The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-08-28

come between him and his happiness II
ii can all be hidden from him it would be
sin in her, OF all women in the world,
to say word which might dash the cup
from his lips. She would drink her own
cup instead, and try to sweeten it with
the thought that the man she loved was
happy with the girl for whom she had
once felt so divine pity.
The months go quickly enough by,
now that Margaret no longer counts how
many there are between tho seed and
blossom Of her happiness, and she knows
that Arthur Ashton must have brought
his bride back With him by this time to
his London home Margaret shoulders
as she remembers that there is still a
secret hidden from Arthur Ashton in
Leah mysterious eyes-a secret which
she alone can read, and would give half
her life to be able to forget. Would |,
1t ever happen THAT he should come t.
her and curse her tor ever having hidden
III from him, to avenge himself?
That she is revengcd. God knows how
unwillngly, Magaret secs the first time
she holds Arthur Ashtun's hand in his
again, He has written to ask her II
he may come to her aud satisfy himself
of her forgiveness, and her love is dead
enough in her heart for her to be able
to tell him Eyes" She has even ceased
to wonder at the dreariness of her own
life. and is vaguely conscious, as she
takes her hand, Of the same great pity
for him and the woman who had sup
planted her, that filled her heart as she
went down the staircase at Horewood,
leaving the cold corridor and the locked
door behind her.
You have found out how little was
worth your regret I" he says, forcing an
uneasy laugh, AS he sees that the old
culver that he remembers 30 well 10 her
lips is there no longer.
mo, not that" answers Margaret,
simply, "but it is quite true that regret
nothing nothing at least She stops,
knowing that it is too late to tel! him
now that she does regret, AID what she
tries to persuade herself she is mistaken in
regretting, "You must be very happy
you are happy, are you not - she asks
anxously.
"How long do you expect bride.
grooms happiness to last u he asks, in
reply. with an atfeclation of levity that
tells Margaret she has been sacrificed in
vain. "Leah has been talking of com
ing to see you for the last month, do
you know {"
"She is very beautiful said Marga.
ret. irrelevantiy. us she quite well p
"Well Of course she is" he answers,
in not quite SO even voice. "Why
should she not be well r.
Margarets heart turns sick with the
apprehension that he has already learned
to suspect reason why. II only
meant that should be very glad to see
e-.---'~-- .~--e '~-st Z ----er-es-r.
make her natural voice. "Will you tell
her SO for me n h.
"You knew her before that time you
came to stay with us, did you not Z" he
asks, looking at her with keen, inqur
ing glance. "Why did you never tell
me of that I"
"Yes that is, met her years ago.
answers Margaret, hesitatng. IL did
not think she remembered me: but !
knew her again as soon as | saw her"
did you ever quarrel p the bride
groom asks, little puzzled by her man.
ner.
"Oh, no." replies Margaret, with a
shuddc., thinking of the crouching figure
and the greedy, clutching 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-strange- that is the word, is it
not 7" he says eagerly. "She is nervous
and depressed sometimes, you know, but
that is nothing She used to be that
that is what YOU mean. is it notp'
1t goes to Margaret's heart to see the
wisl:ul look with which he waits for an
answer, striving 10 put away from his
thoughts the awful fear which she knows
has already oversbadowed his life.
IL think she is 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 he ANXIOUS aDOul III tnat'
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.
Yes, l will tell her" he answers, bu,
all the unreal cheerlulncss has died out
from his voice. 1t will do her good to
have friend like you-some one to
whom she can talk"
Margaret does not answer. for tie
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 still Leah
Ashton only talks of coming to see the
girl 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 came out of the conserva
tory, with the spray of maidenhslr in her
hand. There is a reason why Mrs.
Ashton should stay in her owa house
now, and Margaret is not surprised to
see ia the paper one day that Arthar
Ashton has another cause for being
"very happy" She almost persuaded
herself that he may be so by this time,
and writes to tell him Of her hope, with
her dear love to bis wife. She did not
,kt,L that onoh lnttar ranuircI lfnmn