The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-06-27

ohe Is very beautiful, said MargsR
ct. irrelevantly. rs she quite wellz"
We'll +? Of course she is, he answers
IN not quite so even a voice "Why
should she not be well?"
Margaret's heart turns sick with the
horrible apprehension that he has al
ready learnt to suspect a reason why
Il only meant that | should very glad
/ to see her." she answers in what she
/ strives to make her natural voice. "Will
you tell her so from me ?"
GU knew her before that time you
came to stay with us, did you not" he
asks, looking at her with keen, inquir-
ing glance. "Why did you never tell
me of that"
Yes; that is, 1 met her years ago,
answers Margaret, hesitating. 81 did
not think she remembered me but [
knew her again as soOC as | saw her"
'Dld you ever quarrel ," the bride.
groom asks, little puzzled by her man
ner.
go, no" replies Margaret, with a
shudder, thinking of the crouching fig
ure and the greedy, clutching hands that
she had stolen up the long corridor to
sUoIne into content. but size was al
ways strange girl; and l never under
stood her quite" she adds, rather lame
ly.
es-strange-that is the word, is it
not ~ he says eargerly. She Is nery-
Gus and depressed sometimes, you know,
but that is nothing. She used to be
that-that is what you mean, is it not? ,"
1t goes to Margaret's 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.
81 think she was always nervous, she
answers, wishing that she dared say
something to comfort him, if she could
do so without lie. But of course,
now that she is happy, there is nothing
to be anxious about in that"
She does not offer to visit the bride
herself, knowing what the sight OF her
must recall to Leah's mind, and not IN
truth believing that her presence would
be welcome, whatever Mrs. Ashton
might say to her husband of her wish to
see Margaret Fendwick again.
Tell her how glad | shall be, if she
likes to come" she says earnestly when
Arthur Ashton takes her hand in his
again to say good bye.
Eyes, | will tell her," he answers, but
all the unreal cheerfulness has died out
of his voice. cit will do her good to
have friend like you-some 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 girl
whose place in life she had taken from
her; so that Christmas comes round
again without Margaret having seen her
rival since the evening on which Leah
came out of the conservatory, with the
spray Of maidenhair in her hand. There
is reason why Mrs. Ashton should stay
in her own house now, and Margaret Is
not surprised TO see in the paper that
Arthur shton has another cause for be-
ing every happy" She has almost per-
suaded herself that he may be by this
time, and writes to tell him of her hope,
with her dear love 10 his wife. She did
not think that such letter required
immediate acknowledgment and opens his
reply little axiously, he ring that it
had been brought by special mes5en-
ger;
"Come, if you can, at once-she is
asking for you. God have mercy upon
me! A. A.
He is waiting for her at the door as
she drives up, and even in the gas-light
she can see upon his brow an awful
dread that his prayer will not be heard.
you are afraid to see herr"
Margaret puts her hand in his by way
of reply, and her very touch seems to
give him courage.
''She is not quite herself, you know
not sensible, | mean-but the doctors say
that is common. And your name has
been on her lips all day. She will be
calmer when she sees you, will she not?"
eyes, yes" says Margaret, choking
back her tears. "Only take me to her
at once"
She kneels by the bedside, disregard
ing the presence of the doctor and nurse,
and her soft arm steals lovingly round
Lealfs neck, as in the old days.
Dear Leah, l am here" she wills
pers.
mystery of the wonderful eyes, blurred |
and scorched with the lurid fire that Mar
garet remembers so well, is turned full |
upon her.
esDon't so 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 bed, with horror stricken, Won
iering face, but she has no eyes for
him.
cit is dark and miserable, Margaret,
but | will be quiet if you stay. Make
hem let you stay, do you hear"
The weak voice rises almost to a
scream, and Margaret tries in vain to
'oothe it.
eyes, dear Leah, I am Margaret
Dear Leah, you know that [ love you
}, my poor darling, you know that love
youi'
The surgeon, who is standing opposite
Margaret, shakes his head soIemnly as
he raises her eyes to meet his and the
hadow of death begins already to steal
lyer the room. Even the lips are chill
md paid as Margaret touches them with
Ter own, and the feverish grasp of the
'oOr weak mana uleS INTO Impotence III
Ter warm fingers. The dark tangled
lair falls over the shapely brow and
hick curved eye brows just as it used to
10 and Margaret does not know, until
he is told, that it is yelling the face of
he dead And there is no need for her
o pity Leah Ashton any more.
But pass" said minister one Sun
lay in dismissing one theme of his subject
O take up another. "Then I make it
pades !" yelled out a man from the gal
cry who was dreaming the happy hours
way in an imaginary game of euchre