The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1879-12-19

! ana mOan-yot there were threads OF
/ JOY and happ mess which she could
gather up and weave backward and for
ward until the old days, when she lived
in sunshine and clover, were made
whole again; and she lived them over
in her memory till she grew calm and
quiet, and the old pain deadened sotne-
what. kSe3 a.
There hadibeen such happy Christmas
times for her long ago, when she was
the idolized daughter of her wealthy
parents! And there had been true and
noble hearts laid at her feet ere she had
seen her twenty-frst birthday Is but her
3woman's heart had chosen only to weld
itself and its love to Howard Winthrop,
Ia young bookkeeper in her fathefss
firm. Without the means sufficient
to marry, he yet dared to fall in love
with his employers daughter, and,
Idespite the amazement Of friends and
relatives, Mr.. Arnold had chosen to
sanction the engagement, and ask only
that Howard would wait few years
ere he claimed Margaret as his bride.
A fine young fellow" he said pri-l
vately to his wife; " and If the child
chooses to marry him, when she might
have choice of a dozen rich fellows,
why, | Ishan't hinder, so long as he is
good fellow and honorable"
So they were engaged, and everything
was going on well, until one morning =
letter addressed to Margaret in the we'll
known handwriting of Winthrop was
found to contain the following lines,
evidently inclosed by mistake in the
wrong envelope:
Wait while, Jack, my boy; the
money will be mine in good time, and.
then you will see how much love counts
for in my opinion. A fellow can't live
without money, and ifa pretty girl must
be thrown in to boot, why, 50 much the
better, maybe! | can steer my boat as
well as the next one, you know. Keep
dark about this. Don't keep this letter
a minute; burn it, and wait patiently.
I'll pay all | owe in good time. \
Yours. WMTHRo P."
Margaret had loved well and truly;
but high spirited as she was by nature,
and scorning deceit and unworthiness
from the bottom of her soul, her pride
could not brook the insult of this letter.
She well understood how easily the
mistake had happened. Doubtless the
letter which had been intended for her
had been inclosed in an envelope to
this Jack,n whoever he might be; and
in the hurry of sending the letters,
Howard Winthrop had not discovered
his error.
For one moment the girl stood like
stone. with dry eyes and pale, set face;
then straight to her father she went,
and laid the letter before him.
In less than an hour Howard Win
ron ,.oaoixrod 1ot%o,. ~, NJ,
inclosing one from Margaret, in which
he received his dismissal, both from his
situation in the firm and from Mar
garet's presence.
There were no words of explanation
sought by Margaret and her family.
Impulse had ruled things with Il high
hand, and pride kept the girl, from a
broken heart, although she hequivered and
moaned with pain and grief for months
after.
Several letters from young Winthrop,
received at the time of the affair, were
promptly returned unopened, and socn
he left the city, and was seen no more
by his former friends.
Since then, Mr.. Arnold's failure and
death had left his wife and daughter in
circumstances SO different from former
days, chat they withdrew from society.
Mrs. Arnold settled herself in one of
Connecticut's small villages, and Mar
garet had drifted, after many weary
days, into Mrs. Granger's sfamily as. gov
-erness. With the children she was
peacefully happy; with Mr.. and Mrs.
Granger on terms of simple good-feel-
ing. With Isabel she was a stranger,
save for the formal morning and even
ing salutation.
The young lady, who. possessed only
the riches which her fathers daily toll
had accumulated for her. as her sole at
traction, could not well conceal her
envy of her little brother and sisters
governess, since the latter was beautiful
in face and figure, and attractive, even
in her poverty. and dependence. tor the /
refinement and Jelicacy of her natllre.
: Whatever Margaret Arnold wore
whether a simple flower in her hair,
brought her from the conservatory sby
the loving hands of her little pupils. or
The plain white collar round her perfect
throat, or though she threw. carelessly
about her shoulders the worsted shawl
which Isabel had cast aside as unfit for
wear and nnfashionable-still the con-
trast between the governess and the
young lady of the house was by heavy
odds in favor of the former, and Isabel
grew sick at heart with envy. Nothing
chat young damsel might. don, whether
iewehy rich and rare, or robes of silk
and velvet, could cause or help her out
shine the perfect lovelineSs of quiet,
gentle Margaret, who daily clothed her.
self in black, and wore no Jewels save
the pearl pin which inclosed her fathers
hair. g@8E
If it had not been for fear, of annoy
ance from the children, Isabel would
gladly have sent Margaret home at the
time when she expected SO much COM
paAy, lest by chance some admiring eye
should discover her.
Miss Arnold, can lyouput the chill
dren to bed tonight? have sent nurse
OIL an errand, and she is detained; and
thought you wouldn't mind taking
charge of them tonight, you know,
And afterward, would you mind com,
ing down to help Isabel and. her
friend dress for the party at Miss
Howe's? Your taste is SO good, you
see, and really I'll be very much obliged.
1t isn't in the line of your duties here,
know, but may ybe--.-''
"I'll oblige you, certainly, madam, If
you think me competent to suggest in
the matter of dress, y replied Margaret.
And she put tile little ones to bed, re-
warded for her care by hearing Harry's
loud whisper to Elsie, that" he thought
Miss Arnold the prettiests lady in the
world, and he wished she was bis own
sister, stead Of Isabel and went down
to the dressing-rooms to helpsIsabel and
her friend.
There she learned more Of their pri-
vate affairs than interested her; but they,
talked to each other of this and that,
quite ignoring Margaret's presence, and
she knew ere long that Mr.. Harold
Weston was dead in love with Miss
Berkly "-Isabel's friend and guest
and would no doubt propose soon. =
Also, that he was to call for them
that evening to attend the party; that
he was handsome and rich and splen~
did, etc.
"When we're married. L mean to
travel all over Europe said Miss
Berkly, while Margaret knelt beside her
and looped her rich overskirt< of lace a