Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-26

sianced hais ashamed at the CHEEKY face
OF the stalwart 'help."
- Margie, why didn't you call.me to
Coue and help you? get so interested
III clouds ana flowers and beautiful things
ouL JheIe that l never think Of other things
as ought to dO.''
Then I'll lay the table, John: do you
be off, and vi pushed back the pretty
curls, turned up the dainty cuffs at her
wrists, and proceeded to right things ener-
getically.
violet was not a selfish creature, only
tnoughtless, and she was really sorry that
she had been enjoying herself all the morn
ing, while her sister had been working in
the hot kitchen. So John took of his
apron and sat down upon the broad stone
doorstep IN the shadow of the elm. and
watched Margie flying about here and
tnere, intent on her work, and thinking
what sweet, cheerful little BODY she
was, with her bright, smiling eyes and
tidy ways.
''Margie," he said presently, "here
comes your father with a stranger up the
rOad.V
ooh, yes" said Margie, stepping to
the door; shat is our bOarder. You
knew we were going TO have young
man from the city to board with us this
summer?"
"No, did not" said John, abruptly.
well, l forgot TO tell you, Them she
SAID. "But it is of no consequence"
and she turned towards the dining room
to put the finishing touches to the table.
II guess III 90 now, Margie. Come up
TO the house and see mother soon, will
your he called, and when Margie an
swered heartily, eyes, I'll be up some
evening sooB," he walked off. merely nod
ding to the doctor, who, with the stranger,
now entered the yard.
by the time DR.. Lee and his companion
entered the dining room Margie had
bathed her face and smoOthed the waVy
bands of hair into something like neat
ness, and stood beside her fathers chair.
Clarice and vi had been presented in
the sitting room, and when the two en-
tered DR.. Lee made a motion toward Mar
gle and said:
"My daughter Margaret, Mr.. Bryant"
Margie bowed slightly and said pleas
antly: 81 hope Mr.. Bryant will consider
himself at home and act accordingly"
MIR. Bryant "was pleased TO find him
self so agreeably situated" and proceeded
to make himself at home in the pleasant
est manner possible, making himself so
agreeable that vi cOntidentially declared
afterward to her sister that he was
splendid"
Margie took more commonplace view
of the new conner. To her he stood in
place of Just 80 much meat, bread, pOtG-
toes and buildings which she would have
to prepare, or represented just so many
dollars per week in her dear, hard-Work-
ing fathers pocket.
Not at all a romantic idea to connect
with handsome, well-bred young gen.
tleman; but then Margie was Lot q 70
mantle young lady, and she would nave
haon fe ho 40 oil
mated waiking-stick, if he paid mis- board
promptly.
What Leonard Bryant thought was not
cOntided to any one, but as he was man
who did not form hasty judgments con-
corning anything, it is most probable he
came to no conclusion whatever that
evening; of future opinions his conduct is
perhaps the best exponent. A young man
about the house alters the natural order
Of things somewhat, especially in family
of girls, among whom the young man is a
new conner, intelligent and withal hand
some. So ali OF a sudden life at the farm
house changed from its monotOnous rou-
tine. To be sure, Margie still worked in
the kitchen, made butter and pies, washed
dishes and swept floors the same as be-
fore; enthusiastically a pleasant young
face, shaded by broad-brlmmed hat,
would thrust itselt in at the elm-shaded
window, and its owner would make a
passing remark, or else would stand and
talk quietly or pleasantly with Margie as
she sat peeling apples or st0ning cherries.
This intelligent, unceremOnlous inter-
course was very pleasant to the young
girl, who had neN er b fore been thrown in
contact with so courteous and cultured a
companion of the opposite sex, and every
day she became better and better ac-
quainted, through him, with the thoughts
and actions of the great world outside
of which hitherto she had had so little
knowledge.
Then Clarice would leave her book and
come out in the garden and stroll over the
grounds With him, talking in half sad
half careless way about the trials and
hardships of life, until the bright, cheer
ful conversation of her companion would
cause her to forget her sorrows, and she
would startle herself and all the others by
laughing a gay, joyous laugh, so like the
Clarice of old. And vi would show him
her pictures to criticise. and read her
poems to be admired, all of which he did
so kindly and pleasantly and with an air
Of such genuine simplicity that pretty.
enthusiastic Violet would smile brightly
with her blue eyes, and vote him good as
a brother. For vi was was not a senti-
mental, susceptible maiden by any means;
uulf a UAlEnbs LuGll lp-g Cul -Olu ElAAs WIN
admired this pleasant companion i'm
mensely and expressed it openly.
Those morning chats at the window
were not the only ones Margie and Leon
ard Bryant enjoyed together, for after tea,
when all the work was finished for the
day, the young girl would don some cool,
airy dress, Frightened by knots Of ribbon,
and sit down upon the steps OF the porch
in front of the house, and presently MIR.
Bryant would saunter out with his cigar
and sit beside her, or he would join the
three girls in a stroll down the sweet
flOwer-scelted lane, talking so agreeabiy
and listening so interestedly that Margie
was fast becoming unreserVed, and asked
questions or volunteered opinions in a
manner quite unlike her own, for she had
been somewhat backward in expressing
her ideas upon matters not Of everyday
occurrence. In fact, there had been no
one in particular to talk TO, unless il
might be John Maynard. Johu, poor fell
low, had lOrg ago lost his heart TO Margie
Lee, and when in her presence topics of
conversation did not spring readily TO his
tongue, or at least such topics as he dared
10 utter, and Marge never dreamed Of the
wealth OF information that lay stored up
IN the mind Of her cnildh0Od's friend and
companion.
PART ii.
And thus IL happened that IL was fully
a week after the arrival OF the summer
boardnr that Margie found the opportu-
..tt,. to go down aud see Mrs MAYNARD