The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-10-06
A PLEASANT LOVE.

''Guess what it is"
They were walking along the green
lanes Of Perlock, listening to the cease,
less murmur of the sea, as at intervals
they had walked and listened ever since
they could remember: at any rate, she
was six years younger than her former
play-fellow.
''You are going to be promoted" she
said.
Promoted, you little goosel No one
ever gets promoted in the British army.
Guess again.
''You are going to marry an heiress. .
There was lump in her throat as she
said it.
"Wrong again. No estimable young
person with green eyes, a turn-up nose,
susceptible heart and fifty thousand a
year has turned up yet. But its some
thing nearly as good. | am ordered to
China.
"Oh, Alic !" she gasped. and burst
into tears. 1t was very foolish of her,
but then she was is, and had not yet
acquired the praiseworthy art of con-
cealing her feelings.
"Why, whatever are you crying for ?"
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 cat, excepting
perhaps that it was nicer-which it was,
no doubt. Il shall only be away FIVE
wears at most, and when come back I'll
bring you a pig tail, and an ivory tooth
pick, and whole lot of things, and ="
'Yes," she said listening attentively.
'But then you'll be young woman
4 forget-and "out, and all that sort
of 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 | tell you you will. believe
you are born little firt, and / shall
come back and tind"-
But she burst into tears again, and put
up her pretty little hand as if to stop
his teasing, which she could not bear
lust 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
a bit, and she could have broken her
heart on the spot, and would have glad
ly done so, and thrown away the pieces,
so as never to be bothered with it again.
Then seeing her, mournful blue eyes he
was merciful.
Il believe l 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 married
and starve ever after-unless, of course,
the heiress turns up"
"Oh, I hope she won't" said Maggie,
like truthful little idiot. 'ohall you
ever write to me Alic, dear?"
..l E.Yes, of course shall, and | shall ex-
pect you to write back six pages crossed,
and all that sort of thing, you know"
So Alic Granger went to China, and
Maggie waited hopefully enough for
letter, but six months passed and none
came. Perhaps it lakes longer for a
letter to get here from China" she
thought, knowing as little about the
means of transcript and the time it took,
as if the celestial city had been i'll the
moon. But year passed and no letter
came, and Maggie iourneyed into woman
hood, but no word or sign came from
Alic Granger, and at last she gave him
up altogether.
Maggie was 20 years old when her
father died, and the creditors did pOunce
down, she and her mother were sold out.
Mrs. Dunlop was offered home in Lon
don by sister who was well off and
bad-tempered, and it was thankfully ac-
cepted.
Maggie went as goverless into the
family of Mrs. Marshall, of Woolwick.
Mrs. Marshalrs daughter by her first
husband was really mistress Of the estab-
Iishment, for Maria Patterson had a
strong will, and she was an heiress.
GA very nasty heiress, too, poor Mag
gle thought, and she was right, for
Maria was skinny, and thought herself
sarcastic, and always said nasty things
to people who did not dare to say them
back again.
One evening, when Maggie had been
about year at Woolwiek, and was sit.
ting alone in her school-room az usual,
for her pupils he. he. Just said good night
and noeen delivered to the tender mercles
of their nurse, Miss Patterson walked
in very much dressed and rather flushed
and excited. =,
Miss Dunlop" she said, eve shall
have a few friends this evening" and l
know one or two of them will like an
impromptu dance; will you be ready to
come into the drawing-room and play II
we should want you ?"
In the evening she put on her shabby
black gown and stuck spray OF white
flowers in her golden hair, and waited
patiently for the summons. When 1t
came. with a roll of music under her
arm, flush on her innocent frightened
face. and a scared, almost hunted ex-
preston in her eyes, she descended and
timidly opened the drawing room door,
| and there stood still for moment star,
| ing in astonishment. There sat the
heiress, with an eager, pleased expires,
sion on her face, and leaning over talk
ing and laughing, and more handsome
than, ever and sunburnt and soldierly
looking, was Alic Granger. The coioI
rushed to Maggie's face as if to say
hurried good-by, and then left it alto
gether. She recovered selfpossession
however. and walked with what she fat
tered herself was dignity towards the
piano. She felt rather than saw hin
raise his head and look at her and the
next moment she saw him by her side.
'sMaggie-my dear Maggie! Why.
fancy you being here ; where did you
come from have been trying to find
you out for months, 81
Fl thought youa-and then she dld
not know how to go on, so added almost
/ piteously, 81 am the governess here.
"Are you Oh, / see, then, that il
tbe reason | have not seen you before,
suppose. :.
ssDo you really know Miss Dunlop z
the heiress asked, coming up and speak
ling in her coolest manner.
Maggie wished sincerely she coulc
sink into her shoes and bury herself
/ @Why of course / do we have beer
play-fellows ever since we were horn
i l,--.,.s+ mo Marpcv1a 81