The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-16
Miss Margeret's Romance.


and watched the man and woman in the
garden among the roses, with sorrowful
little shadow on her face. It was sweet,
pleasant face, despite the shadow on it,
and few silver threads that fve-and
thirty years had left among the brown
tresses on her forehesd, grave, kind face,
with soul looking out of the brown eyes,
and making you feel at once that Margery
Marsh wasa woman to be trusted, and one
who was able to stand alone with her pure
womanly dignity. But it is q sad thing to
see any woman-or man, for that matter
standing alone in the world. God never
meant it to be SO.
The man she saw helping Elfie Daryl
to tie up her rose bushes was John Cramer.
She had known him years ago, when they
were children. in fact, and she had never
forgotten him, though years of separation
had come and gone, and both OF them were
growing old. She had loved him then.
and her heart was not one of those which
changes easily and fOrgets the absent face.
She had thought that he loved her. In
John Cramer, softly-whispered words
meant something.
He was not the man to use words lightly.
But an uncle of his in England mad died
suddenly, and he was sent for to take
charge of his affairs, and the years had
come and gone, fifteen of them, she told
herself, as she thought it all over, and the
man she had loved was lost to her.
Well, it was better to have sad yet
sweet little memory of pleasant vanished
days, than a life full of discord and regret
for hasty action. Now she was sure that
he had ceased to care for her in the old
way, and if he had cared for her as she
wanted the man she married to, he could
not have forgotten so easily. He never
could have forgotten. And since he could
forget, it were better that everything be-
tween them had ended as it did.
But hef woman's heart would feel its
loneliness sometimes in spite of her, and
yearn for something to lean on, and some
one heart dearer and nearer than any
other heart could be, to confide in. And
this morning, as she saw the man she had
loved walking and talking with Ellie Dar-
ryl, her heart cried out longingly for that
which seemed beyond its reach.
1t is bitter tantalizing thing to see the
happiness we covet most, coming unasked
to brighten lives that have no need OF 1t
seemingly-llves so full of completeness
before that they cannot properly appreci
ate the greatest of all boons, love-whiie
we wait outside the charmed land, and
stret-h eager hands, imploring. entrance
where that must be which We have looked
for, and not found. 1t must be somewhere
for all of u.s. five could only find it!
When John Cramer came back from
Europe thrill of old love woke in Mar
gery's heart, like an echo of music that
has almost died away in mountain glen,
but which something suddenly sets ring
ing again. The man whom she had loved
so long ago, the man whom she thought
her lover once, was near her. The
thought was sweet, and at the same time
bitter. Her loyer no longer. She had
thought, in vague, dreamy way, when
she heard that he was coming back, un-
married, that possibly, after these years
of absence, his heart yearned for the
woman he had left behind him. But
when he came, and the first quiet greet
ing was over, she WAS quite sure that he
had long ago ceased to love her, and she
had kept herself in a shy seclusion. He
came often, but she fancied that it was
Ellie Darryl's pretty face that attracted
him thither; and thinking this, she tried
to avoid him, and forget her foolish dream
of what might not be.
He looked up. as they stock among the
roses, AMI saw Margery standing on the
veranda. A bright smile made his
boronzed and bearded fade look very
much like the face of the John Cramer
she had known years ago. and he came
up the path, and said as he ran up the
frank way:
"You have grown to be little gray nun,
Margery. hardly see you at all. / am
halfinclined to think you hide away when
am here. You are not afraid of me,
hope?"
"Oh, no." she answered, quietly, though
the touch of his fingers woke strange,
swift thrill of fire in her veins. 81 am
never afraid of an old friend"
IL e. 4 H., kn1
with his eyes upon her face. "Have you
ever thoug int that that might be a sorrow
fnl word to listen TOT"
Friendship is never a sorrowful word"
she answered, her eyes faltering little
under his earnest gaze.
TT might be if we cared for something
more than friendship" he said, and there
was something in his tone which made
her lift her eyes in sudden, questioning
way to his face. There was a strange,
grave tenderness In his eyes that she had
seen there long ago.
Just then Eifie came up the path with
her hands full of roses.
See these white ones, Aunt Margery,"
she cried: 'syour favorite, you know.
You must let me put some in your hair.
They will make her look like bride,
won't they, Mr.. Cramer?"
Perhaps" he answered, with his eyes
on the blue line of the hills.
'No, don't want any in my hair"
Margery said, and she would not have
them there. She took one, and let il lay
against her eyes while she closed them
and thought of many things.
Presently, John woke from his reyerie
and came back to early things.
81 believe I promised you row
this morning, Elfe," he said, turning to
the girl, as she stood braiding the roses
in a chain. II am ready to fulfill my
promise if you are"
"I'll be ready it minute" she said,
and ran away for her hat.
Somehow I can't make it seem that
fifteen years have been added to our
lives since we used to 60 drifting down the
river together" he said, coming to Mar
gery's side. "Are We always to go drift
ing down through life alone, Margery ?"
She lifted eyes that were almost fright
ened ones to his for moment. Was he
trying to wiring her heart? He was
cruel, cruel.
.Yes, Isuppose So" she answered, in
tone that was full of the WEAKNESS she
could not conceal "And it is better SO,
perhaps"
You don't mean that" he said, bend
ing to pick up the rose she had let fall.
drifting alone is dreary, dreary thing" :"
DO you think so?" she said, with an
effort to appear at ease. perhaps there
is some one somewhere in the world who
whould drift with you, it you could find
her