The Osceola times., 1881-03-12
MARGARET'S MONEY.

"Ies," he said-talking with mean
ing, too, looking at me, evidently to see
how took the news-"yes, and what do
you suppose she does with ii? Has it
locked up in my fire-proof vault, doesn't
use il in any way; doesn't get interest on
it; locks it up as she does her rings and
| pins and lets il lie never touched"
81 wonder you don't give her better
advice" | said.
Give woman advice" he said "Try
| IT. However, i approve of this. Better
keep her dowry locked up safe t,an risk
and lose it. My fre-proof safe and fire.
proof vault will hold her money-the
money her husband is to have the day
he marries hcr-fast and safe"
| Then the old man trotted away to his
own desk, and looked over at me.
"Im her guardian" he said. "Her
father and | had quarreled, YOU know.
But when he died he left her and her
money in my care. A nice thing for an
old bachelor to have, a niece quartered
on him for life! I'll marry her off as
soon as | can. | say, Fisher, come up
and take tea with me tonight"
lie did mean it. He had offered his
niece and her e5,000 to me! He had
never ike me eltntr
"Shall | go?" | asked myself Why
not? ] might as well see the heiress. ]
was not man to be bought by money. if
she were coarse vulgar creature, like
her uncle; but otherwise, why not see
what she was made of? At least it could
do no harm TO take tea with old Simon
Giddings.
| ] went home with him that evening.
| noticed some little changes in the par
lor, asthough lady's hand had been busy
there, and in moment more ] saw, sit
ting in the shadow of the curtains, a girl
dressed in deep mourning.
Margaret, Mr.. Fisher; my niece, Miss
Giddings, Tom" said the old man; and
and as / bowed, saw little velvet
headed crutch leaning against the girls
chair.
She was lame, then. Old Giddings
thought this an obstacle to her making a
good match. So he offered her to Tom
Fisher.
at won't do, old man." thought. 81
shouldn't mind plain face so much, but
a lame wife will never do for me-"
Then something whispered family in
my ear: "e5, 900"
For the rest Miss Giddings was fair
and sweet looking and pleasant in her
manner. She was a lady too, which
seemed odd for Old Simon's niece for he
was as vulgar as he was rich; and she
sang to us after tea very sweetly.
! like a girl with dash and color and
still her blue eyes and sweet smile
haunted me little after went home.
"She'l never quarrel with one, :" thought:
T. I l..
catch certainly; but that crutch, I'll stay
away from old Simon's house for the
future"
But he would not let me stay away;
he kept on urging me to go home with
him.
There was Marian More. Perhaps she
liked me little. admired her intense
ly; but she had no money, and should
take her away from her snug home to
some poor sort of place if ] married her.
| should find it hard work to feed and
clothe her decently.
This fair, sweet Margaret was rich,
and as time passed on | began to see her
liking for me. And sat in the office
one day, three months from the time of
my first visit, wondering whether | could
be quite sure that | should be good
enough to the little thing meant to
marry for her money, to keep her from
knowing that there was no actual love
for her in my heart.
And as | pondered, the voice of old
Simon reached my ears: Tom Fisher up
in the moon again, ch? Well, well when
Il fellow is in love We excuse laZiness in
him. There's my niece Margaret pour
ing the tea in the slop basin and over
setting the milk at breakfast, Maggie
says ], you're thinking of some one,
an'ye.' She blushed to her ears. You've
managed TO get into good graces in that
quarter, Tom"
"Do you think so?' | said.
II know So" said the old man. Il
ought not to say SO, you know, but I'm
frank
! listened to him then, two voices
whispering to me:
"Iou don't love her." said one.
"You don't hate her" said the other.
"Iou do want f5.0O0," said the other.
1T would make a man of you. You
could go into business on your own
account. You'd cease to be slave in
this dingy office"
Give thousand pounds" said TO my
self Then ] started to my feet.
"Mr. Giddings," | said, would you be
willing to give your niece to me as my
wife?"
His answer was frank.
"Tom Fisher, I'd give her to any de-
cent young man. A girl bothers me;
Pm tired of the charge. Every one
doesn't want a lame wife. If you like
her, take her, and on your wedding day
I'll hand the 5000 10 you and he rid of
the charge. She'll say yes don't fear.
I'll tell her that you asked me tonight,
and hurry on the wedding"
| thought ] heard the thump of y
crutch in the church aisle as he spoke. !
thought of the graceful step of Marion
More. / turned faint and sat doHn to
my desk: but went to old Simon's house
that night and saw Margaret. She look
ed fair and happy as child. | sat down
by her and took her hand.
"Are you going to say No. Maggie" |
said, and she lifted her innocent lips to
mine and kissed me. "I'll be very, very
good to you"
But there was no lovers warmth in
my heart; only kind of gentle pity for
the girl who was to bring me $4,000.
We were engaged. Old Simon joked
us coarsey and seemed to exult over the
affair. ] might even have doubted the
existence of the f5,000, but that Maggie
told me of it herself.
Uncle was keeping il for me to live
on when was an old maid" she said.
"But YOU shall do what you choose with
the money when belong to you. Well