The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-03
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| recognized the truth of MargaretFs.
At the endlof the first week, however
Margaret was found to have wrought
terrible devastation. The precise butle
gave warning, the housekeeper SHED
/ tears over her pillaged preserve closet
| the old Sevres china had been used fol
| dolls tea set, and windows and {
| bisque >statuette of Psyche were broken
| and a bottle of ink had been upset. OF
the palerblae moquette carpet of thu
| drawingroom..
.lWhat shalt we dop'' cried Aunt
Catharine. in dismay. si1r g asF9Fa
Mr.. g RivershaE smiled. The elf
amused him. after her quaint, stormy
fashion. ,-.,s
"She is only child,'' said he. SO
"But such q child.n said Aunt Catha-
| rine.i3 - ~ |
LET her stay here,n said Mr.. River
shall. s'She's like a bottle of cham
pagne-all effervescence-and She II inn
prove with age
So Margaret FELTON, stayed, and queen
ed it over the little household, appar-
emily quite unaware that her slender in
heritance was insufficient to pay 1.-THE
of her daily expenses. The bouhdless
possibilities of youth were hers-the
sunshine of cheerful spirit, and quick
imagination-and she seemed perfectly
happy where she was. Afectionate, i'm
petuous, frank and wilful, even Aunt
Catharine could not but be fond of her,
after a little.
, And then, Just as-to use Margaret's
own WORDS hey were all so happy to-
gether,'' came news regarding her
guardians Louisiana sugar plantations
from which source nearly the whole
of his income was derived-and his
presence was required Immediately on
the spot. - a.-ls3 -,..ss3-s
81 shall probably return in three
MONTHS he said; ''or four, at the
latest -
sstOh, eguardy,' sobbed Margaret
clinging to him, ''can't go to- and.
Aunt Catharine?''
'Pshaw, pet, pshaw!'' said Alec River
shall, more moved than he cared to
evince. why, shall be back before
you have had time to miss mel, -
When Mr.. Rivershall spoke the hope
full words, he never dreamed that more
than dozen long years would elapse
before he returned, broken down in.
health, with hair prematurely whitened
and fortune considerably lessened, from
the Louisiana plantations. But good
Aunt Catharine was there to welcome
him, and, Margaret. also. Ezs
Margaret, grown into a royalty beau
tiful young creature, slim, stately, deer
eyed, with a color ike roses and flies,
and an unconscious grace in every mo-
ton! Alec Rivershal sighed when he
saw her.. Never, until then, had he re-
allied what an old man he was getting
to be-old, even for forty-one years.
IL LIT.
but he--even the years and months
seemed to have special spite against
him! +..z
|'Yes," said Aunt Catherine, looking
tF.iumphantly at Margaret, t'she's quite
a woman now And she has had two
offers-twe,g good offers, mind Alec.
was quite vexed at her for refusing
young Williams, who has large for
tune of his own 'l 'of "a =.
How is this, little girlP'' asked Mr..
Rivershall. f... r. -
Il don't care for him, said Marga-
ret, simply.
''But You must marry some time,n
urged Mrs. Protheroe, piteously.
Il don't see the necessity of it," re-
torted the girl.
Mr. Rivershall said nothing Just then,
but he spoke to Margaret in his eapac-
ity of guardian, few days afterwards.
MY dear child said he, gently,
you're a young lady now, and you
have your future to look TO. L should
like to see you settled in home of you1
own before / die, and"
EsOh, Mr.. Rivershall," passionately
interrupted Margaret, don't talk so.''
He smiled sadly.
In fact, my DEAR said he, ''you are
now exactly what fancied you to be,
twelve wears ago, when first / heard
that your poor father was gone. was
sitting, / remember, in this very room,
opening my letters, and imagined you
to be tall young woman with whom i
should fall in loye'-at this Margaret
laughed and blushed exquisitely-'to
who might, perhaps, fall in love with
me. You see, my pet, / was twelve
years younger then, and now l am re-
compelled to acknowledge to
myself that all that remains to me is tc
play the part of the old father on the
stage, and deliver you over to some
handsome young Lovers care"
He spoke Lightly, but there was an
undertone of deep sadness in his voice.
Margaret came and perched herself
on the arm of the pillowed chair in
which he was reclining. i 10
"But don s<s want any handsome
young lover,''S said she. "Oh, Mr..
Rivershall-dear~ guardy, as L used to
call you-can't the old time come back
againP'
''Ah, little Margaret, he said mourn
fully, cold times never do come back
but they must---but they sshalln'
cried Me girl, with energy. Now shut
your eyes-now fancy yourself opening
your letters. Could you fall in love
with me, gIardyf'' holding her hand
over his eyes. 'tBecause-be-
cause tie last half of your prediction
aas come true. I have fallen in love
with you. There--now1 have told it
allr' 9 7 fetd5
And then Margaret slipped down to
ler knees on the floor, and hid her
burning face on his arm, as he sat there
among the pillows. ws} Y =
What did Alec Rivershall answer?
he could answer nothing just at first
lie was like the pearl-seeker, who, COM
ng toilsomels home after hopeless Gay
# failures, suddenly discovers a pure
pearl lying at his feet, his own, and his
,rlly.
Margaret said he, family, II am
id enough to be your father.'
..tYou are just old enough to be my
she saucily retorted.,
s.And l have but half of what fortune
originally possessed. y @
I'm my eyes said Margaret, grave
n N 1