Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-02-18
don by sister who was well off and
bad-tempered, and it was thankfully

~ f'SAAi - - ~N'f' - W ~
family of a Mrs. Marshal, Of Wool
wich.
Mrs. MarshaPs daughter by hel
first husband was really mistress o.
the establishment, for Maria Pat
terson had q strong will, and she
was an heiress. "a very nasty
heiress too,n poor Maggie thought
and she was right; for Maria was
skinny and thought herself sarcas
Rtic, and always said very hasty things
to people who did not dare to take
them back to her again.
One evening, when Maggie had
been about a year at Woolwich, she
was sitting alone in her school-room
as usual, for her pupils had just
SAID good night, and been delivered
to the tender mercies of their nurse
Miss Patterson walked in very much
dressed, and rather flushed and ex
cited.
"Miss Dunlop she said, 1--WE
have few friends this evening, and
I know one OF two Of them who like
an impromptu dance; will you be
ready to come into the drawing
room and play if we should want
your"
In the evening she put OH hei
shabby black gown and stuck a
spray of white flowers in her golden
hair, and waited patiently for the
summons. When it came, with a
roll Of music under her arm, flush
on her innocent, frightened face, and
a sacred, almost haunted expression
in her eyes, she descended and timid
ly. opened the drawing room door
and there stood still for a moment
staring in establishment. There sal
the heiress, with an eager, pleased
expression ON her face, and leaning
over her, talking and laughing, and
more handsome than ever, and, sun
burnt and soldierly looking, was Alit
Granger. The color rushed to Mag
gie's face, as if to say q hurried
goodbye, and then left it altogether
/ She recovered selfpossession, how
ever, and walked with what she
fattered herself was dignity TOWARD
the piano. She felt rather than saw
him raise his head and look at her
and the next mom1ent She saw hin
by her side.
"Maggie, my dear Maggie! Why
fancy you being here; where die
you come from? / have been trying
to find you out for lnonths.n
III thought you" and then she
did not know how to go on, SO added
almost piteously, II am the cover
ness here"
care you9 Oh, | see, then, that
is the reason | have not seen you be
fore, | supposed"
ado you really know Miss Dun
lop g7 the heiress asked, coming VI
and speaking III her coolest manner
Maggie wished sincerely she could
sink into her shoes and bury herself
"Why, of course | do; we have
been play-fellows ever since we were
born-hayen't we, Maggie 2"
And Maggie, feeling that she was
backed up, answered bravely:
"Yes.n
ooh, indeed, how interesting! =
Then turning to Maggie; "Will you
be so good as to begin waltz, Miss
Dunlopg This was to be our dance
| think, Alic,n and she sailed off with
him triumphantly.
He came to her directly after the
dance was over.
II went down to Perlock to try
and find out where you had gone to-
he said, "but nobody knew
at didn't MATTER" she said
huskily, letting her fingers wander
vaguely over the keys to make be
lieye she wasn't very much inter
ested in what he said.
g Yes it did-it mattered great
deal. Why, I've got a box full Of
curiosities for you-ciubs to fight
With, and a little heather god or two
and statue Of Buddha, and all that
sort of things. l told you | should
bring them home to you. Do you
live here-I mean in this house ~
He said these last words under his
breath, for the heiress came up, and
the next minute he was carried off
to dance with Mrs. Somebody at the
other end of the room, but not be-
fore Maggie had nodded reply to
him. Soon after this Miss Patter-
son came up to the piano, and saw
ing that she wished to play herself,
and that Maggie looked tired, dis
missed her without being able to get
even another look at Alic.
The next morning, to Maggie's
very great surprise, Miss Patterson
came into the school-room before the
children had assembled.
'.Miss Dunlop" she said stiffly,