Smyrna times., 1878-06-12
How He Lost Her.

| knew Margaret was engaged, but told
her that loved her.
81 don't know what you mean. sir y she
exclaimed, with an expressive lift of the
iettv eyebrows but the liquid orbs be-
meath avoided mine, and that encouraged
me to be saucy in my turn.
alt is of no consequence that you should,
of course; but you didn't imagine that you
were going to flirt all the summer with a
fellow of my stamp, and get OIL unslnged
yourself?'
why not?' she laughed, "you don't
seem seriously damaged
But am. Ny heart is shriVeled crisp
as II wafer"
Really? Well, don't know what can
be done about it,"
81 am going to show you" And SO on,
for half an hour, we spoke jestingy, both
of US, but the laugh with each covered
deeper feeling.
She was so beautiful. my Margaret; fond
of homage-as what woman is not?-and
accustomed to receiving it. 1t was not her
fault, after all, that | loved her, but her
glory, as an honest mans love is always q
true women's glory; and Margaret was a
true woman though ! had called her a
flirt.
She was promised in marriage to Ross
Bently before she ever saw me, long
enough. lie had stopped a horse which
had been running away with her, and SC
saved her life. When he asked her tC
give him what he had saved, what woman
with gratitude and a whole heart would
not have said " Yes" as she did? Besides
she loved him, for aught ] knew. l hao
seen him, and he was handsome enough
man to win a womap's love, if beauty woulr
| do it.
A handsome couple, but somehow, see
| ing the two together, they did not seen
to me fond of each other; and so | tool
courage. Certainly, Margaret never looke'
at Ross Bently when | was by, as she ha'
looked at me many time that summer, a
we two strolled along the sands.
Ross Bently only stayed week, an
went back to town. lie was a man {
business, keenly devoted to money-mal
ing; fonder Of that, fancied, than OF tn
beautiful woman he had won, and upo
that imagining | hung another hop
Margaret was an heiress. If Margeret ha
been dowerless, | fancy that Mr.. Bent
would never have wooed her. But how
prove it.
Margaret and l did not relapse into IL
old fashion of strolling about the beach
moonlight after Ross Bently had come ar
gone, and we stopped looking and talkil
!" nonsense, watching each other furtivel
left confident that Margaret was wondC
ing if had been jesting when | said
should give her up; and was wonders
if had anything to do with those moo
OF pensiveness which had come upon n
l. dark-eyed queen Of late.
II One day found her upon the balcor
with an open letter in her band.
?. 81 am a very fortunate girl, she sal
glancing at the letter. " Did you kn'
that the Bidwells, the great bankers, fail
last week p
| heard of it.
"The bulk of my little fortune was
their hands at one time. | did not KIN
but it was still. My guardian writes to
me, however, that he removed it mon
We ago"
N | came forward eagerly at that, exteni
g. e; my hand. :,
BE- " Permit ME to congratulate you, N
mt Stone"
n. Margaret laughed rather confusedly
he she put her little hand in mine.
he that she was surprised at my eagerness.
Gu " Miss Stone" said !, "did you bell
me when said that loved you, sol
where about a month agoY
nd Margaret colored vividly, as she gave
.or or a doubling look.
'"f eyes. What Of it? Do you want
take it back now?" She laughed.
"Not |. But, in consideration OF
No great affection for you, want you to
Oo favor for me-" =,
"Name it," said she, looking puzzled
81 am goirg up to town to'morl
nns Will you humor me by permitting m
hat he the bearer of letter from yoursel
,,el Mr.. Bently?"
bile "That is an odd request"
81 am aware of it. Will. you writ
l. Mr.. Bentley a letter, asking him to inq
. into this matter Of the Bidwell failure,
let YOU know how serious bushes
really is?'
{" But | don't care about knowing"
al do" =,
II nWhv not inquire yourself, then?'
Cl mHe has so much better facilities 10
vestiaation. The truth is, Miss Stoi
am very much interested in this ial
'er' and Mr.. Bently can find out all abe
for me. But | don't like to ask him q
/. much for comparative stranger"
Margaret looked doubtful still, bu
-3m wrote the letter, and took 1T to the
\ the next day.
L Ross Bentley grew slightly pale
- read. L.,
Y al suppose you know that the onl m
Miss Stones fortune was in the han
the Bidwells?' / carelessly observed.
h. 3 AZ was not aware of it," Bentley
. . Losing another shade of color.
. "Oh. we'll, it was. Can anythir
saved ont of the crash, do you suppos
n MNot ANYTHING. l am very sure