leave him." the poor child CRIED
afterwards, in a passion of tears. But
before him she presented calm exterior
and John Graham thought that hi.
young wife, like the rest of the world
was ready to desert the ship.
So Margaret returned to the home Of
her girlhood, calling all her pride to hel
assistance to enable her to appear indif
ferent but her heart was rent by bitter
pangs, for she had persuaded herself that
her..husband no longer loved her. Whole
nights spent in tears leave traces; pretty
Margaret grew pale and thin, and Mrs.
Alleyne begun to fear that, after all, her
tenderness could not constitute her dar.
fng's happiness. Still, the girl never
complained, but bore her burden in
proud silence.
One night Margaret was at a ball
given by an intimate friend. She had
danced a great deal, and being very tired
sat down near the open window; a
heavy curtain entirely concealed her
Two gentlemen were standing near, and
she could hear their conversation dis
ticntly.
so John Graham is bankrupt. I am
very sorry to hear it he is most honor
able fellow" said one.
"Yes," answered the other; " saw
him last week he looks wretchedIy.
You know he married Miss Alleyne, a
pretty little doll without an idea, and
what is worse, without heart now she
has deserted him in adversely. 1t is
rather hard when a mans own wife will
not aid him to bear his trouble"
Margaret's heart gave great bound.
How she had misjudged him. How
true and tender lie was. He was alone
and in trouble surely her place was at
his side. Then, needless of comments,
she left her hiding place.
The next day John Graham's stately
mansion was to be sold. He had taken
eat pride in his home a thousand
tender associations were connected with
every room. Now. with a heavy heart,
lie wandered through the deserted apart
m .nts. Here was Margaret's piano; the
harp he had given her; the pictures