The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-05-17

Murray Hall, or "The Oaks, as 1t
was commonly called, had Cor centuries
been the residence ot the prond race
of Murrays, twelve generations OF
whom were sleeping their last sleep
beneath the chanceI Of the Old parish
church of Aburt0n, the little village
below.
Tonight the house Was brilliantly
lighted, for there had been guests to
dinner; but they were gone now. aid
the young proprietor and his mother
were alone in the .irawing-room. They
were silent now; but il was An EN-
barrassed silence, and the trambled ex
preston ON the Young mans line face, AS
he sat regarding his stately mother. IT,
cIining in her dark velvet char, her s'dt
satin dress trailing on the rich carpet.
and the jewels cleaning in her ears
and at her throat, told tina, their coli
versa,ion had not been pleasant To-
him.
At las, he spoke, quietly AMI
decidedly
There is no use talking, mother.
have made up NV mind 10 marry
Margaret Alden. AMI marry her |
will"
Drawing herself up naughty. Mr..
Murray answered with The confidence
of one conscious of power
"No, Arthur Murray. you shall
never marry Margaret Alden. l sup
pose YOU DO not know that while
have always made it understood that
YOU were proprietor of The Oaks.
vour father, diving before you We're
born, wiiled the entire estate Ia me ;
and now if you. a Murray, the grand
son of a Marchioness. sio"p 10 marry
the daughter of schoolmasier. depend
upon it YOU shall never receive one
shilling, no not one farthing of all
this vast for.une.
Before his mother commenced L.
speak, Arthur Murray had risen as il
! 10 leave the room. and stood leaning
/ against the manfel during her naughty
speech; when she had finished he was
silent fer a moment, and then said
:sNo, mother, l did not know TIN.
before, but am glad that you have
told NE Row, though il does not alter
nav determination in the least.
have health and strength, and thanks
to You. a good education and a life
of toll, blessed with Margaret Alden.
love and eompanionship. is fat prefer
able to NE than all this splendor and
luxury without her. But it is useles.
10 saw more; ouly come what NAV,
shall never marry the Lady Eleanor
Kenneth so good night, mother.
And the young man left the room
without stopping TO listen to the storm
of anger with which the lady, whose
wishes had always been law TO him,
greeted his words.
1t was a lovely summer morning
the sun was shining brightly, turning
the tiny dewdrops into glistening
flashing jewels, such as the costlies'
gems of earth could not surprass; The
air was laden with the perfume o
MANY flowers; and from the leaf,
tree-tops the happy birds sent fortl
a flood of delicious melody.
Among the flowers in The garden o
Il pretty cottage that. with the school
house, was situated on little knoll
above Alburton church, stood a fail
young girl, evidently enjoying th,
beauty of the morning scene. 1t wa
holiday; Mr. Alden, the school
master, with his gentle wife had gone
for n drive TO town; and the beauti
full Margaret (for it was she) had com,
out into the garden to gather flower
to fiji vases. Yes, she was rarely
beautiful, and it was no wonder tina
, the ''youug squire" should becom'
enamored of her; for, apart from he
great beauty, there was charm an,
distinction about her that would hav,
made the plainest woman attractive
Her little basket filled, Margare
returned to the house. and MAS soor
J engaged i'm arranging the flowers il
. her pretty vases; singing the while
+ i'm a sweet. low voice. an old Sco,ci
love-song. She had nearly completed
her pleasant task when she heard til,
sound of approaching wheels; turn
ing {" the window she was surprise,
to see Mrs. Murray's elegant carrias,
drawing up before her home, and heI
heart throhbed. and the roses deepen
ei in her cheeks a. the iaIy bersel
alighted and passed through the gate
which the fnotman opened. and M
the pathway toward the house
What can she want here SO early !,
; Margaret asked herself. Then, call
ing Lizzie, her little maid, and bi.lin.
her show the lady into the parlor, sh
. ran upstairs TO her own room To aIc
few touches to her simple toilet.
To smooth her shining cur!s. an'
fasten some loops of ribbon in ih'
lace of her throat. was the work of
few moments; and then Marsare
went down to the parlor and welcomed
her guest with q g.ace and dignit,
! that many high-born dame nigh
have envied, and almost making Mrs
Murray shrink from her selfimpnse'
task; but she had commenced, AM
she resolved to finish; 20, whel
r Margaret apologized for her mother
absence, che said with frigid hauteur-
"Mrs. Alden is quite excusable
/ indeed, Miss Alden, I called expires.
" TO see you this morning and ar
. happy to meet you alone"
, There was a growing sickness abou
! Msrgaret's heart and presentment q
what was coming; bnt she Gstene
calmly while Mrs. Murray continued
, still more coldly:
"Nly SOC surprised me very mucl
last evening by giving me to under
stand that an engagement. or some
lxL:r~ oT ,bot bind ovivf, hafrao,, l.; q