Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-09-16
MARGARET LILY.

It was one Of the chcapcs Of un-
painted. redwood houses, long since
turned black by the rains Of some
forgotten California winter, but over
the door and under The window
clambcrcd luxuriant roscbush with
shining leaves and clustering punches
of some tiny rose which had spicy
fragrance, faint and swcc! as some far
away pleasant memory.
In the little garden which slopcl
down TO the road were few flowers;
few enough to be tended by one pair
Of hands, and showing loving nurture
by their rank and beautiful blossoms.
"N1argaret!" called n feeble. fretful
piece from somewhere within The
black cottage.
Margaret was in The small garden;
snail girl, with Il soft bloom on her
rounded checks, and a pair Of hazel,
electrical eyes; not prctty-.!tar from
it-but woman who drew hearts to
herself as a magucL does iron filings;
yon felt il when you met her eyes.
She had been tending her plants ),
and even now held in her fingers :,
half opened blood rcd rose; she WAS
standing inthe narrow path, looking
too tall for her small and mean sur
rundina.:, and gazing down the dusty
and ugly road, now ut lis luslicst and
ugl licsi.
Margaret y again called the
1ucrclous voice; you could easily be /.
icve that monc would call that wo
man Maggie" she looked every inch
50 true 10 her beautiful name. Yet
she s,'ll stoo'l, halfSmiling, halfblush :
l'':S,. and i:cithcr answered nor turne.l
10 20 IN: and yet ono could see but Il
dusiy llrrscman on dusty horse COM
',s swiftly up the road. When lie
reached the gate he drew in the rcius,
and raised lis hat with Il ci,iliod
grace which NIargartl's eyes but
rarely saw.
you look like Flora herself, Miss
Lily, hcsa;l.
A!ar"a',t bluShcl and smiled, and
uttered so.:;c,l'ing rninlcligbc.
'll'w is your mother to-day q
asked the cavalier
"Afout the same. iha;s yo1." She
spoke cut clearly, then, and ringing.
cha:m:ny voice she had.
Mere commonplaccs followed,
about the weather. tho dusty road !,
the ball that WAS coming of in Nc
k'niry's barn, and then the feeble
voice vailed again
Margaret, Margaret" She start
cd 3u'Iiily, as though she had not
heard it before. Excuse me-" She
sa'd, "moihcr is calling me-"
at least, said tic horscman, "bc-
son thaL beautiful rose upon me-"
She went down 10 the Garden fence
and handed il 10 him. and som chow,
whether it was handed too hastily, or
taken zoo awkwardly, the vicious
thorn ran into her finger, and made
her sivc l'I;lc half cry ofpain. lie
held her hand then, saying:
"What n shame! I was 50 awk-
ward !! May cure it in my mcthcr's
way, Miss Marc saret?'
She knew. she guessed and lie knew
she did; but she said quickly-hc
ihonsht her voice q very sweet on c c-
What was your mothers way %
ihcn in ihc same breath s:Ycs.js #
isa good one"
And The foolish blood from Mar
ga'et Lily's' heart thrilled in every
vein when he stopped by his horse S
head and L'ascd the hurt tiuscr again
and again.
"Mar@arct!' = came The feeble voice.
OH! Mr.. Cranbournc /" she cried,
''Lct nc so; must SO into mother"
Mr.. Cranbournc let tho fingers go,
and smiled queer smile as he watch
cd her so up the path in her free,
SW,,.,,nn, ,,r, ,,rf,,1 ,,.o,.