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

prOJCStcu WIFI HlllScll. Il uul nO Ddr-
barian that / should pursue a woman
with attentions that she resents" But
the longing for her grew almost insup-
portable. He could not rid himself of
haunting, ghostlike MARGARET that
seemed to dog his steps and to vanish
whenever he turned his eyes upon her.
Her strong, active frame, her dear eyes
her taunting mouth, her musical voice
seemed TO pervade his atmosphere, and
he felt them about him increasingly.
at is simply because I'm a human
being" he told himself cynically. "My
time has come for mating. My scorn.
ful cousin, Margaret, chanced to be
within range of my vision-and there
by hangs this tale After all of this
comforting philosophy it was somewhat
humiliating when, a week later, he
passed the farm house on his way to
the works and saw her at the rear win
dow, to have every drop OF blood in
his body suddenly stop and then race
madly through his veins like the surg
ing waters of spring-time flood.
"You are back again ?"he said stupid
ly.
Yes" she answered. 81 hope you
are well, SIR Then, without waiting
for reply, she hurried away. After
this David never ventured beyond the
threshold of the house when necessity
took him thitber.
"Come in,' Seth would say to him.
Eye wouldn't know TIL house. Margaret
brought a hull Car load of truck home
with her, besides two fellers to do tn
fixin' fur her. Th' very walls is like
picturs, an as fur the cheers, l swan
they'd make loafer of fellow in no
time. An carpets, man, an rugs an
curtains. Well, | be busted, if she
amt the greatest on curtains | ever see.
Blow me, man, if they amt up at tn
doors as well as the windows. Then
tn books Thets what you'd like, now.
Why the room the girls KEEP for KUN
paney bedroom is jist papered with EN-
We set there mostly now, an mighty
pleasant it is" But these chronicles
had only the effect of keeping David
at his naughty distance.
"She makes sunshine for all but me-"
he complained bitterly to himself. He
saw Nora and Hattie in unaccustoned
splendor, and noticed that their place
in the kitchen had been taken by a
buxom German girl. '1'll stay here
till I've made money enough to inyest
in something that will give comfort
able living, and then get rs far away
from here as possible" he vowed. That
night, as he was about to hurry home
in the early dreary dusk, Seth met him
with very anxious face.
"Margarets down with fever" he
announced. '1'm goin' fur the doctor.
"Let me go" cried David ''You GO
and stay with the girls" In two hours
the doctor was in Margaret's room.
David paced the parlor below, waiting
for his verdict.
ashes bound to have a run of ty-
phoid," said the doctor. "But she's
got a good constitution, and l trust
she'll pull through" Then came days
of suspense which made him ashamed
that he had called the sentimental
moodiness of the last two weeks misery
At length one day Nora rushed across
the cold fields, hatless, and begged hin
to come to Margaret.
'She's been calm for you, Dave, fol-
tie last two days, but Hattie and me
thought she would be best pleased wher
she got well if we didn't call you. Bu
l can't stand it ; really l can't. Come
quick" Trembling in every limb, h'
reached the room. Ghastly as the
moon when it breaks through storm
the girl lay tossing in the shadow
gloom. What did he hear?
'David David Dear Lowell Yol
are tired. Rest, dear one. Do the,
think you never tire ? You are grow
ing pale. am watching you dear on
though you do not guess it. All, yo'
must carry me by storm, my knight
l will not coax your favor. A stauncl
heart or none will | have. Yet do no
look so grieved, love. o, Nora, wha
fool | am! I've lost my common
sense See if you can find it for me.
Suddenly she became wild and raise'
herself in the bed, tossing her arm
about and screaming for David.
"You will die, David, and neve
know / loved you. Come, Davic
David" He could restrain himself n
longer, but folded her in his arms, an'
with every soothing device love coul
! c,njure laid her back upon the pillo'
and lulled her into peaceful sleel
"God bless you, David, said Hattie
> with tears in her eyes, 81 believe yo
have saved her.
The days that followed were file
with all blessedness for Margaret. Sh
delighted in her weakness since
brought such loving solicitude, sue
watchfulness. And when the deeper
ing blue of the sky told that the tim
} had come for the trailing arbutus t
crown the droopirg head of winte
Margaret made the home of Davi
Scott all that he had imagined sh
y would.