Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-21

Ciaudine North proved TO be \ bright
sweet tempered girl, who made the
wide halls and spacious rooms ring with
fun ard frolic She had no great depth
OF character. and shocked Margaret by
thinking that Mr.. Lancaster was her
legitimate prey, rs She had done NIL
male creatures since her hahyhood.
She was born tiirt. Had She used
her wileS upon any one less exalted
than was Mr. Lancaster in Margaret's
eyes, il would not have seemed 50
strange. But to hear her talk Of his
being Il splendid catch" and that the
girls At school had told her that She
must set her cap for him, or for his
establishment, which was the same
thing rs it went with him, jarre upon
her listeners sensitive nature.
DO YOU mean, said Margaret grave.
Is. chat YOU would marry Mr.. LancaS-
Ter because he is rich?"
Most certainly, if | ever get the
chance" laughed Caudine; though
us to that he's the handSomcst man |
know. with that sad face and those ele
CANT dark eyes | suppose You are
70 have been told why Mr. Lancaster
is bachelor? You know his hetro;h,
ed wife died on the very day appoint;
ed for their wedding, and that TIC has
been faithful to her memory ever
since
Claudine did not wait for an answer,
but danced away nunming merry
tune, leaving Margaret'S heart full of
tender, pitying sadness 1T the thought
of the sorrow which had shadowed the
early life of her henefactor
From this time new interest cen
tered around Mr.. Lancaster Almost
unconsciously Margaret grew to study
chat handsome high-hred face once
he turned, attracted hy the magnetism
which tells one of steady gaze, and
met NIargarctS eyes. She lowered
them, hluShing and confused.as though
detected in misdemeanor.
She was conscious of new and
strange pain when Claudine, in her
childish, pctting way, would lay her
rosy cheek against her guardians and
the contrast.
Claudinc was fond of riding on horse
back. and it was Mr.. Lancaster's
favorite amusement. So it came about
that Lightning and "Star" were
brought to the door, and Margaret
would school herself 10 stand with Smil-
ing lips to see them mount and start
of together. One day Mr.. Lancaster
said, iestingly
II am growing to be boy again,
Miss Blanchard, under Claudine's
leadership"
As Margaret answered She looked
very fair and calm, standing framed
IN the massive doorway; but her
thoughts ram on bitterly
Next he will tell me that he has
asked her to be his wife An. if she
were only more worthy Of HIM"
But, when next she saw him, he was
TO AL appearance lifeless) brought in
to the house by careful hands and laid
upon a couch which had been hurried
~ improvised in the library, until the
extent ofhis injuries could be ascer.
tanned
Ills fayorite Lightning had taken
fright and thrown his master.
Margaret's pale face was the only
sign of the agony she suffered at seeing
her hcnefactor thus stricken down from
eXuberant life to-aS she thought
death
Claudine gave way to groans and
). signs; but Margaret, true TO her help
full nature, saw that everything was
done for his comfort, and gave orders
/ To ~ 10, .t,.t..
all knowledge of the accident from the
aged mother until the doctors arrival,
when they could know the extent OF
her sons injuries.
Margaret will you think il heart
less in me if | 20 to my room and
leave you alone?e said poor, shivering
Claudine. u am sure | shall faint if |
stay here looking at that CHASTITY
face.
No" said Margaret, touching her
cold lips pityingly 70 the frightened
girls blanched cheek. SO and lie
down. | will come and tell you what
the doctor says ms soona possible after
lie comes.
Claudine crept subduedly away, and
Margaret was alone with the motion
less form Of him she loved--yes, loved,
She knew il now, though knowing at
the same time what hopeless love It
must be.
She went and stood by him and
gazed long upon his face Then yield
ing to an uncomfortable impulse, she
bent and pressed lingering kiss upon
the white lips, murmuring
oh, my master! If it could have
been my worthless life instead of one
so preciousi
She started back in dismay. lie
moved, opened his eyes and looked
confusedly around
Where am r. hc said family: what
has happened2'
Then he saw Margaret, who stood
her face dyed with crimson bushes
shrinking from his glance; conscious
only that lie was alive. and she had
kissed him
But the next words rambling and
disconnected treasured her. He wa
not fully conscious
A. She listened her heart beat
quickly.
He murmured 4 name and Il was
her own, Little Margaret. IL whis.
pered. Little. pale, pure Margaret
fIbaY, Nth otort -, 49,,