Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-20
Margaret's Mission

"Agnes Gray says that every woman
has q mission. What do you suppose
nv mission is, mammal"
.s Mission, indeed" laughed Mrs.
Aneyne, looking proudly at her pretty
daug ghter; 81 suspect, my dear Meggy,
your mission is to hirt 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
bewitcliug as possible, to be arrayed
like Sol mon in all his glory from morn
ing til night, to pass her time IN an
endless succession of gayety, was her
child's mission, according to Mrs. Al
leyne's idea; so Margaret received all
the gifts fortune showered upon her as q
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, wealthy
young merchant !; for Margaret AIeyne,
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 unlikely OF
all her suitors to carry off the belle.
But Margaret did love her lover; he was
so grave aud clever So amidst the con-
gratulations 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 pretty
Margaret. The soft, rose flushed face,
the tender blue eyes, the crinkled gold
en- 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 viuainy 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 /; 80 both
were wretched, though each endeavored
to conceal it from the other.
When John saw that ruin was inevi-
table he wrote to Mrs. Aneyne, 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 Mar
garet was better with her to spare her
anxiety, it was better she should not
know of her husbands difficulties.
With q heavy heart John agreed to all
Mrs. Alleyne's demands. Margaret's
love was the only brightness left In his
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
when he told her he desired her to &C
cept her mothers invitation.
IsHe no longer loves me-he wishes
me to leave him" the poor child cried
afterwards, in passion OF tears. But
before him she presented calm e1te-
rior, and John Graham thought that his
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 her
assistance 20 enable her to appear indlf-
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 darling's happiness. Still,
the girl never complained, but bore her
burden in proud silence.
One night Margaret was ata ball given
by an intimate friend. She had danced
a great deal, and being very tired sat
down near an open window; heavy
curtain entirely concealed her. Two
gentlemen were standing near, and she
could hear their conversation dis
tinctly.
so John Graham is bankrupt. I am
very sorry to hear it; he isa most honor
able fellow" said one.
= eyes," answered the other; 81 saw
him last week; he looks wretchedlye
You know he married Miss Alleyne, @
pretty little doll without an idea, and
what is worse, without heart; now
she has deserted him in his adversely.
1t is rather hard when 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 he was He was alone
and in trouble surely her place was at
his side. Then, needless Of comments,
she left her hiding place.