The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-05

Cd him of Margaret. The lady was
evidently disguised, for various unnec-
essary mufllings shrouded her person,
and her face was enveloped in thick
veil but the graceful turn of the head
could not be concealed, and that was
Margaret's. Walter almost tainted,
but in moment he laughed at himself
for his absurd fears, and withdrew
without hayiug been seen.
A second time he saw them, aud she
was leaning on the arm of her compan-
ion and evidently weeping. Her hand
pressed to her eyes, outside of her
sisters And yet again he suffered
himself to be in the presence of this
mysterious group without ascertaining
if he knew them.
But this man What could he have
in common with his gentle sister Mar
garet? 1t was true there was degree
of gentleness in his evident care of her,
in his attempts to hush her tears, in the
gentle folding of his arm about her
waist, as if to protect her but as he
rose to his feet to order water to be
brought to her Walter saw that he was
one of those tall, gaunt, stern-looking
men such rs are rarely seen at their
full height and somewhat coarse and
massive frames, except in Scotland
What could he be to Margaret Bruce
Walter attributed his own fancies to
his disturbed feelings about Margaret
His ideas were all the more unpleasant
because he could give them no form.
His picture of Margaret's life had not
risen into any shape, but dim, tore
boding consciousness of evil filed his
mind, and when he landed in Calais he
was nervous, worried and exhausted
by his own vague and restless emo.
tions.
A few weeks i'll Paris had a sedative
effect upon his mind. The thought
less, careless gayety of the Paiisians
infected him also, and with youth,
health and wealth to enjoy, he became
the life Of the circles in which he NOV
ed.
One night at masked ball, he ex.
perienced renewal of his uneasiness
at the sight of figure whose height
reminded him of the Scotchman. Again
with him was the lady whose motions
had seemed so much lkeMargaret's, and
again he saw her hand. 1t was like
his sisters and had the same she'll
shaped nails which in hers had been so
often admired. There was not single
jewel upon it, not even circlet of plain
gold, but high up on her arm, as il was
revealed by the falling back of the
sleeve, was a broad band of gold, so
pure and fine that it needed no clasp to
retain it in its place. Walter remem-
bered that he had folded just such a
band aronnd his sisters arm on the
night Of her marriage, and she had play
fully promised that it should always be
| worn.
Himself closely concealed by his
mask, he availed himself of her com
panion's momentary absence to address
her in English. His first accents seem
ed to penetrate her to the heart, fol
she uttered faint shrek and fell to
the floor. A dense crowd thickened
around her, effectually barring the en-
trance of the tall figure which stood by
the door. He had apparently no ap
prehenson that the lady who wal
fainting was his companion, aud h,
made no attempt to pass. Had h,
done SO il would not have been easy t
prevent him, for his powerful fran,
could have forced way through
the crowd of agile and slender
Parisians with small efforts on his part
Walter tore off the lady's mask, ant
the long, beautiful hair fell down il
rippling waves below her waist. l
was Margaret Without waiting fo
her to revive he took her in his arms
bore her, unresisted, to the street, an,
placed her in the first carriage that OF
fered. She did not awake from tina
death-like swoon until she was carrie
to chamber, and then she revived t.
see only Walter. He forbore to ques
ton her then, but waited until she wa
fully restored, and violent burst o
grief had relieved her Then she sa
in calmness until he should speak t
her She did not dare to ask him
question, but her eyes watched tn
J door as if she expected some one to er
, ter.
''He will never come, Margaret, yo
will see him never more" said Walter
''or if he indeed should enter here
would like to kill him upon the thresl
old"
Margaret shuddered, and then sh
arose from the bed, and falling on he
knees before her brother she faltere
out her long, sad confession, her pen
tence and her sorrow They Wei
words that burned into that prou
brothers heart most deeply, but the
were never again uttered by her to an
human being, and never repeated b
him, He crossed the seas again, wit
the wreck of what was his sister, an
bore her TO his home once more. Leol
ard Bruce and his children were ther
He could not bear the solitude of b
desecrated home, and he had come
leave his little ones with those WI
Q would love them, and then to becon
a wanderer,
Margaret was dying 1t was toucl
ing to witness her meeting vii
her children but to Leonal
e she was impenetrable silent, Mel
: : ed by her sufferings by the approaC
! of her death which seemed now so in
! vitable F; by the love he had lavish,
y on her and could not now subdue !
the perfect, the wondrous beauty whiC
stole over her face, he poured out /
I forgiveness and his assurance of his !
+ turned affection. She heard him, al
: turning her eyes to the wall she utt,
: ed single word-"Hector.' 1t W
: the last.
= Leonard Bruce and Walter left Il
= country again together, and wander
in foreign lands for two years. Wh'
they returned, the children were tran
!, ferred to their fathers care again,
Margaret's parents no longer lived, al
: he had brought home second moth
: AN English girl, poor, of SIM
: habits, and only beautiful because 5
y was sweet tempered and unassuminl
" | anl 80 f.,1