The Tipton advertiser., 1876-05-11

walking, maybe, George was out ol
sight and Jim did not see him that
night. And on the morrow one OF
the hands gave his penciled note
from Wayland.
I've little business to attend to
further down for a week or so. Keep
things going on. Back as soon as l
can. CIV.
Then, when Jim started off on his
days work it suddenly occurred to
him that, as George would be away
probably more than a 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 that
George priced it highly. So--and
the faies ordered it that he had no
time to write a line before he went
on-he thrust it into an envelope ly.
ing on Georges desk, alreads direct.
ed to Maggie, and sent it on its i'll
omened message, all unconscious Of
the mischief he was brewing.
The long winter had passed away
somehow or other-Maggie Carol
hardly knew how. It was enough
for her to know that she had been
very wretched and unutterably mis-
erable since day, months past, when
without a word or sign of warning,
she had received from George the
cross he swore always to wear for
her sake.
Ned Morrison had seemed delight
ed when he learned-how such pitt
full facts do leak out-that all was
over with Maggie and George, aud,
full Of pomposity and selfimportance
over his inheritance, had tormentsd
Maggie half crazy to accept him.
And now, when even his dull head
had been made to know it was i'm
possible, and he had transferred his
attentions and affections to Amy
Harrow, he was to be married, and
Wayland and Jimm Carol were COM
ing home on the same night.
1t was sundown, and in an hour
George and Maggie would meet, for
he was obliged to see her father on
business at the earliest moment. And
SO Maggie dressed herself in the self
same suit she had worn that night
George had tied the velvet around
her neck, a dark claret silk dress, and
in painful memory Of that dear past,
fastened the cross in its old place
George Wayland should see that she
had kept her word if he had not
She would let him know that through
carlessness lost hers, still she would
wear the one he returned because
she would be true to him no matter
how false he had been to her. And
so, when her father called her down
from her room, she went with slow,
listless footsteps and wildly throb-
bing 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 heard his voice,
SO round and full, and so sweet in
her hungry ears, before she reached
the door that stood ajar.
.Ned Morrison to be married to-
night to Amy Harrow? Why, !
thought" and that very moment
Maggie walked quietly in, her face
pale as death, her eyes burning like
stars.
George ! am glad to see you
How do you do?"
She extended her hand and looked
him frankly, fully in the eyes. Why
should she not? She had no qualms
of conscience as he must have, and
yet, how strange, how very strange
it was that he was markedly agitated.
Maggie had naturally supposed he
would have been perfectly careless,ut-
terly Indifferent, and here he was ac-
tually trembling like man with age.
He had been conscience-smitten at
sight Of her loyalty to him, Haunted
SO openly in the very face Of treach-
cry.
"Yes," Maggie was deciding, ''it
was the cross that made" And
then Georges voice, this time low
and intense. addressed her.
"Maggie, can you explain away
this sickening mystery? l find to
my utter demoralization, 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 Morrision and sent, oh, so
maliciously, to George Wayland.-
And then giddy, binding rush Of
happiness almost choked her.
90, George. lost it somehow
where ! never knew. Did you think,
really, l could have been $685."
Her tears yelling thick and fast,
choked her.
"But this-the cross, Maggie, that
you have on?"
cit came in blank letter one day
two or three weeks after ! lost mine,
and l supposed you wanted to get
rid of me. You know what you
said?"
Waylend looked utterly thunder
struck.
l have mine at this moment. !