New Orleans Republican., 1877-01-14
MARGARET LILY.
BY CLARA c. DoLLIvER.


1t was one of the cheapest of upainted,
rcd wood houses, long since turned black
% the rains Of some forgotten California
winter, but over the door and along the
window elambered a luxuriapt rosebush
with shining leaves and Clustering
benches of some tiny rose which had a
spicy fragrance, faint and sweet as some
far away pleasant memory.
In the little garden which sloped down
to the road were few flowers; few enough
70 be tended by one pair of hands. and
showing loving nurture by their rank and
beautiful blossoms.
@'Margaretw called a feeble, fretfuI voice
from somewhere within the black cottage.
Margaret was in the small garden: a
ta1 girl, with soft bloom on her rounded
cheeks, and pair of hazel electrical
eyess not pretty-far from it-but
woman who drew hearts to herself as
magnet does iron filings; you felt it when
you met her eyes.
She had been tending her plants, and
even now held in her fingers half opened
Diood-red rose; she was standing in the
aaarrow path, looking too tall for her small
and mean surroundings, and gazing down
the dusty and ugly road, now at Its dus-
4zest and ugliest.
s'Aargaret!" again called the querulous
vQlces you could easily believe that none
would call that woman HMaggie, she
looked every inch so true to her beautiful
name. Yet she still stood, half smiling,
half blushipg, and neither answered nor
turned TO go In; and yet one could see
but dusty horseman on q dusty horse
coming swiftly up the road. When he
reached the gate he drew in the reins and
raised his hat with citifed grace which
Margaret's eyes but rarely saw.
e'You look like Flora herself, Miss Lily, /"
he said.
Margaret blushed and smiled, and NUT
tered something unintelliqible.
hew is your mother today" asked
lie cavalier.
about the same. thank you. She
spoke out clearly, then, and q ringing,
charming voice she had.
More commonplaces followed, about
he weather, the dusty road. the bah that
was coming of in McKintry's barn and
then the feeble voice walled again:
Margaret, Margaret" She started
guiihly, IS though she had not heard it
before. Excuse me. she said, mother
is calling me.
at least, said this horaeman, tbestow
that beautiful rose upon me.
She vent down to the garden fence and
handed tito him, and somehow, whether
4 was handed too hastily, OF taken too
awkwardiy, the vicious thorn ran into
her finger and made her give little hhlf
cry Of pain. He held her hand then,
ssing:
what . shamel I was 50 awkward
Lay core il in my mothers way, Miss
14erReret
She knew ahe guessed, and he knew
ahe did bat she aaid quickly y--he thought
heR voice very sweet What was
ypuE mothers wags then ia the same
1Aseshs .sAes, Il Il is = good one
And me foolish blood from Ma1qsEat
Adly'g heart thrilled d every vein Whan
ae stQopea " bis hoFsa's head and kissed
Gre hurt Anger again and aghin.
ts4lArQaHctE osmg the feeble voice.
Oh. Aln. cmnnouNnsf abe cried, 'les
~ eo must 30 a q mother
ckanboulne ief tI.s dn1sIa 10. and
.sa 8 Queer smile as he U6i1hed Ser 20
% tIe path 81 her rec sgisgire. etnso-
- WF
He aIaiiaf dnear smile lof aoas nsin,
sas Is be e4s9te1 down the dnats r0Ad
eoz Margaret MiIn her Open heart
lA nel Aa4e liked e e0a1d sht hrI
Il Oh biz h11e tic H1ile On hem HaS
ffH1IY aiGs1l @ she 1benea ths
eer Sd went into lla itfsa uarlar
far has kari goa 70 IonQf said
fz8skak nIsi8a n Anr.Is
0an, nci RsA5 qla hat '6ek
hu desf. id M
4f n h hE he1t
W w eE HE 4sf 4ss4Asn+ ~ n'a