The Hickman courier., 1877-06-29
MAGGIE MAY.

Believe me, George, I never dreamed
of this. For 50 many years, ever since |
was little girl, you have been so like a
brother that / have given you sisters
love and did not think you wished for
any other. George" she coINnued,
piteously, "tell me you do not think 1
have been trihing with you, or willingly
wounded the noblest, truest and best
heart in the world"
Darling" said George, hoarsely, l
know you have not Ii was my own
blindness, my own great love that de
ceived me. Tell me, Maggie, is there no
hope for me in the future, when you
may cease to love me as a brother, but
love me dearly and affectionatelly as l
love YOU"
The answer came slowly and tenderly:
"I am the promised wife of Edward
Glover" The room reeled before
Georges eyes then by a great effort, he
Strengthened himself, and controlled his
NOltt 10 SHNdh LlC II WI III -fAaA-EANJ
even of your love. May heaven grant
you every happiness F." and as he spoke,
she softly touched the raven hair of
Maggie's bent head with his lips, and
left her She went to her own room
crying softly. 1t was a sore pain to her
to know that George loved her so deeply.
Ihere was no thought of the girlish tri-
I9nph over new conquest, for Maggie
had not one spark of coquetry in her
simple nature. No pain of her happy,
innocent life had been so great as this
sympathy and regret for George. She
was but a mere child when her uncle had
taken George into his household to study
medicine with him, to become, in the
course of time, as dear to him as a son.
He was not entirely dependent on his
profession, having a small income in
herited from his father. To Maggie her
uncle's house had been n second home
since she was a child. Situated aIvut
two miles from her fathers Tesaence' /
the distance had been consi@red 100 /
great in her childhood for swo walks IN .
the day, so that a visit 10 her uncle's /
was usually of two or Aree days dura-
tion She was the star of the whole /
household, from Ter uncle to the house
keeper. and zen down to the office boy, /
who copadered her a little angel. /
Georg,s arrival gave the damsel new
an k1rer in the strong, rough lad, whose
Insing voice woke the echoes of the /
quiet old house, as her silvery laugh and /
low, sweet tones had never done.
1t was pleasant to see how the young
natures controlled each other in their |
frank, pleasant intercourse. 1t was
George who conquered Maggie timidity, /
and made her fearless horsewOman, who /
wakened her from dreamy reveries to |
realities of life, turned her tender
sympathies to practicsl charities, and |
led her up TO higher and nobler aims in
ife than her shrinking gentleness would |
have ever, ought alone. 1t was Maggie
who taught George to soften his rough,
rather uncouth manners, and persuaded |
hin- hat courtesy was no want of man.
lirss, and gentleness implied no weak
,ess.
But while George was allowing his
whole heart to become bound up in
Maggie, giving her the entire devotion
# his life, making her returning love
or every exertion, every act of self
acrifce, dreaming of his future as only
/ lifetime of loving care for her, Maggie
-egarded him as only n brother and fhpt
Ter heart untouched till Edward Glover
,ame to claim it. He was but a visitor
1t the village where Maggie spent her
happy life; but in his brief summer
sojo,~n he won the heart for whose love
George would have given his lite, and in
the spring Came to carry his bride to his
city home.
In the library, where George Goodwin
had spoken his love tale to Maggie, there
were seated, eight years later, an .old
gentleman and young, fair lady in deep
mourning.
Your mother must have missed |
your letter, Maggie" DIR. East id.
g She would never have left home ex-
pecting your return"
al found my last letter unopened on,
her table. All was so sudden at the
last, uncle. Edward was so well when
l wrote before, that do not think the
idea of my return occurred to her. It
is so lonely at home, came at once to |
you, hoping to stay till father and |
mother return"
9 You know, dear child, how glad I
am to have you with me- Maggie, there
is something to tell you we did not write
of, thinking it would only grieve you.
George has been deeply afflicted"
George? He is here, is he not?"
" Always. / will tell you all. You
heard soon after Our arrival in italy
did you not, of tl dreadful acci1ent al
the new building ID out of the village
Many were killed and wounded by the
premature fall of large quantity of
brick and mortar. Every one fastened
to the spot to aid the sufferers. surprising
all danger was over. George went down
to the building, superintended the re.
movn of the unfortunate wounded and
l received them in the long stonecutter,s
shed above, and dressed their wounds
All was removed but the dead. and
George was still in the building when
second fall came that horrifed us all"
Oh, uncle! George? %
He was taken UP insensibIe. Appar-
emily his injuries were slight, but as he |