New-York tribune., 1882-03-12
But Margaret did not say, And you can come to

Sue never balu InaU, tnOugn We llVe0 W1tnln sBHb
OF each other, as one may say, for whole long
year. OF course / went to the house over the way
now and again; but never went unless Marga-
ret came to fetch me, and, these rare occasions.
TIE ~ aster of the house was always absent. saw
Mr.. WestmacOt often, passing In and out tall
very tall-man. with dark Clear-cut face lace
thought at once the handsomest and most evil
looking | had ever seeE Other men passed in and
out too bat never a woman crossed the threshold
of the house over the grove The men were such as
may be seen hanging about race-conrse with little
books in their hands and stumpy pencils between
their teeth They were not such men as any
woman of refinement could associate with unless &C
great cost of endurance. They were such as could
not be Mrs. WestmacOtts friends though they
might he her husbands And of woman-iriends
Margaret had none save Friend Janet learnt
long aterward that of relatives she had slngnarly
few, and those few she had hOpelessly offended by
her marriage with Mr.. Wesimacott. Her near
kin consisted only of an aunt and uncle, and they
had cast her oil utterly. And MargaIeCs lie was
indeed cruel fght-a daily struggle All the
black shadows that mans tyranny, husband )
is bouud up with his own, darkened hers. All the
terrible silence, the loneliness that none may
cheer that grow about the heart of the wife whose @
husband has neither thought nor tenderness LOT hef
Ovcrshadowed Margaret's.
As time passed on knew all these things in more
and more detail, guessing at some, putting two and
two together, until the terrible story was traced IN
lines of fire before my Iear-dimmed eyes
Pale. wan haggard, with the story of unmeasur;
able sorrow written in her dim sad eyes and round
her pald lips, Margaret used TO come to lne Keep
ing silence rs to the ome-trOublcs which were
breaking her dear heart day by day yet hndlng-l
thank Heaven IN looking back to feel ana know
that this 80 finding comfort and healing III
the love of Friend Janet.
The careless nurse-glrl who had let sweet Maize
stray across the pathway OF the runaway horse nad
long since left Mrs. WcstmacOrS service. and had
been replaced by French bonne, Naninc by name.
Nanine was sgllOw-facrd, black-cyed, angular, yet
neat with the dainty neatnesS which seems lnbe
rent in her countryw0men, a!illo high and low.
Moro than this, she rapidly developed 2 passonat 10
devotion to her little charge, and strong attach
ment 10 her mlstress-Indecd on one occasion When
Mr.. Westmacott CHANGED t. he named before her, |
saw the black eyes flash and the strong white teeth
clcnch, and knew that Margaret had n sure friend
"a the winter passed, the suriner came. Ny
poplar waved once more q blue.are'n plume, then
dropped its garment Of leaves. and stood al bare
aud chill, a brown network of branches against the
autumn sky.
was sitting by tho fire ono night alone knitting
at n vast coyeriet which / destined Ior Chr!stmaS
Nv thoughts were wandering. | knew not
viii her. when AL at once came the sir OF Steps
and voices i'm the outer passage which Poilys
hurrellv. and there stood my friend, Pller ih2n /
had ever yet seen her, her eyes fall Of som'thng
that looked like fear her hands outstIet'hcd lor
She was dressed for travelling, and seemed al
most unable 20 speak az trst.
'Margaret-chIdp - / cried, rising and Oyerturninc
all my knitting gear; what is lt ! Why are you
dressed like thi>i Where are Won goingE
over to France shc said, cuehing my hama to
.
less dread; 'to-nIrht-now-at once. We are
gong to my husbands cousm's-to Madame lie
Breton
'Nay.' she said. intcrruptinG me-; do not speak
to mr. do not look at m like thgo. Listen there
IS much TO he said, and So Ittle time to say 1t IN
Maize is asleep or should have brought her over.
Nauiue ami ! hope she may sleep through the
journey to Sonthampton; but here - Ilier.
Friend Janet, will you keep him for me I'LL cone
again My husband says must not take him
with me. You need not he afraid to keep him; he
is really very much improved he never thinks of
touching Mazies dinner now even when he is left
alone in the room with it ever 90 long
Until this moment hal not noticed Pilicr. Now
saw hIm standing close lcsde his mistress. look
ing from one to the other OF us aS she spoke con-
scious fate was busy with him, but uncertain as to
the nature of the crisis that approached. Ills
look was wsttu tender, pleading. Anyone mieht
well have taken him for perfect SAINT ot dog 10
whom the miSIpprOpration OF viands was at once
revolving and practically unknown.
i should like y0u to keep The poor little fellow
we all love him much, IN spite of his failIng>,'
sad Margaret.
| was almost too lazed to reply cohercnty: hut
she saw | was willing TO accept she charge thus
Let ,s shut him mp in the back room she said.
! nd she trembling III every lfnb
knew not what to think.
We went warIlv making believe that rats lurKed
in the gloomy little chamber which looked into a
diurv ward then closed the door quickly, unhecd-
ing yclpS and the mad scratching OF i0Ic-paWs
Vow / must say rood-Ly.' said Margaret sob
bng. There is not a moment TO loS"-It is all so
sudden. | know not what it means | nave stayed
too long already Oh, Friend Janet-Friend
Janet! God love you for all the dear, sweet com
fort yOu have been TO me"
Her face streaming with tears was raised to
mine she clasped me close about the neck; she
kissed me over and over again. felt her sob and
And all the while my stammcrinc tongue refused
to utter ord of blessing or farewell. was like
one in 4 dream; shadow amid other shadows
heard the halldoor close with a clang saw,
through a mist, poor Pollys ptiiul wondering
looks
seemed turned to stone knew not how time
At last I heard the sound of horses feet, the
rumble of wheels.
In a moment | was ont at the gate bare. headed,
unhccdug he fierce blustcr OF the night. caugh
a glimpse of waving hand, dcath-whltc face,
sobbed aloud wrung my hands. kept peer
ing INTO the darkness which had fallen like a
sulIcn veil between me and all l loved best on
earth
At last out came Polly, her apron over her head.
She tOached my hand-timidlv at first, then more
frmly-and led mo back INTO the house out OF
the stormy night.
PART II.
Margaret wrote to me- but at rare intervals, and
now and again | fancicd | detected a thin veil OF
reserve between her heart and mine, something
that made me wish could lt over to that old
chateau all among the shadowy woods, OF when
felt as if should know it if l saw It, and greet
il as we greet an old familiar friend.
The well with its moss grown margin and low
wall and the bright patch far down below, the face
of the water looking mp to the sky and mirroring
it. The pigeons iutterinG from the gables ol thc
manor, falling softly Oh 10 the rcd.ted yard,
where Maize fed them with gtain. The old clock
set in the centre of the arch through which you
entered this courtyard and the eeris sound OF It's
long dOlorous chime hour by hour
All these things | could realize.
cOall fancy Margaret, fair picture framed IN
so ouaInt a setting sitting on the MARCIA of the
well, with her work or her book, while Maize
chased the pigeons, who went strntting dchantly
hithcr and tmther as much as to say:
.Catrh us if Yon can. little lady.