The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-04-23
From the Chicago Ledger.
THE BELLS;
The Midnight Bethrothal,
By FANNY ISABEL KESNISH.

By FANNY ISABEL KESNISII.
Margie Gray stood before her mirror
coolly studying the eftectof her new hat,
whose scarlet plumes futtered with
every turn of the coquettish little head
What did it matter that Philip Ashley
was savagely pulling sofa-cushion to
pieces in the parlor below, waiting i'm.
patiently for soft little football in the
hall?
cit will improve his temper to watt
Margie soliloquized, watching her dane.
ing plumes. "He is really growing
quite savage, and it's so delightful tc
tease him. giving final adjustment to
her feecy scarf.
Margie Gray, it must be confessed
was something Of a flirt. She took ex.
quisite delight in torturing her mascu-
line admirers, and particularly Philip
Ashley. She liked to see the great,
strong fellow turn red and pale like a
girl whenever her taper fingers acct
dentally touched his hand. She liked to
watch the growing hope in his honest
blue eyes, and to see the light dashed sud-
denly out of them, as she assumed an I'M
approachable dignity whenever the con-
versation threatened to become what she
termed sentimental. Nineteenth.centu.
ny girls have been accused, perhaps
truthfully, of making boast Of their
conquests, and of parading the hearts
that have been laid at their feet; but
Margie took wicked pleasure in declar-
ing that she had never had an offer of
marriage. She knew, we'll, however,
that she had been anathamized by more
than one pair of masculine lips, because,
in spite of numberless resolves to sud-
denly besiege the well-guarded heart,
when the critical moment came the "old,
old story" always resolved itself into
sundry commonplace remarks about the
weather or the last new novel. Margie's
great, innocent brown eyes, sparkling in
the meantime with purely feminine de-
light, as her quick sense detected the
hopeless 81 love you" ringing its won
derful changes through the tame pleas
antries Of society gossip.
Margie took special delight in tor
menting Philip Ashley, because, in spite
of all her resolutions TO the contrary,
she often found herself listening for his
quick, well-known step, and checking
sudden impulse to rush down stairs
when she heard it, instead of waiting to
be properly summoned. It required
more of an effort to prevent scene,
since she felt in herself, a growing ten
dency toward the sentimental; but she
was resolved not to be conquered, and
poor Philip was made to endure double
penance.
"What made you come SO early,
Philip" was the first encouraging CUES
ton, as the little maiden tripped de-
murely into the parlor.
! because l." but Philip did not dare
to tell the truth. "Well, Miss Margie,
you know we have long ride"
.'Long" echoed Margie in sccrn.
"Twelve miles, and such sleighing.
What horses have you got?'' and she
peered through the cloud of lace, at the
FESTIVE steeds waiting even more impa.
tiently than their master.
eyes, but de-Miss Margie, it is cold
riding across the lake, and I thought we
had better start early so as to have the
warmest part of the day." said Philip,
deliberately telling a lie, for he had cal.
culated, if possible, to delay their return
until evening, hoping much from the
mysterious influences of a moonlight
ride.
"Oh," said Margie, in an indescriba-
BILE voice, that made Philips heart fut-
ter uncomfortably, and brought dash
of red across her forehead.
What's the matter?" and Margie's
great eyes opened wider than ever. She
never would get used to Philips ridicu-
lous habit of blushing.
Nothing. Shall we 60 now?"
"What a question! As if I had not
been standing here for full ten minutes,
with all of my wraps on. Wait min
ute. My glove, Philip, please"
Philip bungled clumsily over the
dainty glove, wishing he could multiply
its three tiny buttons by ten, it was SO
delightful to have Margie's little hand
resting quietly in his for a moment.
"Thanks! l am ready now"
1t took a long time to get started.
Philip was SO fearful lest breath of cold
air should find its way through the pile
of soft robes.
Glass-handle with care" laughed
the little tease, as Philip finished his
manipulations.
Philip flushed again, and threw him
self into the cutter, glad of an oppor-
tunity to throw off his reckless emotion
which threatened to overthrow his care
fully-laid plans. Not that it would be
calamity greatly to be feared since
similar plans, quite as carefully pro-
jected had been thwarted at least fifty
times.
The far-away hills rose up white and
dazzling in the bright sunlight, and
across the wide expanse of ice the road
wound in and out like the graceful
of serpent. Margie was
wild with excitement and chatted and
like child, utterly oblivious to
the loving glancesthat were being shower
ed down upon the restless little head under
the fluttering feathers. She leased
Philip and laughed at him, aud looked