The Hickman courier., 1877-06-29
MAGGIE MAY

HAASxAxAEA AtA1A-
Believe me, George, 1 never dreamed
of this. For so many years, ever since /
was little girl, you have been 50 ike a
BROTHER that I have given you sister $
love and did not think you wished for
any other George" she continued,
piteously, tell me you DO not think 1
have been trifing with you, OF willingly
wounded the noblest, truest and best
heart in the world"
Darling" said George, hoarsely, s. /
know you have not. 1t was my own
blindness, my own great love that de
ceived me- Tell me, Maggie, is there no
hope for me in the future, when you
may cease to love me as brother. but
love me dearly and affectionatelly as
love you"
The answer came slowly and tenderly;
g 1 am the promised wife of Edward
Glover" The room reeled before
Georges eyes then by a great effort, he
straigftened himself, and controlled his
voice to speak: He is worthy, Maggie,
even of your love. Nay heaven grant
you every happinessl" " and as he spoke,
she softly touched the raven hair Of
Maggie's bent head with his lips, and
left her. She went to her own room
crying softly. 1t was sore pain TO her
TO know that George loved her 50 deeply.
There was no thought of the girlish tri-
umph over a rev conquest, for Maggie
had not one spark of coquetry in her
simple nature. No pain of her happy,
innocent lie had been so great as this
sympathy and regret for George. She
was but a mere child when her uncle had
taken George into his household to study
medicine with him, to become, in the
course Of time, as dear to him as a son.
He was not entirely dependent on his
profession, having a small income in
herited from his father To Maggie her
uucle's house had been q second be
since she was a child. Situat~ aDout
two miles from her ather', residence
the distance had been 0nsloered 100
great in her childhood ior two walks IN
the day, 50 that vsit to her uncle
was usually of two n three days dura-
ito, Sbe was--ne star of the whole
household, fr-n her uncle 10 the house
kee,ar al even down to the office boy,
r,ha Considered her a little angel.
C..5rge's arrival gave the damsel new
,dmirer in the strong, rough lad, whose
-inging voice woke the echoes of the
Iuiet old house, as her silvery laugh and
ow, sweet tones had never done.
1t was pleasant to see how the young
natures controlled each other in their
rank, pleasant intercourse. It was
-ieorge who conquered Maggie's timidity,
md made her a fearless horsewoman, who
her from dreamy reveries to
-ealities of life, turned her tender
,ympathies to practical charities, and
ed her up TO higher and nobler aims in
ife than her shrinking gentleness would
nave ever sought alone. 1t was Maggie
Who taught George to soften his rough,
rather uncouth manners, and persuaded
lim that courtesy was no want Of man
iness, and gentleness implied no weak
ness.
Bat while George was allowing his
whole heart to become bound up in
Maggie, giving her the entire devotion
Of his life, making her returning love
for every exertion, every act Of self
sacrifice, dreaming of his future as only
A lifetime of loving care for her, Maggie
him as only brother and kept
her heart untouched till Edward Glover
came to claim it. He was but a visitor
at the village where Maggie spent her
happy life; but in his brief summer
soiourn he won the heart for whose love
George would have given his lie, and in
the spring came to carry his bride to his
city home.
In the library, where George Goodwin
had spoken his love tale to Maggie, there
were seated, eight years later, an ,old
gentleman and a young, fair lady in deep
mourning.
Your mother must have missed
your letter, Maggie" DR.. East said.
'' She would never have left home ex-
pecting your return"
''I found my last letter unopened on,
her table All was so sudden at the
last, uncle. Edward was so well when
wrote before, that I do not think the
idea of my return occurred to her. 1t
is 50 lonely at home, [ came at once to
you, hoping to stay till father and
mother return"
"You know, dear child, how glad l
am to have you with me. Maggie, there
is something to tell you we did not write
Of, thinking it would only grieve you.
George has been deeply afflicted"
George2 He is here, is he not?"
always. 1 will tell you all. You
heard soon after your arrival in Italy.
lid you not, of the dreadful accident al
he new building just out of the village?
Many were killed and wounded by the
premature fall of large quantity of |
'rick and mortar. Every one fastened
o the spot to aid the sufferers, supposing
ii danger was over. George went down
o the building, superintendent the re-
noval of the unfortunate wounded, and
received them in the long stonecutter's
he'd above and dressed tba;r ,o,la
III was removed but the dead, and
ieorge was still in the building when a
scond fall came that Mortified us ALL,
:" Oh, uncleI George ?''
!" He was taken up insensible Appar-
ntly his injuries were slight, but as he