The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-12-24
dressed to "Mrs. NJ. Arnold,

Mrs. Granger has decided that my SER
i vices are needed here. l am paid for
those services-what right have we to
grumblep In fact. what rights have
the poor at any time, motherP Does
this read bitterlyP Well, my heart has
ventured to rebel against fate little to-
night, for, one hour ago, / was so happy
fairly sang, and my heart was 80 full
of plans for you and myself that even
regretted the few days intervening be-
tween now and the time of my expected
homeward start. Oh, mamma, dear,
help me to be patient, and, above all,
o help me to look on the bright side, if
there be such a side, TO our lives.
ours, MARGARET"
This letter was sent at last. and Mar
garet now awaited Christmas as though
it were only the usual Sunday, which
would give her one day'srest from study.
She turned the light down low, replen
ished the fire, and drew her chair close
beside the glowing Goals. Down stairs
the children were romping with their
father, Isabel was singing at the piano,
and Mrs. Granger in her boudoir, was
reading the last novel. Dinner would
not he ready for an hour longer, and
Margaret could have that hour all to her.
self if she chose.
SO her thoughts went back to the past.
and though, in doing SO, they opened
wound which time had not quite healed
a wound which caused her to shiver
and moan-yet 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 some
what.
There had been 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 first birthday but her
woman's heart had chosen only to yield
itself and its love to Howard Winthrop,
q young bookkeeper in her fathers
firm. Without the means sufficient
to marry, he yet dared to fall in love
with his employers daughter, AMI,
despite the amazement of friends and
relatives, Mr.. Arnold had chosen to
sanction the engagement, and ask only
that Howard would wait a few years
ere he claimed Margaret as his bride
A fine young fellow" he said pri-
vately to his wife; "and if the child
chooses to marry him, when she might
have choice of a dozen rich fellows,
why, ! shan't hinder, so long as he is a
| 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! l can steer my boat as
well rs the next one, you know. Keep
u minute; burn it, and wait patiently.
I'll pay'all / owe in good time
Yours, WINTHROP"
Margaret had loved well and truly:
but high spirited as she was by nature,
and scorning deceit and unworthness
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" whoever he might be; and
in the hurry of sending the letters,
Howard Winth rop 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
throp received a letter from Mr.. Arnold,
srnn NJ 4
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 high
hand, and pride kept the girl from a
broken heart, although she quivered 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 soon
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, that they withdrew from society.
Mrs. Arnold settled herself in one of
ConneCIlCut sinai villages, ana Mar
garet had drifted, after many weary
days, into Mrs. Granger's family as gov
eTness. With the children she was
peacefully happy; with Mr.. and Mrs 4.
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 al.
traction, could not we'll 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 delicacy of her nature.
Whatever Margaret Arnold wore
! whether a simple flower in her hair,
: brought her from the conservatory by
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