The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-17

the influence of Margaret's character,
lne nrm yet gentle nature, the lovely, |
seif-sacrihcing disposition, the sweet and |
cheerful piety that made the house in
which Margaret dwelt the abode of |
peace and happiness. That Laura
might grow in these respects as like her |
sister as she already was in person had
oeen Arthur's steady hope, for he be-
heyed them to be the surest foundation !
OF home in the best sense of the word.
While they stood together thus, the
door from the outer passage was opened,
and Aunt Desire came in, just returned
from the sick neighbor.
'Oh, Aunt Desire" Laura exclaimed,
"such thing has happened-you never
would guessp Margaret's sailor has
come back!n
Land alive, child" cried Aunt De-
sire, dropping into chair. "Harry
faysonp why, he was drowned six years
ago!" ...sl.
Yes, 1 know, 4" assented Laura, " but
ne has Just come back, and"
8. Has the child seen a ghostp" hall
whispered Aunt Desire to herself.
" A ghost!" laughed Laura. "Why.
Arthur saw him as well as I. A pretty
substantial ghost! He rushed in here,
and declared I was his sweetheart. i
got such a fright, 1 thought he was
crazy"
" He took you for your sister," said
Aunt Desire, nodding her head. "And
there you were sewing on your wedding
dress, the very same he
Hush, do, Aunt Desired" said Laura
quickly, getting very red in the face, as
she glanced at Arthur, whose eyes were
beginning to open, and his mouth to
form into whistle, as he regarded the
white heap on the floor. "Arthur, if
you won't behave properly L shall leave
the room now l DECLARE" she pouted.
Well, the ways of Providence are
wonderful, and past findin' OUT" ejac-
ulated Aunt Desire, as she rose from her
chair, adding, "but I'm sure | don't
know anybody that deserves such
miracle more than Margaret does"
She stopped to pick up the white folds
still lying on the sheet where they had
fallen. II s'pose 1 might as well take
all this finery upstairs, whose ever tits"
she said, and gathering the silk over her
arm went out of the room, signing under
her breath, "The ways of Providence
are wonderful"
Arthur burst out laughing. "Inever
saw any thing like you New England
people" he said. Drowned men might
be coming back every day, and you
would not forget the washing and bak-
ing. l believe the genuine New-Eng-
lander takes the marvellous as the rule
of life."
Laura, her humor still somewhat dis
composed, was about to make some
pettish rejoinder, when the door of the
inner room opened, and Margaret and
her sailor entered. But Margaret'sf face
was as Laura had never yet seen it in
all her life, and she just stood and gazed
at her without word.
"This is my little sister Laura, isn't
it?" said Margaret's companion, ad.
vancing and taking her hand. 81 sup
pose l may kiss you now without fright
ening you-if this gentleman doesn't
object" he concluded with a sailors
half-shy boldness, turning toward Arthur,
who smiled permission. 81 shouldn't
have come in, know, in such rude
way as | did, but a man that's spent
half-a-dozen years slaying among the
savages loses his manners, he continued
with laugh. "And when l saw you
sitting there so like the girl 1 left all
those years ago, l seemed to forget
everything else, somehow" He passed
his hand over his eyes, then turned
around and smiled frank smile at
Laura.
give come just in time to make my
wedding-present, it seems, he said with
sparkle of his black eyes, "and I'll
give you-with your consent, sir-the
finest dress that ever a pretty girl stood
up to be married in. But that one YOU
were sewing on when l came in-why,
you won't take it wrong, l know, if 1
say that Margaret, and nobody else,
must wear that for wedding dress
It's waited half-a-dozen years, like her
and me, and we three won't part COM
pany in the end"
elbow lucky that we are near the
same height, Margaret" said Laura,
glad of some commonplace remark with
which to approach this new, strange
Margaret, whom she seemed to behold
for the first time to-day.
Margaret smiled, and putting her arm
around her, kissed her for answer.
81 don't quite know" said Arthur,
holding out his hand to the other with
laugh, "where to begin to congratu-
late man who has had hardships and
adventures SO completely out of my
line, but wish you happiness with all
my heart.''
"The same to you," was the answer.
"And think it's a pretty safe wish for
both of us, considering all things he
added, looking around at the two girls,
who stood leaning fondly together.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Aunt Desire,
who did not need that JOY should be
personal, to be able to sympathize in it,
was putting away the wedding-dress,
smoothing down its folds with soft
touches, while she murmured reveren-
tally
''The ways of Providence are mystic
rious, and past indin' out !"-Eramine
and Chronicle.