The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-01-12
" ONE OF THREE"
CHAPTER XvH.-CoSTINUED.
by JESSE ForHRRGILL,
author Of Probation" Tho Weltelds," Etc

CHAPTER XVII.-CoNTINUED
For two months, January and
February, the time dragged on, and
Margaret found herself still in her old
country house-still unwilling to leave
it. She had succeeded in getting Mrs
Lascelles to promise that when the
weather was milder, and the spring
more advanced, she would come to
Beckbridge, and bring Rupert with her;
but one morning she got letter from
the lady in which she said:
"Will you think me very selfish if 1
beg you to come to us, if only for u
short time? Rupert is far from well,
and he pines for you-a least, he thinks
if you were only here he would be bet
ter. 1t may be a delusion. God knows
but would fain give it the chance of
proving reality. Do try to come. 1t
will be dreadfully dull for you-even
more so than of old. You know how
small our circle is. Doubtless Rupert
has told you that John Mallabair is
away, and no one has the faintest idea
when he will return. We think it must
be some love affair; some one, perhaps,
whom he met in London, when he was
there so long; but his cheering pres
once will not be here to make any va
riety for you. You need, not even see
Louis Baldwin. He does not come here
as he used to come. / can not approve
of his treatment of you, and l had to
tell him so. These are great induce
ments, my dear, for a young woman like
yourself, are they notP And yet l ask
you-come-for my boys sake, if not
for mine!'
In few days Margaret was at Black
ford Grange. TWAS with feeling akin
to mournfulnesss that she looked around
as she alighted at the station, and saw
Mrs. Lascelles standing on the platform,
waiting to meet her, and realized the
difference between this arrival and her
first one; between this sad raw day of the
later February, and that beaming after
noon at the end of May. She was al
most silent as they drove to the Grange,
she could hardly tell whether Joy OF
sorrow was the stronger when they had
entered, and Mrs. Lascelles clasped heI
in her arms, and Damaris rushed for
ward to greet her with what was, for hei
vehemence. But when she stopped ovel
Rupert's couch, and saw his pinched
and frostily wistful face melting into
tears and smiles, and heard his NOW
am content" then she knew, and said
to herself: IL am also content.
1t was the end of February-wild
blustery weather; when the tempest;
lulled, cruel frosts set in; and when the
frost gave way, the storm again broke
loose, and so there was great anti
phon of the elements, "deep calling
unto deep" winds bowling, skies freez
ing.
Margaret thought she saw a distinc
change for the worse in Rupert's health
Though he revived somewhat after sh,
came, and loved to have her sit will
him, talk with him, and read to him
he was yet so weak and ailing as to b.
constantly under Louis Baldwin's care
But Louis and Margaret never met
She seemed to have almost an in
stinctive knowledge when he was in tn
house; and VIXEN She knew of his pres
ence there, she usually retreated to he
own room. Rupert was distressed n
the arrangement, but not even to pleas
him would Margaret unbend. mo
dear" she said. 'there are some thing