The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-25

tnefn.
"Why is it that You do not wish to
sell, Cousin Margaret q he asked at
length, when Seth had finished all his
story.
"Because he's too anxious to buy"
said che, coloring at the emphasis of
her remark.
81 see you are true woman"
"If | am, | have borrowed mascu-
line quality in being suspicious.
"Margaret's a leetle too sharp with
her tongue" said Seth apologetically.
"To make up for beng so slow with
her wit, said shear vanished through
the door to return no more that night
Whatever David Scott did he seem
ed to do quickly and easily. The next
morning he left the house and2 was
gone to the neighboring village two
days. When he returned it was Q
o'clock in the evening. The household
was just or the point of retiring. Nora
sat by the hearth peuslvely doing up
her hair in curl papers. Seth was put
ting the finishing touches to a harness
which he had been oling Hetty was
folding up the ironed clothes ready to
be laid in the drawer. David saw all
this as he entered, and he saw, too, a
glimpse of shirt of blue, which dis
appeared as he opened the door. $50
| have made an enemy of my untamed
cousin, he said to himself. "Well, if
she declares war; all can do is to
make an honorable retreat"
"Well, man, what's the news ?"
cried Seth.
"My boy, we're made. The news is
iron, iron ! IRoNl! Here, under our
feet, all about US, iron-which, being
interpreted, means gold We're rich,
| tell you. I've little fortune to risk
on it, and tomorrow we'll begin.
What do you say ?" Seth's quiet face
lit up with deep flush. He could not
speak. Success did not seem natural
to him.
"The man who tried to hurry through
that sale represented syndicate. l
got on to his little snap in no time"
Hattie ran from the room to tell
Margaret, but when she told her Mar
garet only said {: "Well, l suppose
we'll find it more agreeable in some
ways
margaret Scott !" cried Hattie, in
dignantly, "you are a regular stock
and stone"
"Coz," replied Margaret, with mys-
terious shrug, 81 would give this for
tune which is coming if you will turn
me into stock and stone"
David Scott did not 60 back to COL
lege. He stayed at the village and con-
Quoted the work which went on at the
farm. The profits were not long in
coming, and when they began to come
they came thick and fast.
"You are the goose" said Margaret
to David on one of those rare occasions
when they met, "who laid our golden
eggs"
"Thanks," said he, "but don't imag-
inc I was disinterested in it. l did it
for a reward"
"Did you get it, sir y
"Not wholly. l hoped for the good
will, or at least the small thanks, of my
cousins. Three of them have given
me both heartily one of them with
holds everything from me save her dis
like"
81 thought you were too busy get
ting rich to notice such small things,
said Margaret spitefully. She was
sorry the minute she saw how hurt he
looked, but she would make no amends.
The young are never averse to pictur
eqsue misery. Margaret Scott nursed
hers as mother does a pulling child
She took long walks by the Superior
which blew cold as mans ipgratitude
She meditated for hours in the large
sparsely- furnished room where she
slept. Her vigorous personality was
inexpressibly irritated that her fancy
should so easily and lightly have
fastened itself upon man who was a
total stranger, and one at that who
seemed to have no wish nor time fol
wooing. Margaret would watch him
from the window. He seemed to bt
everywhere at once. No shirking es
capped him he was orderly, capable
ingenious and practical his clearnes'
and decision challenged her admiration
anew eacn day.
"What will we do with all this
money of ours p she said one day t.
Nora and Hattie. 81 suppose we nigh
as we'll spend some of it,
SIN not sure know how" laughed
Hattie.
Sand there is no chance here, any
how" said her sister regretfully.
swell, guess may as well g
where it can be done. I'm going t,
Chicago" said Margaret.
She was one of those women VIII,
can start on a journey short of
months preparation, and the next da,
but one she started when her cousil
was away. Yet she stealthily watche,
from the car window in the hope tha
he might be returning. But thougl
among all the figures that loafed in lol
sided attitudes about the platform
there were many familiar ones,she di,
not find his.
But he did not return till the follow
ing day, when he came to find MAJ
garet gone. He was not what on
would term sentimental man. TIL
directness, the candor, the educate,
common sense of his mind preclude,
anything like morbidity in him bu
all the same he found it a difficult mat
ter in the days that followed to kee
his mind upon his work. He feI
deeply chagrined. He could not pei
ceive how he had made himself obnoA
ious to Margaret, but that he had i
some way done so he could not doub
The dull farm house, with ITS desolat
garden, its commonplace interior, gre,
distasteiul to him. His cousins Haiti
and Nora going on about their dome
tic round were utterly savorless to hin
| With inherent frugality they sti
thought only of saving, and had M
the remotest realization of the possibi
ity of their possessions. Seth was file
with . heavy sort of pride at his ne
importance, but it seemed to weig
upon him and take from him what lit
lightness of heart he ever had
1