Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-02-14
one fine day she died.

'And what became OF the others!
".rhat is as far as my information,
derived piecemeal from the aged father
of our landlord, extends" concluded
Jack. II only know that the father
finished his days in disgrace, and died
alone and solitary in this old house,
which is haunted, the superstitious
neighbors aver, by his restless ghost. "
Ned johnson had managed TO entice
tickle Kettle to a seat in the window
that overlooked the tangled neglected
garden. The others were conversing
in pairs, and Mark Hunter stood alone
and UNDECIDED in the doorway, heavy
shadow on his face. Meg Beckwith,
looking up from the book whose con-
tents she was carelessly scanning, saw
the shadow. and n sudden look OF pitt
full intelligence crossed her own.
''Mr. Hunter-Mark, she whispered,
crossing the room unnoticed, and lay
ing one hand OH his arm, al see it all
now. Oh, why did YOU come hereg"
''How could foresee this visitP" he
responded, his low tones penetrating no
farther than her attentive ear. IRE
member that when we LETT our pretty
picnic-ground in Horman's Glade, we
expected to return Immediately to the
hotel, and not to this abode Of dismal
memories, whittier the storm has driv-
Ell us.
Ladies'" said Mark suddenly, in his
usual everyday voice, there must be
some quaint old chambers above, to
which yon long dusky staircase leads.
Who feels in a mood for exploration"
mot i, - answered Lettie, happy N
the. company of her cavalier.
Nor |, repeated Miss Johnson,
thinking of dust, spiders, and her
mauve sateen, all in one.
The others were engrossed in Jack
Trevor's nonsense, and Meg, gathering
her blue skirts closely about her, swept
them half-mocking, half-disdainful
courtesy from the doorway.
Il am going to lay the ghost, she
announced, and a moment after stood
breathless on the broad landing above,
her arm closely clasped around Marks
as she looked beyond half affrighted at
the gloom and dreary silence Of the
place.
fastening her footsteps little, he
led her into n large low-ceiled room.
barely furnished, like the par!or be-
low, and opening heavy wooden shut
ter let in the dull grey of the after
moons waning light. Meg's face WAS
in shadow, but the few rays that strug-
gled through the dusty panes fell full
upon his countenance, and faint flush
colored her cheeks as she noted the ca-
ger expression that rested on it.
Without speaking, he drew letter
from his pocket, and held it toward
her. She glanced at the address. ejac-
ulated the one word, philip, and
without opening it, put the missive
aside with q firm hand.
Nay" he said, and his strong lip
quivered under its covering of dark
hair. ''Now that you know all, be
merciful.
Here, in this house. which his IA
Their darkened with the dreary shadow
of sin, and under which shadow he
passed a portion of his miserable child
hood. let me plead for him.
WAS il so much his fault that he
gave way to the miserable vice Inherit
ed from his wretched parent? Remem-
Der, he had no mother TO guard his
young footsteps and turn him from sin.
"Once he shocked your pure woman
hood, but God knows inc repcnted the
deed in sackcloth, and rs far rs lies in
the strength of weak man he has striven
to overcome his depraved habit. He is
a changed lad. Your influence, he
AYERS, could wean him still farther from
destruction, and-you love each
other"
1t was well that he did not see the
blaze of indignation in Meg's eyes. or
he would never have finished his We
hement speech.
mark Hunter" she answered, calmly
and coldly, for she would have died
sooner than betray the tremor that
shook her frame, ''you cannot deceive
me. Have not seen-do ! not know
how you stood by your cousin. day after
day, warning. advising. counseliing,
never impatient, never weary, ill YOU
won him back to virtue? He does not
live in his own strength, he exists in
yours. As far rs the world goes, YOU
have achieved noble action. II You
did it for my sake-I cannot thank
you.
Mark drew his hands across his
brow.
Your words sound strangely" he
said, with weary pathos in his voice.
II did not expect thanks, but''-with a
second culver of the moustached lip,
that manlike he strove desperately TO
hide-"but-"
At the sight all the passion in Meg's
strong nature was reused.
because q woman was kind TO u
weak lad, whose unstable nature APP
pealed so irresistibly to her stronger
one, was it necessary that the purest
emotions of her heart must go out TO
him also? Why should he have all
wealth, position, friends, and-mercy?"
Marks rugged features grew sudden
ly stern.
':Stopr' he commanded. Tell me
one thing. Do you love Philip"
Meg gave little gasp at the abrupt
ness of the question; then her lips took
on the old decided curve.
IL could love no one who proved
himself less than man." she respond
Cd, and there was honesty, at least, in
her voice.
Margaret. Mark Hunter leaned
forward in the grey light with half
awed look on his face-"my childhood
was hard, unlovely one, for was not
born to wealth, as was my cousin Phil
ip. 1 have educated myself by my own
efforts, and have won a position in the
world; but the battle l waged has left
many scar on heart and brain. An
swer me one question honestly, even If
the answer add to the burden my life
has already sustained. Could YOU