The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-05-11
MARGARET'S MISSION.

"Agnes Gray says that every woman
has a mission. What do you suppose
my mission is, mammaP''
EMISSION, indeed" laughed Mrs.
Alleyne, looking proudly at her pretty
daughter. ~ suspect, my dear Meggy,
your mission is to flirt and Dance
Mrs. Alleyne was wealthy, and Mar
garet was her only child. Her whole
lite was spent in rendering her daugh-
ter happy, SO Margaret was petted to
her hearts content. To look as pretty
and bewitchiAg as possible, to be ar
rayed like Solomon in all his glory from
morning 'dll night, to pass her time in
an emo LESS succession of gayety, was
ner ;hild's mission, according to Mrs.
A.aeyne's idea; SO Margaret received all
che gifts fortune showered upon her
40 matter of course, and enjoyed life
as her mother expected she would do.
At last Margaret met her fate, to the
great wonderment of her friends, in
the person of John Graham, q wealthy
young merchant; for Margaret Alleyne,
with her baby face and coquettish man
ner, was the last person in the world
you would imagine the grave business
man would love, and he the most un-
likely of all her suitors to carry off the
belle. But Margaret did love her lover
he was so grave and clever. So amidst
the congratulations of his friends and
the tears of her parents, John Graham
bore his fair bride off 20 his home.
He was very much in love with pretty
Margaret. The soft, rose-flushed face,
the tender Glue eyes, the crinkled gol-
den hair, never lost their charm for
hiri. But he never dreamed that this
little fragile creature could share the
burden Of life with him. No, that dim
pied face was only made for smiles, so he
indulged and caressed her, but his cares
he bore alone.
The large fortune left by Johns IA
ther had been doubled by his energy but
now, by the simultaneous failure Of two
or three firms he had trusted and the
yillainy of 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 him she was
too proud to seek his confidence; sc
both were wretched, though each en-
deavored to conceal it 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
Margaret was better with her; to spare
her anxiety, it was better she should
not know of her husbands difficulties
With heavy heart John agreed t.
all Mrs. Alleyne's demands. .Marga.
Iet's love was the only brightness lef
IN his life; but of course if she could be
happier with her mother he could sac
rihce it. His stern, pale face and con
strained manner affected Margaret pain
fully when he told her he desired her tt
accept her mothers invitation.
He no longer loves me-he wishes
me to leave him." the poor child criei
afterwards, in q passion of tears. Blu
before him she presented calm exte
inor, and John Graham thought that hi
eyoung 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 t.
ner assistance to enable her to appear
indifferent; but her heart was rent b,
eltter pangs, for she had persuaded
herself that her husband no longe