The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-21

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er ir-hn, then there WAS more 10 the conscr-
vo,nrv'
Four five DAYS without a letter, during
which lime the chill never leaves her heart,
and then there comes what ,hc'has been look
;nr far lie asks her If She is good enough,
unselfish rnouch io forgive HIM, and adds,
Of course ,lgt he can never forgive himself.
Norparei knows now what answer he made
IN I@ah,s sorr. and wonders II there is am.
tLjpc left for her in the world, or if il is al
made mn of such Qrcs,iO ions and such replies.
Then she remembered that her father had
said that there were thirty thousand reasons
,ghv no one should envy Leah Fourier.
Well Leah Is his, body and soul, reason
and nil, If he chooses 10 take her; and Mar.
caret woaders whether the first will make up
10 him for all The others. Would he choose
if he knew of the corridor at HOrcwocd, ana
seen the lips he loved C,oying themselves
with swectmeats that compassionate hands
thrust by stealth within their reach? She
puts away the thought from her with shud-
der, calling upon God not to tempt her 10 come
between him and his happiness. II 1t can all
be hidden from him it would be a 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 il by 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 the seed and blossom of her
happiness, and she knows that Arthur Ash
ton must have brought his BRIDE back with
him by this time TO his London home, Does
she sing ".St tn Sdrjas" for him now, Margaret
wonders, or does each know the intensity OF
the others love by heart and find il sufficient?
Margaret shudders as she RENDERS that there is
still secret hidden from Arthur Ashton in
Leah's MYSTERIOUS eyes--a secret which she
alone can read, and would give half her life
TO be able to forget. Would it ever happen
that he should come to her ana curse her for
having hidden it from him to revenge herself?
That she is reveDged, God knows how I'm,
willingly, Margaret sees the first time she
holds Arthur Ashton's hand in hers again
He has written to ask if he may come to her
and satisfy himself of her forgiveness, and
her love IS dead enough in her heart for her
10 be able TO tell him yes She has even
ceased TO wonder at the drearlneSs OF her own
life. and is vaguely conscious, as lie takes her
hand. of the same great pity for him and the
woman who had supplanted 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 rcret:" he SAYS, forcing IN uneasy
LAUGH, as he sees that the old culver he re-
IN her lips is there no longer.
mo, not that" answers Margaret, simply,
"but it is quite true that regret nothing, At
least that" She stops, knowing that 1t is
too late to tell him now what she does regret,
and what she tries to persuade herself she is
in regrettInr. "Iou must be very
happy. are YOU mott" she asks anXiously.
allow long do you expect a bridegrooms
happiness to LAST" he asks in reply, with an
affectaton 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 Won know
"She is very beautiful" said Margaret, IT.
relevantly. as she quite well o.
"Well? of course she Is" he answers, in not
unite so even n voice. "Why should she not
be well?p
Margaret's heart turns sick with the hor-
rible apprehension that he has already learn
cd n suspect n reason why. 81 only meant
,hat | should be very Glad 10 see her. she an
swers in what she strives 10 make her natural
voice. "Nlll YOU tell her so from me-"
"You knew her before that time when you
came to stav with us. did YOU notg" he asks,
looking at her with keen. inouiring glance.
"Whv did YOU never tell me fthate"
"Yes. that's met her wears ago" answers
NIarraret hesltatinr. 81 did not think she
me; hut I knew her again as
soon rs saw her"
"Did Won ever quarrel" the bridegroom
asks. a little puzzled by her manner
"Oh, no, y" replies Margaret, with a shudder,
thinking of the crouchlnr figure and the
greedy cIutchinr hands that she had stolen
IN the lonr corridor to soo,he into content.
"But she was always a strange girl, and |
never understood bcr quite" she adds, rather
lomeIv
eyes strarce-,nat is the word, is it not?"
he eovs eouerlv "Shr is nervous and de.
messed sometimcs Won know. but that is
nothinr She uscd 10 be that-tha. is what
Won mean. is il notg'
I, cocc ~ Morroro,s heart 10 see the wist.
rpI l6oi, with winch he waits for her answer.
strivin~ to nut avay from his thoughts the
awful fear which she knows has already over.
Swallowed his life.
az tLinl, ehe wos oIvovs nervous She an.