Griggs courier., 1886-01-22


le,il.y would have been .riined by the
house long ago; and 50 sine would but
s.a has ;lM excellent adviser Hiij bllsi-
lsass nlaii III George Hyde. Perhaps
Daisy Will lcl.;l HIS IL little of her COM
mon sense. What would you advise,
d ;,r?''
Make peace Will; her. Margaret
said; "eXpress that regret YOU ought to
feel: tell her Uncle Michael is coming
home. and invite her here to meet him. )"
"Would she come. do you think?'
II think So
"It would be very humiliating TO be
refused.''
lit would be all the better" said Mrs.
Allenby. I'VE at least should have made
the iirst concession. Nothing would
please me more than her refusal; it
would be something to show my BROTH
er-ill-law. Write to her, Margaret, in
amy term. you please. basing the letter
On what you have s:lsl. Tell her I have
considered it my duty, rs an act OF
courtesy, to upplise her of Mr.. Michael
Alleaby's return: that | regret the UNI
fortunate circumstances which have
kept us apart 50 long. and invite her
here to meet Arthur's uncle, With the
child. Say anything Else you like.
Should she come. it will save all eX-
plantations; should She not come. it will
give more weight to What have done.
You are a good girl, Margaret; you
never let your temper run away with
your Judgment"
"!As we do" Victoria observed. II
have to confess, my dear mamma, that
Margaret is a mystery to me. She is
either a saint-yery nearly-or the most
artful girl ever knew. Which is it,
(aIling?"
Whichever you please" was the
composed reply. (which you think the
most likely, considering the training 1
have received, and the example have
daily. Even in this-tlle letter [ have
to Wrlte-I gave my advice in pure,
good faith. and you would make a most
treacherous use of it. 1t shall be writ
ten, however, and good may come OF it
in q way you least expect
The letter was written. but the girl
could not write from the heart,
Mamma desires me to tell you that
Arthur's uncle. Mr.. Michael Allenby, is
ON his way to London, and she wishes
you to meet him at our house. and she
very much regrets the unfortunate cir
cumstancas which have kept us apart
so long"
II should like you tocoma," :" Margaret
added. I'VE were always friends, and
[ so much wish to see the darling boy.
I have see him very often When you
have been out With him, but not to
speak to him and kiss him. lie grows
like Arthur. i see the resemblance al
ready. DO come.''
She signed herself Mary s;ilfectionate
sister Margaret, and gave the letter to
her mother to read. That lady passed
it on to Victoria without a word.
''The first part would have kept her
away, as much as if Daisy intended it, $"
Victoria said, ''the second is very clever.
Yes, darling, that will do, she will
either come or invite you and that will
be almost as good.
'You are very ungenerous, Tory."
II am only a woman, my love, can
not even look like saint, you can and
do.77
In spite OF these sarcastic inter-
changes, Victoria loved her sister, and
would have resented slight OF an ill-
jury as bitterly as if inflicted on herself.
She was to be pitie,i. just us much as
her mother was to ha blamed, for she
had made her children what they were.
The answer came from Mary by re-
turn of post; in q few words and as po-
litely as possible Mary declined, but she
appended very affectionate welcome
for Margaret herself
''We have not met since poor Az
thurs death,' she wrote, ':but l have
not forgotten your kindness then, Or
cared the less for you. Come and see
my darling boy whenever you please,
you will always be welcome; but | can
not come to your mothers house, though
forgive her with all my heart, in spite
OF the bitter sorrow she has caused me.
You l hope will come.''
''Just as l thought" Victoria said.
ou will be very welcome, dear, and
if mamma is wise she will let you go.
But it appears to me she does not say a
word of Uncle Michael.''
''Not a word.''
every strange
None of us know that girl yet,' Mrs,
Allenby said; "she may be playing some
deep game of her own, Or she would not
be such fool even with her beggarly
pride, as to stand in her own light and
the child's. Give me that letter, Mar.
garet, it will prove to your Uncle
Michael the vindictive unforgivine
spirit we have to deal with. You may
go and see her when you please, itshall
not be said that left any means TN.
tried to effect a reconciliation; you may
tell her that even if she will not see me
l, as Arthurs mother, should like tl