The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-13
THE STORY OF A SUMNER.

I wonder II any one In the world was
ever so happy as L was on the day that
Hugh Seymour asked me'to be his wifeT
For a long time l had known that he
loved meat least had allowed myself
to wonder sometimes IL such supreme
hanpines could be in store for me; but
on this day my vague hopes had all
been realized, and l had the proud con
seriousness of knowing that out OF all
the world he had chosen me, Maggie
Adair. l knew that it would be a grand
match for me, that he was the owner
of a large property, and was the young
squire Of the neighborhood; but, II he
had been penniless and unknown, l
think my love for him would have been
Just as great and my triumph In having
won him as perfect.
1t was night, and l had gone up TO
my own room, and vas leaning out Of
nv window, looking up at the far
bright stars, while the wind OF the soft
spring night blew into my face. L think
there is something solemn in a great
ioy; and l felt almost depressed as l
stood there quite still, with the scent OF
the flowers coming up from the garden
beneath, and the moor shining down
on the quiet scene, What If ANYTHING
should happen to Hugh or me, anything
that should separate us? The thought
struck me like a knife; and just then
an owl flew past, hooting dismally, and
1 turned away shuddering. Was 1t
an omen of evil2
All, that was a happy time, those
long bright spring days, when Hugh
and | were always togetherI We Meth
or of us had many relatives to whom to
Sell the news, He had only an aunt
and two cousins. and l had only my
mother. Since / was a little child she
and l had lived at Fernside Cottage.
How heartily she rejoiced with me!
How lovingly she entered into al our
plans for the future, and with what
tenderness she advised me as to how |
was to act when no longer under her
CONTROL No one can ever be to me
what she was; and now, when l have
lost her, l feel more keenly every day
that her place can never be filed up.
But 1 never thought then of the pos
sibility of any sorrow coming to me;
my whole soul was given up to the Joy
of the moment.
Every morning l watched from the
window the approach of the tall gal
liant figure and handsome face of my
lover; and then our days were spent in
in a delicious dreamy idleness, some
times wandering through the fields and
woods, OF sitting under a tree while he
read to me and l worked,
His chief pleasure was to take me to
his own home and show me the stately
house where l "a soon to reign as mis-
tress. 1 never felt SO insignificant as
In the grand old rooms and in the
gloomy p~icture-gallery, where the por-
traits of the Seymours oflong ago look
ed down in naughty disapproval, 1t al
ways seemed to me; on Hugh's choice.
"Hugh, are you ever sorry that l am
such a little thing?"I asked him one
day, as we stood before a painting of a
court beauty of the reign of Charles II,
whose proud dark eyes seemed to look
at me with unutterable disdaln; and
his only answer was to draw me to him
fondly and whisper
"My Maggie, to me you are more
beautiful than any other woman in the
world;n and | was content.
1t was about a week after this that
Hugh told us his aunt, Mrs. Hilliard,
and her daughter Blanche were COM
ing to stay with him for a few days.
81 did not know you expected them,' y
1 said rather reproachfully, for l felt
hurt that he had not told me.
"Nor did l." he answered, laughing.
SIN fact, they asked themselves; but
of course my aunt knows she is well
Gomez
He tried to speak unconcernedly but
l, who knew him so well, saw that he
was not pleased, and felt a secret salts
faction knowing it.
L was beginning to find out what
had not discovered before-that l was
horribly jealous, that the idea of any
other woman's sharing Hugh's society
o receiving any of the sunny glances
of his gray eyes except myself was tor
ture to me. How bitterly 1 repented OF
my overweening Jealousy when it was
too late no one car ever know but my
self.
The guests were to arrive on Satur.
day evening; and I first saw them in
church on the following day. 1t was a
glowing day in June, the rich foliage
of the trees standing out distinct and
still, without a breeze to rufle it,
against the dazzling blue of the sky,
and the chimes of the Sabbath bells
sounding clear and sweet in the dis
lance. The church was a small old
fashioned building covered with ivy
but with a glorious stained-glass win.
dow that l had loved from a child, and
that even now filled me with a wonder
full peace whenever l looked at it.
The organist was playing as we en-
tered, and the solemn music stole into
my heart like balm and drove out all
the jealous fears that had been troub
ling me. AS l rose from my knees, ]
turned my eyes towards Hugh's seat,
and almost started at the dazzling
vision that met my view.
Standing beside him was the mos
beautiful girl l had ever seen; her tai
supple figure was dressed in white, and
the robes swept round her like thC
robes of a queen. Her dark clear-cut
face was turned to me, and the bril-,
liant eyes seemed to pierce me through
and through. For a minute we gazet
at each other, as if fascinated. I'sav
that she recognized me, and l noticed