The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-16

said. "but I am so put about and overcome.
by it all that l can hardly believe what has
happened. If you could know how anxious
I have been for them !''-and Margaret,
soft-yoiced Margaret, holding her sister by
the hand said with fearful eyes: "How
strangely this has come to pass After l
sent up nv name to you Monday morning
| was frightened at what | had done, and
thought you would think me bold and in
trusiye. Now what friends it has gained
MS! God must have guided me-" She was
ouiet. trustful, and almost awed by their
GOOD fortune, while Lucille looked simply
happy and expectant.
There was surely no buster man in Lon
don than Mr.. Leveridge for that and the
succeeding day-consulting with Mrs. Ma
son as to the wardrobe of her nieces, and
going with them to purchase what was re-
CURED. "Nover mind gowns and bonuetS,o
heard him say; we can get plenty bet
ter in New York or Chicago; all we want
now is comfort on the way" ordering warm
wraps for the voyage, and trunks for pack
ing their old and new belongings; taking
no end of trouble about suitable cage for
a canary some one at the pension had given
Lucille, and which she was unwilling to
leave behind; advising and aiding Mrs.
Mason in her own small affairs, bringing
good Carl Voigt over for a farewell dinner
with his young friends and sending him
home with substantial gifts for his children
these and a score of things besides filled
up every moment of the time till Friday
morning, when he took the sisters on board
the express train for Liverpool. 1t was a
buried, hopeful parting. Veal cried and
all laughed and all said: "God bless you!n
and thus they rolled away to their new life
in new land, and l, as | went back to the
hotel, under the great vault of the Charing
CROSS Station, said to myself:
fsr itSRnany dark and a wild, cloudy morn
Turns out, ere the noontime, sunshiny day.
When we reached New York, two months
later, we found a letter from Mr.. Leveridge
telling of their prosperous journey, and
how kindly the girls had taken to their new
home, and what constant satisfaction he
had in their presence and companionship.
Margaret" he wrote, already interests
herself in everything about the place, and
all who see her speak of herresemblance to
Anne; Lucille is as merry as a hooking
bird, and my wife and Tom are getting SO
much attached TO them both that tell them
l shall soon be of no account in the house."
Inclosed wasa note from Margaret, couched
in terms of religious gratitude for the
bountiful home and the tender love and
care she and her sister had found. What
can we ever do to repay these generous
friends" she asked; 81 could not have be-
lieved there was such a delightful spot on
earth as Oak Buff
Two or three years passed with an occa-
sional letter of similar purport, when | met
at the sea-shore neighbor of theirs, Mrs.
Benton, whom | had formerly known. After
brief talk about our Oak Bluff friends she
said:
"Of course, you have heard the news?"
"No. What is it?''
Margaret is to be married in October to
Tom Leveridge, the only son, you know,
and as fine young fellow as there is in the
county. His father is greatly pleased, and
is building them charming house on the
river just above his own, and she is to have
an aunt of hers from England, her mothers
sister, to live with her. But this isn't all.
Pretty Lucille, as tall now as her sister,
and at school in Bloomington, has, they
say, captivated Toms cousin, Fred Harris,
member of one of the best law firms in st.
Louis, and is already engaged to him, al
though the little puss-she always makes
me think of a white kitten, she is so fair
and frolicsome-is barely fifteen; but Mr.
Leveridge declares he won't hear word
of such nonsense for three years to come"
So it all ended like a fairy story; and if
| could forget Louis Meyers eight daugh-
tiers and the thousand other girls sad and
struggling, with no one to lend them a
helping hand | should be wholly happy in
thinking of Margaret and Lucille.-EdRa
Dean Proctor, in The Manhattan.