Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-01-04


sat down on a little worm-eaten wooden
bench, and waited for Reggie.
Footsteps soon were heard on the leaf
strewn path, and, springing out, intend
ing to give Reggie a start, Margery flew
right into the arms of Maurice Chester.
Kate herselef could not have blushed
more vividly than did Mafgery at this
unlooked-f for visitor to her retreat, nor, had
it been Kate, would Maurice have looked
more embarrassed, or have had a brighter
look of pleasure on his handsome face
directly after.
Pray, excuse me, Mr. Chester; I
thought you were Reggie" exclaimed
Margery, who, wOman-like, was the first
to recover herself.
"Well, Miss Derwent, / really think
you owe me some apology for so nearly
| knocking me down. What sort of a
place is this ~ he continued, coolly look
ing around him, and not offering to re-
! linquish the hand he had caught when
Margery darted out upon him.
s'It is very nice place l think we
will go back, Reggie cannot find me, +"
said Margery, blushing more deeply, and
trying to withdraw her hand.
g | don't want Reggie or any one else
to find you just now, though l am only
too glad | have done So" answered Maui
rice and he gently drew her back to the
grotto. Come and sit down just for a
few moments; | have something to tell
you,n
Margery's face grew pale again, and
with a gentle, yet dignifed movement,
she withdrew her hand
'JIe is going to tell ME that he loves
Kate, and wishes to marry her." she
thought. And with another sigh for her
own vanished youth, when love, and joy,
and a happy marriage had lain within
the limits OF sweet probability for her
future life, she seated herself to listen.
1t was strange how the commonplace
civilities she had received from the man
now before her had seemed to reawaken
the hopes and thoughts of that time
which had for so long seem buried. But
he, too, began to speak of buried past,
and she resolutely put aside her own
thoughts, and listened with an interest
In the speaker that bred in her vague
alarm What was Maurice Chester to
her, she tremblingly asked herself, that
his tones should thrill her2
"Ten years ago, Miss Derwent, was
engaged TO be married, and ] can truly
say that no two people could haye loved
each other with a truer devotion, or have
seen before them the prospects of more
happiness than my poor Marion and |. But
she was taken from me, and the blow
was crttel indeed For years | have
mourned her, and I never hoped to be
gay and happy again, until happy fate
sent me to Maundbury, where have seer
one whose sweet self-forgetfulness and
gentle care for others awakened my ad
miration, and has now won the love OF
my later manhood. Margery, dear gentle
Margery, will you accept the gift2 l will
try to make your life happy and free
from care, and I shall think myself
blessed at last if you will give ME YOU
sweet self in return"
He was standing before her now, and
speaking with rapid, eager utterance
while Margery could only stammer out:
"Mr. Chester-I-I-you surprise me
/ thought my niece Kate"
"Kate is very charming girl, and
hope will some day meet with a husband
worthy of her. But my answer, Mar
gery?"
What could Margery say9 Looking W
into the handsome face and loving eye
bent over her, she said words that tx
both of them were as binding as the mar
riage vows which few months later, t.
the chagrin of Mrs, Derwent and Kate
and the aStonishment of all Maundbury
they uttered at the parish church, on
lovely spring morning.
Maurice Chester was supremely happ,
in his choice, while his wife was "onl,
Aunt Margery" no longer.