Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-29
BRATTLEBORO, VT, FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1877.


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That she is revenged, God knows how
unwillingly, Margaret sees the first Time
she holds Arthur Ashton's hand in hers
again. He has written 10 ask her IL he may
come to her and satisfy himself Of her for
giveness, aud her love is dead enough in
her heart for her TO be able TO tell him
"yes." She has even ceased 10 wonder at
the dresriness of her own life, and is
vaguely conscious, as he takes her hand, of
the same great pity for him and the woman
who had supplanted her, that filed her
heart as she went down tue staircase at
Horewood, leaving the cold corridor and
the locked door behind her.
"You have found out how little / was
worth your regret2" be says, forcing an
uneasy laugh, as he sees that the old quiver
he remembers 10 her lips Is there no long
er.
mo, not that" answers Margaret, sim.
ply, "but it is quite true that regret moth
ing nothing at least that" She stopped,
knowing that it is too late 10 Tell him now
what she did regret, and what she tries TO
persuade herself she is mistaken in regret.
ting. "You must be very happy-you are
happy, are you nol2" she asks anxiously.
"How long do you expect bridegroom's
happiness to last?' he asks in reply, with
an afTectalion of levity that tells Margaret
she has been sacrificed in vain. Leah has
been talking of coming to see you for the
last month, do you know"
"She is very beautiful" said Margaret
irrelevantly. as she quite WELL"
"Well7 of course she is" he answers in
not quite so even a voice. "Why should
she not he well ?"
Margaret's heart turns sick with the hor-
ribe apprehension that he has already
learned to suspect reason rhy. ~ only
meant that should be very glad 10 see her."
she answers 10 what she strives to make
her natural voice. "Will you tell her so
from me7"
"You knew her before that time you
came to stay with US, did you not?' he
asks, looking at her with keen inquiring
glance. "Why did you never tell me of
tbat?"
"Yes; that is, I met her years ago" an
swers Margaret, heitating. II did not
think she remembered me but l knew
her again as soon as l saw her."
"Did you ever quarrel ?" the bridegroom
asks, little puzzled by her manner.
90, no. replies Margaret with a shud-
der, thinking of the crouching figure and
the greedy clutchiug hands that she had
stolen up the long corridor to soothe into
content. but she was always a strange
girl; and ! never understood her quite"
she adds rather lamely
"Yes-sirange-inat is the word, is il
not?" he says eagerly. "She is nervous
and depressed sometimes, you know, but
that is nothing. Sue used TO be that-that
is what you mean is it moi -
1t goes TO Margarers heart TO see The
wistful look with which he waits for her
answer, striving TO put away from his
thoughts the awful fear which she knows
has already overshadowed his life.
az think she was always nervous" she
answers, wishing that she dared say some-
thing TO comfort him, If she could do SO
without lie. "But of course, now that
she is happy, there is pothing TO be anxious
about in that"
She does not offer to visit the bride her.
self, knowing what the sight of her must
recall 10 Lesh's mind. and not In truth be-
lieving that her presence would he well
come, whatever Mrs. Ashton might say to
her husband of her wish to see Margaret
Fenwick again.
"Tell her how glad l shall be, il she likes
TO come she says earnestly when Arthur
Ashton takes her hand in his again to say
good bye.
"Yes, will tell her." he answers, but
all the unreal cheerfulness has died out
from his voice. alt will do her good to
have friend like you-sone woman to
whom she can talk"
Margaret does not answer, for the tears
are filling her eyes ; but it needs no words
to tell Arthur Ashton that the heart he has
thrown away is large enough for what he
asks of it. The months go by, but Leah
Ashton still only talks of coming to see the
gIl whose place in life she has taken from
her so that Christmas comes around again
without Margaret having seen her rival,
since the evening on which Leah camu out
of the conservatory, with the spray of mai
denhair in her hand. There is a reason
why Mrs. Ashton should stay in her own
house now, and Margaret is not surprised
10 see in the paper one day that Arthur
Ashton has another reason for being Every
happy" She has almost persuaded her.
sell that he may be so by this time, and
writes to tell him OF her hope, with her
love TO his wife. She did not think that
such letter required immediate acknowl-
edgement, and opens his reply little anx-
iously, hearing that it has been brought by
special messenger.
"Come, If you can, at once-she is asking
for you. God have mercy upon me A. A."
Hek waiting for her at the door as she
drives up, and even in the gas-light she can
see upon his brew an awful dread that his
prayer will not be heard.
"You are not afraid to see her ?"
Margaret puts her hand in his 10y way of
reply, and her very touch seems to give
him courage.
"She il not quite herself, you know-not
sensible, l mean-but the doctors say that
is common. Aud your name has been on
her lips all day. She will be calmer when
she sees you, will she not2"
"Yes, yes" says Margaret, choking back
her tears. "Only take me TO her at once"
She kneels by the bedside, disregarding
the presence of The doctor and nurse, and
her soft arms steal lovingly round Leah's
neck, as in the old days.
"Dear Leah, am here" she whispers.
Tue heavy lids open, and the dark mys-
terry of the wonderful eyes, blurred and
scorched with the lurid fire that Margaret
remembers sc. we'll, is turned full upon her.
"Don't go away" Leah whispers, in a
hoarse, exhausted voice. "They are shut
ting me up alone again."
Her husband is standing at the foot of the