Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-06-29
Mark Halstead, after a whispered

previous evening a note had been haha1
ed in for Mr.. Cfaige, and Immediately
afterwards he had driven away. Ihat
was all Mark could find out that night
The guests dispersed, Margaret retus-
ing all companionship but that OF her
uncle.
When they were alone together, she
crept into the strong arms that had
been protection and shelter from
childhood, and lay there, white as the
bridal dress she wore, ahiverlng ana
fearless. And, looking at her mute
misery, John Hammersley restrained
the torrent of indignant words tremb-
ling upon his tongue, and soothed her
as if she had been an infant.
"He is sick or hurt" the old man
said.
In his heart he added, "And if the
false villain is deceivlng my girl, Will
shoot him like dog" But he had no
opportunity to keep the unspoken
threat.
A letter was written to The firm, and
one Of the senior partners came to bfa
shaw.
Il was some comfort to heart broken
Maroaret to hear of the high esteem II
which Harry was held, and see the
evident sorrow Of the elderly gentle
man who spoke SO warmly OF his
partner
st IS absurd to suppose he has run
away" said his partner; he is man OF
influence in business, and his social
standing is of the best, and here he
turned to Margaret his love was pure
honorable and sincere. l, who have
known him from boy, know that he
was man who would scorn to play with
any woman's heart.
Only piteous cry of, Where can he
beg burst from 'he girls white lips,
"Had he any enemies here 2" was the
next stern question.
No one knew Of any. The frank,
bright nature bad won friends all about
him. Even Hall had been seen in
friendly conversation with the missing
man on the day of his disappearance
Every inquiry resulted in the same
disappointment, till the nine-days won~
der died ont. and the mystery was I'M
solved.
The faithful heart that loved Harry
kept his image ever closely folded,
grigying silently ard in solitude, and
YEARLY resuming the routine Of lite
Every duty Of her humble, quiet life,
Margaret fulfilled with patient care;
but her step was slow and weary, her
face pale, and her eyes heavy with
weeping. But her uncle, who loved
her fondly, missed her ripling laugh,
her sweet song, And it was delicate
tributt he paid Margarets sorrow that
lie never once limited to her that there
might be some dishonorable explana
ton of her lovers disappearance. This
idea haunted him. Since the departure
of the senior partner of the firm there
was no one to speak of Harry III terms
of commentator, and speculations
were numerous in the village. A wife
secretly hidden away, who threatened
exposure, was favorite theory. Debt
was another Escape from punish
ment for some crime was third. But
all these theories were kept from Mar
garet.
Winter set in, Hall came often to
the cottage. His face was one that
could mask an evil heart with an
assumption of rough frankness, and
seldom had any one seen 1t. as It re-
vealed itself when he listened at the
cottage window. He bad left the vessel
of which he was first mate and part
owner, to go upon long cruise with
out him, and he employed all his time in
vigorous pursuit of his court>ship. AS
deeply as he could love any one he
loved Margaret; and he felt secure Of
her favor until Harry Craige came
John Hanmersley favored the sailors
suit heartily, and after Margaret had
given her grief its fall sway for three
months, she was hidden TO 'mope' no
longer, but cheer up, as there was just
as good fish in the sea as ever were
caught. So. with her sorrow as deep
as at first, her heart true as steel, the
girl had to be present when Hall came
to the cottage, and listen to his rough
wooing Again and again she refused
his presents, his compliments, his offers
to escort her here or there. But the
man would not be driven away En-
couraged by the uncle's liking, he
persisted, in spite Of Margaret's ccol-
ness. 1t was rot in the girls nature to
be dise6urteous or uukind, and her
gentle nanper was accepted as a far
greater encouragement than shs ever
intended it to be- The winter was a
long agony to her. Her uncle urged