The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-05-10

Here the tears begun to flow; she wiped
them away, and made motion to pass
him.
mo; come into the parlor with me,
said Tom, decidedly. "I want to speak
to you"
"And I want to be let alone" said
Maggie, firing up, as she marked his de-
termlned look. "Let me pass, SIR"
"Look here |" said Tom, taking he,
arm in his strong grasp, q" "either you
come into the parlor with me, or I take
you down stairs and say what I've got to
say before my aunt. Take your choice
now."
Poor Maggie hesitated moment, then
made motion toward the psrlor door.
he understood her, and led her in.
DINNER is all ready, SIR" she muir.
INJURED, family, as he released her arm.
| DINNER be hanged I" said Tom, We.
hemently. "Now, Miss Milly Wester.
mann," in a tone Of stern decision,
"tell me who and what you are.'
Milly gave a frightened little gasp,
and was silent.
GIVE been to Westbrook, Tom went
on, mercilessly. "I saw that worthy
old man you called your uncle-I saw his
niece, Miss Maggie Reilly. Now I want
to know who you are, and why you've
been imposing on us ALL" Then, in q
solemn voice, and with very little idea
of what he was talking about "Do
you know what you've done2 Do YOU
know the penalty of taking another per.
sons name that way2"
Mllly was young-only seventeen. 1t
never entered into her head that Tom
might not be so hard as he seemed. Dim
visions of chains and dungeon cells rose
before her. She stretched out her hands
to him with little imploring cry.
"Oh, forgive me didn't know !''
she sobbed out, and burst into an agony
of tears.
"Darn it all l' thought Tom, "I
might have foreseen she'd turn on the
water-works. Aloud he said, in con-
siderably softened voice There,
there |! stop crying, Maggie -Milly,
mean. l won't be hard on you; only "
"a shade of sternness in his voice again
-"you must tell me everything. I'll
stand your friend with my aunt, if you'll
only be honest and own up"
&" I will" said Milly, trying not to
cry. "I wanted to tell Mrs. Young
many time, but my courage always
failed me. Mr.. Tom, that woman down
stairs is my aunt"
What 2"
"That woman-Mrs. Peters," Some
what composed by this time, Milly took
breath, and with a simplicity that
touched Tom and impressed him with
her truth, told her pathetic little story
from beginning to end.
You have done very wrong, Milly,
no doubt" said he. eravely, when she
had finished; "but there's great excuses
for you, after all. And if that old hag
hadn't put it into your head
ooh, don't |" cried Milly, piteously.
She isn't an old hag. Sho pitied me,
q poor girl all alone in this great city.
l was most to blame; I knew better.
And I'll never forget her kindness as
long as I live."
You're pretty good little soul,
think" said Tom, "after all that's come
and gone. Dry your eyes, now-that' Is
highland come down stairs with me. "
Down stairs To my aunt Oh,
Mr.. Tom -
"Y,s. What else - responded our
hero. And before poor Milly could
gasp out another remonstrance, he had
whirled her down stairs and into the
dining-room with the speed of a young
locomotive.
Dinner was nearly over, and poor
Mrs. Young sat trying to entertain her
company, while she fretted inwardly
over the absence of Maggie and Tom.
Suddenly that young gentleman burst
into the room, and marching straight up
to handsome lady on Mrs. Young
right hand, said, in his blandest voice
pray look here, madam"
Such scream as Mrs. Peters gave
when she saw the pale young lady on his
arm Further explanations were render
ed almost unnecessary.
y
Our story grows too long. Suffice it
to say that Mrs. Young forgave Milly,
and retained her in her family, the young
lady declining absolutely to return with
her aunt. Day by day she grew in the af-
fections of her mistress, till she seemed
more like a daughter than the servant OF
the house. "The dearest girl in the
world" Mrs. Young calls her, and some
say Tom Fox is of his aunt's opinion.
But that is only conjecture as yet
Bdzdr.