Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-08-09
Margie's S Promise.

The boathouse was completed.
1t was roomy and substantial,
though the spiles on which it rested
infringed upon Neptnnes watery
domain. The young gentlemen who
composed the club had issued in
vitations for a social entertainment,
and our story commences upcn that
evening.
1t was unique affair, the more
enjoyable for its accessories. The
shells tapering tc a long, very thin,
delicate point, from centre large
enough to hold full grown man,
were drawn mp in their polished
completeness and fastened to the
ceiling. Here and there a dainty
silken banner caught the light, a
trophy of some members victory
in friendly trail of skill. Flags
draped the wall, giving the needed
touch Of color to the oaken beams.
A eeyly decorated barge ioated
upon the surface of the broad river,
at the option Of any party who
desired a moonlight sail.
The young stranger guests were
standing beside the stairway leading
to the dressing room improvised
Tor the occasion, noting the arrivals.
A young lady entered, leaning
on the arm of gentleman. As she
lett her escort and ran lightly up
stairs, she flashed swift glance
around from eyes SO large and lus-
trous, that Bert Evarts involuntari!y
quoted the words of the poet about
sunshine in shady place. as he
stepped impulsively forward.
His friend LAID restraining hand
upon lis arm.
".Softly, old fellow-not too fast.
The girl is a beauty. III allow, but
she is spoken for. | know Mr..
Livingstone, and he is an engaged
man. Put two aud two together,
ell 2
Bert's face expressed volumes, as
he said
Il never yet was struck with d
girls face but what if had to be the
same cd story-engaged -
Walt laughed.
Cry if he's "A foeman worthy of
your steel; in plain English-try to
cut him out.
Bert's indolcnt face kiEdlcd with
sudden fire.
'If any one else but you had said
that, Walt, Id take it as an insult.
A girl who would be f;;ithless isn't
worthy Of second thought
During the evening Bert Evarts
and Margie Eustace were intro
duced lie Vas a handsome fellow,
brainful OF romance, and something
in the expression of her large, wist.
ful eyes pnt him upon his metal to
entertain her in a very different
way from his usual conversation to
Il young society belle. No stereo-
type, common place lett his lips, but
instead they talked of poetry and
her twine sister art.
Through it all he was conscious
of subtle undercurrent of sadness,
like the minor tone which often
times thrills its plaintive meaning
through some bcwitchlng strain OF
mnsic
In this chivalric idea of woman.
the rumor of engagements made
her seem as inaccessible as was the
distant moon whose silver crescent
shone above him as they stood upon
the balcony.
After a time he resigned her TO
her escort, and could not but notice
the change in her manner. She
had seemed SO interested and ami
mated, and had smiled So merriiy
at his witicisms; but in Mr.. Living
stones society she seemed veri
table ice'maiden.
For days after the girls face
dwelt pcrsistent,y in his mind, and
at last drew him to the city where
she lived. He thought another
meeting nlSnt prove the haunting
memory OF her beauty to have been
over drawn by fancy, and thus lay
it tc rest.
Mrs. Eustace was sitting in her
room
Her handsome, matronly face
wore look Of depression which
was foreign to it. Her disposition
was So sunny that sigh from her
awoke an echo through the family
it was sound so unwonted. Her
present uneasiness was not without
cause.
Her precious Margie, her only
child, was strangely changed. Her
moods were variable. Sometimes
she would not smile for days, and
then a fitfui gaiety would take
possession of her, as unnatural 10 her
evenly poised nature as it would be
TO hear the song of a canary from
the throat of a nightingale. All