Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-19
HeW he Lest Her.

snc tACldincu, Will dh expressive ihJ
Of the jetty eyebrows; but the liquid
orbs beneath avoided mine; and that
encouraged me to be ,aucy in nay turn.
1t is Of ne consequence that you
should, Of course; but you didn't inn
agine that you were going to 1irt all
the summer with a fellow Of my stamp.
and get of unsinged yourselt?'
why not?' she laughed. you don't
seem seriously damaged
But anu. Ny heart is shriyelled
crisp as wafer
Really? Well, l don't know what
can be done about it,
4 am going to show you.' And so
on, for half an hour. We spoke
jestingly, both of us, but the laugh
with each covered deeper feeling.
She was so beautiful, my Margaret;
fond Of hsmage-as what woman IS not
and accustomed to receiving it, 1t was
not hsr fault, after all, that 1 Lowell her,
but her glory, as an honest mans loye
is always true woman's glory; and
Margaret was a true woman though
had called her a flirt.
She was promised in marriage to
Ross Bentley before she ever saw me
long enough. He had stopped horse
which had been running away with her,
and SO saved her life. When he asked
her to give him what he had saved,
what woman with gratitude and aiwhole
heart wsuld not have said yes as she
did? Besides, she loved him, for aught
| knew. I had ssea him and, and he
was handsome eaough man to win a
woman's lore if beauty would do it.
A handsome couple, but somehow,
seeing the two together, they did not
seem to me fond Of each other; and 50
l took courage. Margaret never looked
at Ross Bentley when l was by, as she
had looked at me many a time that
summer, as we two strolled along the
sands.
Ress Bentley only stayed a week,
and went back 10 town. lie was a
nan Of business, keenly devoted to
money.making; fonscr of that. | fan
cied, than Of the beautiful woman he had
uoH, and upon that Imagining l hung
another hope. Margaret was an
hercs,. IfMargaret had been power
less, fancy that Mr.. Bentley would
never have wOoed her. But how to
prove it.
Margaret aad l did not relapse int
the old fashion Of strolling about the
beach by moonlight after Ross Bent
ley mad come and goao, and we stopped
looking and talking nonsense, watching
each other furtively. l felt confident
that Margaret was wondering if | had
been jesting when said should give
her up ; aud l was considering If l had
anything to do with those moods Of
pensiyeness which had come upon nay
dark-eyed queen Of late.
One day l found her upon the bal
cony, with an open lettsr in her hand.
lam very fortunate girl she said,
gancing at the letter. Did you know
that the Bidwells, the great bankers,
failed last week"
l had heard of it,
The most Of my little fortune was
in their hands at one time. was not
aware but they still held it. Ny guar
dian writes to tell me, however, that he
removed it months ago.
came forward eagerly at that, ex-
tending my hand.
Permit me to congratulate you, Miss
Stone
Margaret laughed rather conlusedly
as she put her little hand ia mine. l
saw that she was surprised at my
eagcrness.
Miss Stone said I, did you be-
lieve me when / said that loved yeu,
somewhere about a mouth ago?'
Margaret cOlored yividly, as she
gave me doubling look.
Yes. What oft? Do yoa want to
take it back now ? she laughed.
Not I. But, in consideration Of my
great affection for you, 1 want you to
do a favor for me-
Name it., said she, looking puzzled.
4 am going up to town tomorrow.
Will you hunor me by permitting me
to be the bearer Of letter from your
self to Mr. Beutley?'
That is an odd request
4 am aware OF it. Will you write to
Mr.. Bentley a letter, asking him to
inquire into this matter Of the Bdwell
failure, and let you know how seriou. a
business it really is?'
But don't care about knowing
4 do
why not inquire yourself, then?'
lie has so much better facilities for
investigation. The truth is, Miss
Stone, am very much interested in
this failure, and Mr.. Bentley can find
out all about it for me. But | don't
like to ask him to do 50 much for =
comparative stranger.
Margaret looked doubtful still, but
she wrote the letter, and | took it to
the city the next day.
Ross Bently grew slightly pale as
he read.
'Isuppose you know that the bulk Of
Miss stones fortune was in hands OF