The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-05-31
HAPPY AT LAST.

"I do wish, Marguerite, you'd listen to com
mon sense" said Mrs. Dale.
Mrs. Dale was sitting by table opposite to
a rose-twined window, whence lovely summer
landscape stretched itself away - green
meadows, braided with the silver band of a
tinv river, and clusters of woods seeming to
lean against the sky.
She was widow who had not yet lost all ths
fair rounded outlines Of her girlish beauty, or
the luxuriant auburn braids of her yet un-
silvered hair.
And Marguerite, her lovely daughter, sat on
the other side of the table, the slanting SUM-
light touching her golden tresses, and her daz-
cling complexion seemed purer and more like
a newly blossomed sweet pea than ever, by con-
trast with her light dress.
"Well, mamma" Marguerite Dale spoke
almost recklessly, "what would you have me
do?"
"Mr. Alcotte has proposed to you?"
Eyes"
Marguerite's hand involuntarily closed over
the open letter, lying in her lap, while she
turned her face suddenly away, as if the glow
of the noon sunlight hurt her eyes.
"And you actually intend to refuse him 2?
persisted Mrs. Dale.
Marguerite shuddered slightly.
Then rising, she crossed to her mothers side,
and placing her hand on the back of her chair,
looked down into the upturned face.
"Mamma, would you have me marry man
whom do not love?"
"Mv dear, my DEAR" reasoned the mother,
"this idea of love is purely visionary. True
happiness is founded solely on esteem
"Mamma, that's nonsense"
Marguerite !"
"Well. mamma, it is. And I am not going
to barter away the gold of my heart for any
such dry leaves of theory. I love one man
only-and that is Geoffrey Rossmore. And
will never marry anyone else"
"But, Marguerite, dear"-Mrs. Dale was
half frightened by the vehemence Of her
daughters manner" Geoffrey Rossmore is
dead"
"How do know that he is dead? The ship
was lost-but there have been many instances
in which one or two. or even half dozen per.
sons. have survived worse shipwreck than
that. And I know-oh, mamma, / feel it IL
INV soul that he is not dead. My heart would
not beat now were there not an answering
throb to it somewhere in this wide world"
"Then where is he? How do you account
for this long and unbroken silence on his partT
demanded Mrs. Dale.
"I don't account for it, mammal only
trust"
Marguerite, pleaded her mother, I" he has
forgotten you, even if he is still alive. Give
him up. Prove your womanly pride and spirit.
But Marguerite resolutely shook her head.
"My daughter" went on Mrs. Dale, Mr.
Alcotte is your uncle's friend. One reason Of
INV coming to your uncle's house this summer
was to afford you this golden opportunity
Here it lies at your feet-wealth, ease, lux
uriant home for your mother, as we'll as your
self
Mamma, would rather go out working b!
the day." interrupted Marguerite.
"Work, then, ungrateful girl! burst on
Mrs. Dale, angrily. "For certainly shall NJ
| longer remain pensioner on Colonel Dale
bounty, since you have econtemptuously spurnee
his best friend from you. Sew-scrub-teach-
| whatever suits you best. Something it is neces
sary for you to do, and that quickly"
Marguerite retired, pale and silent, and wen
to her uncle's room.
Colonel Dale was bending absorbedly ovel
some letters-he looked up with a start al
Marguerite entered.
"Well, Peggy" he said, caressingly, for hi
pretty niece was rather favorite with him
shave you come to tell me you will be Fernando
Alcotte's wife?'
"No, uncle" answered Marguerite, firmly.
| "Why not?" demandedthe old man.
.'Ido not love him."
"Well," said Colonel Dale, intently watch
ing her, "and why don't you love him? Arr
you still thinking Of that ne er do-vel, Geoffre.
Rossmore. who was shipwrecked SIX month";
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