Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-11-18


have msde me. Ii would bresk my heart
10 cave here where you have all been so
KIND To me"
"And you shsll not-mc,. no,--ihink of
such a hing Caudine viii need YOU al
NEST as much as my mother does"
And Margaret VAS content.
Clsucine North proved 10 be a bright,
swt et-lemptred girl, who made the wide
halls snd spacious rooms ring with iun
snc iroiic. She had no great depth OF
character. aud shocked Margaret by
thinking Mr.. Lancaster her legitimate
prey, A. she had done all m.e creatures
since hel bahyhood. She VAS born flirt
Ii al she use1 her wiles upon any one less
exalted than was Mr., Lancaster in Msrgs
ret's eyes, II would not have seemed SO
strange, Bat to htar her ak OF his being
% splendid catch," and that the girls at
school had told her she must set her esp
Tor HIM, or Tor his establishment, which
was the same thing, as II went with him."
Jared upon her listeners sensitive nature.
DO you mean" said Margaret, gravely,
chat you would marry Mr. Lancaster be
cause he IS richY'
Most certainly if | ever get the
chance" laughed CiaudIne; "lhuueh, as
to that, he's the baDdsomest msn know,
With that sad face, and those elegant dark
eyes | suppose you are enough IN the
cCCdienCe OF the family 10 have been told
why Mr. Lancaster Is baGheiorY You
know his betrOthed wife died on the very
day appointed for their wedding, and that
he nos been faithful 10 her memory ever
since"
Claudine did not wait for an answer,
but danced away bumming merry tune
leaving Margaret's hearl iull Of tender,
plying sadness At the thought OF the sor-
row which had Swallowed the early life OF
her benefaCtor.
From this time new interest conferred
sr0und MIR. lancaster. Almost uncon.
sciously Margaret grew to study that
hends me-, hlgh.breQ tee. Once he
turned, attracted by the magnetism which
t, lis one OF steady gaze, and met Mar.
garet's eyes, She lowered them, blush
lng and confused, as though detected in
a mtg meanor.
She was conscious OF 8 new and strange
pain when CIaudine, in hsr childish pet
Ting way, would lay her rosy check
against her guardians, and ask his moth.
er and herself to admire the contrast
ClauGine was fond Of riding on horse
bsCk, and it was Mr.. L1ncaeter's favorite
amusement So It came about ihat
lightning" and STAR we're brought TO
door, and Margaret would school her
self to stand with smiling lips to see hem
mount and start off together. One day
Mr.. Lancaster said, ] stiugly:
81 AN growing to toe boy again, Miss
Blanchard uuder CiaUdine's leadership "
AS Margaret answered, she looked very
fair AMI calm, standing framed in the mas
slye door way; bat her thoughts ran on
oitterly
Mex be will tell me that he has asked
her to be his wife An, ii she were only
more worthy OF him -
But, when next she saw him, he was Ito
al q pearauCe liieless) brought into the
hC use by careful hands aud laid upon a
I couch winch hsd been hurriedly Impro-
vised in the library, uGtil me extent of his
Injuries could be asCertained
His fsvorite lightning" had taken
fright aud thrown his master.
MsrgaTel's pale face WAS the only sign
OF the agony she suffered at seeiug her
oenetactor thus stricken down from exu
0eraut life to-ss she thought-death.
Claudine gave way to groans and sighs
but Margaret, true to her helpful nature,
saw that everything was done for his com.
fort, and gave orders 10 the terror stricke u
servants TO keep all knowledge OF the &C
cident from the aged mother until the doc
tors arrival, wheE they could know the
extent Of her sons injuries.
Margaret, will you think 1t heartless
IN me If go TO my room and leave you
alonef' said poor, shlverlng Clsudlne
am sure | shall faint If stay here
looking at That CHASTITY face"
mo" said Margaret, touching her cold
lips pityingly to the frightened girl's
oIancned cheek. go aud lie down. |
will come and tell you what the doctor
says as soon IS possible after he comes
Claudiue crept subducdly away, and
Margaret was alone with the motonless
form of him she loved-yes, loye3i Sue
knew it now, though knowing at the same
time WAIST hopeless love 1t must be.
She went and stood by him. aud gszed
long upon his face. Then yielding to an
uncomfortable impulse, she beat and
pressed lingering kiss upon the white
lips, m1Fmurlng:--
"Oh, my m isterl If 1t could have been
my worthless life instead Of one SO pre-
cIuus
She started back in dismsy. He moved
opened his eyes and looked coniusedly
around.
Where am II" he said, family; "what
has happeneip
Then ne saw Margar,t, who stood-her
face Dyed win crimson bushes shrink
ing away from his glance; conscious only
hat he was alive, aud that she hsd kissed
him
But his next words, rambling and Dis
connected, re-sssnred her He was not
fully conscious.
AS she isteto ca her heart beat quickly.