The Osceola times., 1886-07-17


ones. she did not find his. How be
would have dashed in among those
gaping idlers with that fiery impetuosi-
ty OF his. 1t is not the fashion 10 con-
slider the average man Of business pic
turesque, but to Margaret there came
an idealized vision of the Knight OF
Commerce as he laid his lance in res,
for Fortune.
But he did not return till the follow
ing day, when he came TO find Margaret
gone. lie was not what one would
term a sentimental man. The direct
ness, the candor, the educated common
sense Of his mind precluded any thing
like morbidlty in him; but all the same
he found it a difficult matter in the davs
/ that followed TO keep his mind upon bis
work. He felt deeply chagrined. lie
/ could not perceive how he had made
himself obnoxious 10 Margaret. but that
he had in some way done so he could
not doubt The duh farmhouse, with
its desolate garden, its commonplace in
terror, grew distasteful to him. Hi.
cousins Hattie and Nora going on about
/ their domestic round were utterly savor-
less to him. With inherent frugality
they still thought only of saving, and
had not the remotest realization of the
/ possibility of their possessions. Seth
/ was iilled with heavy sort of pride at
his new importance, but it seemed to
weigh upon him and take from him
| what little lightness of heart he ever had
David Scott plainly saw, however un-
conscious it may have been, that it was
the fascinating hope vf seeing Margaret.
though he received no welcome from
| her, that had taken him so frequently to
the house in the intervals of his busy
hours. But he would allow himself no
tender day-dreams. "Am | man to
waste the best in me on "A woman who
can not love meP" he protested with
himself II am no barbarian that |
should pursue a woman with attentions
that she resents.' But the longing for
her grew almost insupportable. He
could not rid himself of a haunting,
ghostiike Margaret that seemed to dog
his steps and to vanish whenever he
turned his eyes upon her. Her strong
active frame, her clear eyes, her taunt-
ing mouth, her musical voice, seemed
20 peryade his atmosphere, and he felt
them about him increasingly.
1T 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 in
range of my vision and thereby hangs
this tlle.' After all of this comforting
philosophy it was somewhat humilat-
ing when, a week later he passed the
farmhouse on his way to the works
and saw Der at the rear window, to
have every drop Of blood in his body sud
denly stop and then race madly through
his veins ike the surging waters Of a
spring-time flood.
"You are back againp' he said. stu
pdly.
"Yes." she answered. 81 hope you
are well, sir" Then, without waiting
for "a reply, she hurried away. After
this David never ventured beyond the
threshold of the house when necessity
took him thither.
Come in" Seth would say to him.
"Ye wouldn'. know tn house. Mar
garet brought hull car load of truck
home with her, besides two fellers TO do
tn fXin' fur her. Tn very walls is
Ike picturs, an as fur tn cheers,
swan they'd make loafer of a man 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, ef they amt up
at tn doors as well as the windows.
Then tn books. That's what you'd
like, now. Why, the room the girls
KEEP for kumpany bedroom is jist pa
pered with 'um. 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. y
he complained bitterly to himself. He
saw Nora and Hattie in unaccustomed
splendor, and noticed that their place in
the kitchen had been taken by a buXom
German girl. "I'll stay here till I've
made money enough to invest in some
thing that will give me a comfortable
living, and then get as 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.
Margaret is down with a fever he
announced. I'm goin' fur the doc
tor.
LET me go, cried David "You 90
and stay with the girls In two hours
the doctor was in Margaret's room.
David paced the parlor below, waiting
for his verdict.
"She's bound to have a run of ty,
phod, said the doctor. But she's
got good constitution, and | trust
she'll pull through " Then came days
of suspense which made him ashamed
that he had called the sentimental
moodiness Of the last few weeks misery.
At length one day Nora rushed across
the cold fields, hatless, and begged him
to come to Margaret
"She's been callin' for you, Dave, for
the last two days, but Hattie and me
thought she would be best pleased when
she got well if we didn't call you. But
! can't stand il; really can't. Come
quick Trembling in every limo. he
reached the room. Ghastly as the moon
when it breaks through storm-couds,
the girl lay tossing IN the shadowy
gloom. What did he hear?
David! David! Dear love! You are
tired. Rest, dear one. DO they think
YOU never tire? You are growing pale.
! am watching you, dear one, though
you do not guess it All, you must
carry me by storm, my knight | will
not coax your favor. A stanch heart or
none will | have. Yet do not look so
grioved. love. O, Nora, what fool
ami I've lost my common sense. See
if von can fine it for me-" Suddenly
she became wild and raised herself in
the bed, tossing her arms about and