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

Winthrop, and that his arms were
about her. when the sound of voices in
the lower hall aroused her. She heard
Mr.. w eston 81 i 4 God night" as Isabel
and her friend parted from him at the
door; and something in his voice min
gled with the dream she had awakened
from, and thrilled her long after the
wheels of the carriage had died away.
It hope Miss Berkly's experience
with love and trust may differ from
mine. heaven knows!" she thought, and
turned tsnoherlmber again.
But this time she dreamed only of the
cruel letter, and when morning dawned
she awoke with tears in her eyes.
:. grgcI
The grand Christmas dinner was over
at last. Isabel had enjoyed it because
Margaret, shy of meeting 80 many
strangers, had declined to dine down
stairs; land she, with Harry and Elsie,
had eaten their own good dinner in the
nursery; all the pleasanter because
minus the wearisome etiquette of the
large table, Harold Weston had enjoyed
it, because the two young ladies made
the fuss over him which ii is perfectly
natural any man should like.
But, truth to tell, his heart was in no
danger, neither of the ladies, notwith-
standing Miss Berkly's confidential con-
fession to Isabel, reaching his standard
as to true womanhood, and because long
ago he had decided all women unworthy
a mans trust and love. But he talked
and laughed and played the agreeable,
and at the proper time the ladies retired,
leaving the gentlemen to their cigars
And presently little Harry ran from
the conservatory, with a beautiful white
rose in his hand
It is for Miss Arnold" he explained,
when Harold playfully caught the little
hand and asked for the rose.
And who is Miss Arnold?" asked
Harold, more seriously.
tOh, she's a beautiful lady who
teaches us lessons, and is awfully sweet!'
"Only the ehildren's governess," ex-'
planned Mr.. Granger, and the conversa-
tion turned on other subjects. AS
But a little later, as Margaret, who
had gone down to the dining-room for
something. paused moment hsfore
fire and listened to the sounH OF mus%
from the parlors, Harold Weston efie
tered, and, without seeing Margaret,
advanced to the seat he had occupied at
dinner, and looked for something be-
meath the table.
stAre you in search of something,
sire" asked Margaret, who had not seen
the gentleman's face.
At the sound of her voice. he started
and turned around. islleef
& dropped small seal from my chain
at dinner=tilne, / think, and. have just
missed it, i didn't wish to disturb the
family, thinking | could easily find it
here, @ e sr@~
Then, as Margaret raised the light,
he stood transfixed, and she, with sud
den weakness, atdown in the nearest
chair. sGA gg8
:" Pardon mes / adid mot know you
were-n TleG Wggx
"Oh, Margaret, is it really you whom
| see at last -at last!" Harold J inter
rupted.
!, II do not UNDERESTIMATE she replied.
confusedly, passing her hand across her
eyes, and then looking up at him timidly.
+" Are you not Mr.. Westonp I thought
at first. so wonderfulis the resemblance.
that you were van-an- old friend of
mine, whom I had not seen for-for-i
many months and years.
=" For three years, Margaret Arnold,"l
he replied. cit is three years since
YOU since-oh. Margaret!-since you
sent me a cruel and UNJUST note, and
now find you here!-you dependent
in strangers housed" sH
{, Sir, what is your nameP May ]
ask if this, or the one by which / used
to know you, is the fictitious one, and is
it your habit TO change your name when
making new acquaintancesPn
Her calmneSs had quite returned !; her
cold ha1teur cut him deeply, and his
pride helped him to speak steadily. s.
This is no time or place to explain
matters. j will only say that you has
done me grieVousgwrong all these yeas Q,
and that / never wrote the note you Ie-
turned to me. Moreover, the name ]
now bear is settled upon me by ID Y
uhcle's win, and with its adoption /
was made his heir. That is afl,s Miss
Arnold. ! will not detain You longer.
The seal / am in search of can be found
Tomorrow value it highly, and
would not lose it. If possible, / shall
keep it by me my life through. If you
will honor me with an interview to-
morrow, / will be grateful, and hope to
appear a little less sinful in your eyes
ere long. y a siFsa
"I scarcely think an interview neees-
sary, sir" answered Margaret 'sOur
paths lie far apart now, andI can sim
cerely wish you a happy future, either
married or unmarried. s@~
She held out her hand as she spoke
with sad smile; and his own shook
visibly 8s he took, after long years,
once more the little palm within his
strong clasp.
II Shall never marry, Miss Arnold !.
A man can love, as I have loved but
once in his lifetime. God bless you!
Good-by."
Then he went outof the room, and,
pleading some excuse, left the house at
an early hour id fAs
And yet, before the door had been five
minutes closed upon him, Margaret
found the missing seal, and wept there
on her knees as she recognized n little
gift she herself had long ago given him
and forgotten. File had carefully pre-
served il in q rich setting after the form
of seal, and all these years had carried
1T about him. h.ss
The old love, long banislled, was not
slow to well up in Margarct's heart
uagain, and chance favored an explana-
ton between the two ere many days
an exclamation which made the two
hearts happy beyond measure. ssa
They never knew, but we can point
out the rejected lover of that :. long ago.
who eoncocted, out of his foolish envy
and jealousy, the note which so cleverly
initiated Howard's penmanship as to
bring misery upon the two who were
all in all to each other.
q But Margaret had faith TO believe her
lovers word, and the glad Christmas
time was true to the motto of q Peace
on earth, Goodwill toward men, and
tho first day of New Year saw an engage