The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-09-15
A PLEASANT LOVE.

81 have got some news for you, Mag
gie," he said, one day, about eightee
months after he had gained his CON
mission. "Guess what it is"
They were walking along the gree
lanes of Perlock, listening to the cease
less murmur of the sea, as at interval
they had walked and listened ever sine
they could remember; at any rate, sh
was six years younger than her forme
play fellow.
"You are going to be promoted" sh
said.
Promoted, you little goose No on
ever gets promoted in the British army
Guess again"
you are going to marry an heiress.
There was lump in her throat as sh
said it.
Wrong again. No estimable youn,
person with green eyes, a turn-up nose
susceptible heart and fifty thousand {
year has turned up yet. But it's some
thing nearly as good. I'm ordered tt
China"
"Oh, Alic" she gasped, land burst into
tears. 1t was cry foolish of her, bu
then she was ouly sixteen and had not
yet acquired the praiseworthy art o.
concealing her feelings.
"Why, whatever are you crying forr
he asked, and kissed away her tears
He'd kissed her ever since she was five
and thought no more of it than if she
had been his sister, or the cat, except
ing perhaps that it was which
it was, no doubt 81 shall only be away
five years at m ost, and when l come back
I'll bring you pigtail and an ivory
tooth pick, and whole lot of things,
and"
EYES," she said, listening attentively.
"But then you'll be young woman
Il forget-and out and all that sort
Of a thing, and won't condescend to
speak to a poor lieutenant: you will
have all the squires and fox.hunters
about the place at your feet"
ooh, no, indeed, shall not, Alic,"
she said eagerly.
'But l tell you you will. l believe
you are d born little firt, and I shall
come back and find"
But she burst into tears again, and
put up her pretty little hand as if to
stop his teasing, which she could not
bear just then. 1t seemed so cruel of
him to laugh and joke when he was
going away for five years. He did not
seem to care bit, and she could have
broken her heart on the spot, and
would have gladly done so, ard thrown
away the pieces, SO as never to be both
cred with it again. Then seeing her
mournful blue eyes, he was merciful
II believe shall come back and find
you just as great little darling as you
are now, and if we've got any money
We'll get married and live happy ever
after, and if we haven't, we'll get mar.
ried and starve ever after-unless, of
course, the heiress turns up"
''Oh, l hope she won'tn said Maggie,
like truthful little idiot. "Shall you
ever write to me, Alic dear?"
eyes, Of course I shall, and l shall
exnect yon to write SIS. pages CLOSED,
and ell that sort of thing yeu know. .
So Alic Granger went to China, and
Maggie waited hopefully enough for a
letter, but six months passed and none
came. Perhaps it takes longer for q
letter to get here from China" she
thought, knowing as little about the
means Of transit and the time it took as
if the celestial city had been in the
moon. But a year passed, and no let
ter came, and Maggie journied into
womanhood, but no word or sign came
from Alic Granger, and at last she gave
him up altogether.
Maggie was twenty years old wher
her father died, and the creditors die
pounce down. and she and her mother
were sold out. Mrs. Dunlop was of
fered home in London by sister wht
was we'll off and bad-tem pered, and i
was thankfully accepted.
Maggie went as governess into tn,
family Of Mrs. Marshall of Woolwich
Mrs. MarshalPs daughter by her frs
husband was really mistress of the es
tablishment, for Maria Patterson had ,
strong will and she was an heiress. 81
very nasty heiress, too" poor Maggi
thought, and she was right, for Mari,
was skinny and thought herself sar
castle and always said nasty things /,
people who did not dare to say then
back again.
One evening when Maggie had bee,
about 8 year at Wooiwich, and the wa
sitting alone in her schooLroom as ,isu
al, for her pupils had just said good
night, and been delivered to the tende
mercies Of their nurse, Miss Patterso
walked in very much dressed, and ratl
er flushed and excited.
"Miss Dunlop" she said, tive sha
have q few friends this evening, and
know one or two Of them like an in
promptu dance; will you be ready /
come into the drawing-room and play
we should want your"
In the evening she put on her shabb
black gown, and stuck spray Of viii,
flowers in her golden hair, and waite
patiently for the summons. When
came, with . roll Of music under h,
arm. . flush on her innocent, frich
ened face, and . scared, almost hunts
expression in her eyes, she descende
and timidly opened the drawing-rool
door, and there stood still for M
ment, staring in astonishment. The
sat the heiress with an eager, pleas,
expression ON her face, and leanil
over her, talking and laughing, a.
more handsome than ever, sun-bur