The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-15
A BRAvEwoMAN.

site refinement would baye gyacel q
princely saloon. The walls were hung
with tasteful engravings, daintily.bound
volumes OF prominent literary works and
of musical compositions were gracefully
scattered about on tables, book. shelves and
musical cabinet.
At tho extreme end OF the room was a
tull'siEed concert grand piano. Truly
giant.like was It's appearance there. The
ia was closed. but sundry volumes and
single pieces Of music were strewn over
the top OF tho instrument, us though It's
owner had been suddenly called away,
and there had been time only for the oil 9
hurried act OF closing the lid. This was an
Office that doubtless had come TO be per-
formed almost mechanically TO the tender.
~ cherished instrument.
And near the silent piano lay she who
but now had evoked from II living voice.
who had practically declared that She was
confident 1t possessed a living soul, al
though her friends well knew that II was
invested with reflex OF the pulse.beats OF
her own rich soul. She lay with closed
eyes, the long lashes resting on the mar.
BILE cheeks, sleeping the long last sleep in
the softly cushioned casket that was to
bear the poor tired body 10 its long last
home, the beautiful spirit having taken
its flight to the home of all harmony,
where thouSandfold more beautiful music
would be heard than possibly could be
evoked from the cold keys Of the instru.
ment she loved.
.Thesmall room was crowded with friends
OF the family, aud it was with difficulty
that gained entrance by the back parlor
door. took my stand by the end Of the
piano, .whcremy eyes could rest on the
beautiful pale face and peaceful form, and
there remained fascinated in the con-
temptation, until those stately black-rob.
ell figures appeared to fasten down that
dread covering that was ioreverInore to
veil her earthly semblancc from our sight.
| threw myself into one OF the waiting
carriages TO follow the silent sleeper to
the beautiful burying-ground oil the banks
Of the Schuy&ill, where they were to lay
her away, and as | was solemnly borne
along, | found myself passing in review Of
the life OF her whom you will all agree
with me in calling brave woman, when
you have heard her story.
Margaret p came Of good old
Philadelphia family, widely known, high.
" honored. She grew up in the lap OF
luxury, pet,cd, beloved. Very early she
turned from the society gayetfcs her posi-
tion'oiIered her. She was endowed with
wonderful talent for music, and her health
was extremely delicate. ~ have not
strength enough for both gay society and
Tor study, said she. 81 shall make
no great clpims on the former, for the
present, ut all events, and devote myself
to the latter. must develop the talent
Entrusted TO my care, that may have II
solidfOundatiOn for much future enjoyment
for myself and others. Besides, should
we ever become poor 1t would bt useful in
practical way"
Margarets friends were quite amused
at the idea OF poverty ever drawing near
one whose father was doing SO prinCcly IL
business Us Mr.. P, and who would
enter into SO handsome fortune ut his
death. The girl listened good naturcdly
to all they had TO say, but she was not in
the least influenced by their words.
When Margaret WINS scarcely two and
twenty, she entered into her fortune. 1t
was fortune OF keen modification, OF bit
ter disappointment. Her father died sud
denly, and when his affairs were inves.
tigated, financial ruin was found to be tho
portion Of his family. Her mother had
been dead for many years; action devOly.
ed upon Margaret.
She had just lived through one year of
great happiness in her betrOthal TO a man
who seemed in every way worthy of her
love. He might have been at least
partially so had he been true to his better
nature. He was fully capable OF apprecI,
atihg what prize he had won In Marga.
ret he knew what heart OF gold hers
was; but the rock on which he was wreck
ed was compounded OF worldly ambition
and seIfishness. He loved Margaret, but
he loved Ralph W and his inter
ests more. He had hoped through the
influence OF 1Iarearet's father to DO very
shortly in position to marry; he had
hoped through her fathers munlticence
to have . handsome start in life, had
counted finally on her patriwony for the
future.
The death OF Mr.. p dashed all these
hopes. Margaret's patrimony was a bur.
den which Ralph was not inclined 10
share. He was not in Philadelphia when
the blow fell; he had been doing business
for some time in another city, and he
wrote:
DEAR MARGARET: The dreadful news
you write has completely unnerved me.
Poor girl, what aweight has fallen on you
wish could come home to share it with
you, but that is simply impossible. |, too
am in trouble. was just about writing
you OF i, when your letter came. Now,
would not for worlds add to your troubles
will merely say that am overwhelmed
with business pGrplexities. When they
are over | will come to you; until thOr
bear with me and have patience.
"Iours, with all my love,
"RALPn."
A strange, strange letter. So thought
when It was shown to me; SO Margaret
thought when she received It. She reat
it many times, and a chill OF horror crep
over her. but she cIutched vehement,
at that idea OF his being in trouble. No
He could not mean to forsake her. Whr
could tell how great his own trouble
might be? and that last sentence wa,
meant 10 sustain her with hope.
She never dreamed VI his having writ
ten thus merely In vlew Of retaining hi
hold on her in case Of any error in ll,t
rumors that had reached him concernin.
the total loss OF her fathers property; AM
In the Argt days OF her bereavement AM
perplexities she hoped daily to hear fur
Their from him, She wrote him loving
letter, begging him to conAdc to her hi
troubles, that they might endure together
lie did not reply; he never wrote to he
again. She wept bitter tears Of anguish
yot could not wholly believe him ialsc M
I'll q year liter, when she heard Of hi
marriage with . beautiful aud wealth,
, Girl ot tho city where he had been living
The long agony OF suspense had prepare,
hRr TOR whatever might occur. Was
, hotter or worse for her that she need n
longer watch for tho l0tter that move
. came? She could not tell.
But Margaret had not folded her hand
and lived only In her grief during thu
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