The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-27
thoughts the awful fear whicu she knows

thoughts the awful tear whicn she knows
has already overshadowed his lile.
81 think she was always nervous"
| she answers, wishing that she dared say
| something to comfort him. If she could
do so without q lie. "But oil course,
now that she is happy, there is nothing
to be anxious abOutin 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 Fenwick again.
"fell her how glad l shall be, III she
likes to come" she says earnestly when
Arthur Ashton takes her hand in his
again TO say good-by.
"Yes, viii tell her," he answers, but
all the unreal cheertulness has dleu
out of hrs voice. at 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 mad 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 u reason why Mrs. Ashton should stay
in her own house now, and Margaret is
not surprised TO see IN the paper that
Arthur Ashton has another cause for
being every happy" She has almost
Ind hat lo, Ia l.,
Time, and writes to tell him of her nope,
with her dear love to his wife. She aid
not think that sucn a letter r, quired i'm
mediate acknowledgment, and opens his
reply little anxlously, hearing that it
mad been brought by special messeu-
ger:
"Come, If you can, at once-she is ask
ing tor you. COD have mercy upon me |!
"a. A."
He is waiting tor 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 70 see herW ..
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, l mean-but the doctors
say that ls common. And your name
has been Oh her lips all day. She will
be calmer when she sees you, will she
notT
Eyes, yes," says Margaret, choking
back her tears. "Only take me 10 her at
once."
She kneels by the bedside, disregard
ing the presence OF the doctor and nurse,
and her soft arm steals lovingly rounu
AZ i nII do
dear Loan, l am here,". she wnis-
pers.
Tue heavy lids open, and the dark
mystery of the wonderful eyes, burned
and scorched with the lurld fire that
Margaret remembers 81 well, is turued
full upOn.her.
"Don'J 60 away Leah whispers, in
hoarse, exhausted voice. "They are
shutting ME up aone again."
Her husband is anuing at the foot of
the bed, with horrol-stricken, wander:
ing lace, but She has no eyes for him.
''lL Is dark and miserable, Margaret,
but will be quiet if you stay. Make
them let you stay, do you nearf
The weak voice rises almost to
scream, and Margaret tries i'll vain TO
sootue it.
Yes, dear Leah, l am Margaret
DN'sA '~S"", )ou hho" 'h'U loNe you J
., my poor darling, you know that |
love you!'
Ine surgeon, who is standing opposite
Margaret, shakes mis- heat sUlemnly as
sue raises ner eyes to meet his, and the
SHADOW Vi death begins already 10 steal
over The room. Even the lips are chill
anu pallld as Margaret touches them
with ner own, and the Ieverlsh grasp ol
tAe poor weak naud dies into impote nee
III her warm fingers. The DARK tangled
hair falls over The shapely brow and
Lnlck curved eyebrows just as 1T used to
do, and Margaret does not know, until
sne is told, tnat it is ling the face Of
The dead. Aud there is no need for her
TO pity Leah 4 shlOu any more.