Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-18
CHAPTER Xxx.
FREE AT LAST.

Margaret Roydeu sat up until 8 o'clock
that morning, thinking that some
message might come from Oscar
Goodwin, or that he might come
himself, late as it was. He had been
strongly tempted to pass the Royden
cottage, when he had finished with the
Pole-it was then 2 o'clock-and to give
some sign of his success to the woman he
had rescued. 1t would be indiscreet, he
knew, and Archer, to whom he mentioned
his thought, advised against it, as the
thing would keep a few hours, and
it wouldn't be well to take the edge off
off great happiness by few words
or signals, at two in the morning, when he
could visit her regularly any time alter
breakfast.
Margaret went to bed at last; but, as
may be inferred, she did not sleep. She
! felt sure that Oscar had executed his pur-
pose, or she would have heard of his fail
ure. He had said as much, and she trusted
him absolutely.
It was o'clock. Ksrryminski had al
ready quilted the hotel with his luggage,
and started by rail for Boston, when Good
win and Archer rose from the breakfast
table of the Ocean. Goodwin had
hardly tasted food. being satisfied with a
cup of coffee; and neither of them had
been in bed more than three hours. He
invited his companion in an ordinary con-
ventional manner to walk with him TO the
RoydeR cottage.
"What sober lover you are, Oscar !
You would look, to one who didn't know
you, as Indifferent as mummy. But l
know that your big brave heart is thump-
ing like trip-hammer with ardent ex-
pectation. You ask me to accompany you.
Much as like you, drove of wild horses
could not drag me there With you this
morning"
"Why not, Charles? shall always call
you Charles hereafter. It seems nearer
than Archer, and you are very, very near
W uAC~ w NY N.Y. SheAIts'
''Am | an idiot? If 1 am, Pm not an
incurable one, and certainly should be, il
1 would go with you TO call on Margaret
Royden at this particular time. You, two,
as you know, would rather be alone to-
gether for five minutes this morning than
be with others in Paradise for five cen.
turtles. Besides, if you and she were on
ordinary terms, I'm not sure that / ought
to go. 1 haven't met her since that little
affair in Canada, and she may dislike me,
especially as her brother is now dead,
Death revives old hates as well as old
loves"
"She never blamed you, Charles, foi
your part in the duel. Her brother was
only such in name; she was acquainted
with some of his faults-not all of them,
fortunately-as she is with some of your
virtues. She esteems and admires you
greatly. She wants you to be her friend
she has told me so. She is already yours.
I'm glad to hear it, Oscar. I've always
admired her. She's glorious woman.
Such a woman redeems the follies Of
host of her sex. You go now. I'll 60
some other time. You'll be pretty certain
to see her alone. She's Withdrawn from
society now, suppose, on account of her
brothers death. She's probably in mourn
ing, too"
81 doubt it. She doesn't believe in the
grief of garments /; and she wouldn't be a
hypocrite, even in dress"
| perhaps she leaves hollow forms to
her parents. They can adopt enough of
them for very large family. But pardon
my candor to a son-in-law. Don't stay
! any longer, Oscar. Margaret is waiting