The Osceola times., 1886-12-11

young lady's name was Maooie that
she was living with her cousins in the
country and had only come home for a
few days. ''' ~
what sweet girln' muttered Ger.
a". What a pity she is not of Good
iahiIyl Has she not wonderfully
sweet and beautiful expression?"
quite agreed with him. but bantered
nun. nun not little by reminding him. every
tlme he alluded t Maggie. OF his family
Pride; ana the solemn yowl had SO often
heard him make, that the Girl he loved
must be his equal in birth and position.
We returned from Long Branch la..
that evening. and heard Maggie's sweet
vo,ce singing an air from. La Somnam.
ouIa as we ascended the stairs.
hotced during the next few days
that "erald found.a great many reasons
Tor gong to speak to Mrs. Robbins in
her apartments. Nothing could exceed
ms ingenuity in discov ring small items
"n ch needed her attention. Then /,
suddenly had occurred to him that he
had heard, during the last few davs
lhat she and her daughter were fond Of
gong. to the theater, and he was
thoughtful enough to provide tickets
Tor them, taking care to reserve a seat
near them for himself Gerald tried 10
iaugh OIL my insinuations as TO his being
IN love with Miss Maggie, but the fact
was quite apparent, and | knew tho
struggle between pride and affection
which prevented him from declaring his
attachment.
An event soon occurred which
Drought matters TO a crisis. A tall,
llhe-looking man called at our studio
one morning and seemed part cularly
struck with some of Gerald pictures.
In the course of conversation he in
formed HIM that he was already The
possessor OF his two best pictures,
which, three years before. had made a
sensat on in the exhibit on in the Acad-
envy. After purchasing a little sketch
my friend had just completed he left us,
and we heard him stop and speak to
Mrs Robbins on his way down sta rs.
But was greatly surpr sed, and Gerald
horribly dismayed when we saw him
ten minutes afterward enter his car
rlage with Maggie and drive away.
Gerald paced up and down the room
in fury of jealousy. My curiosity was
considerably aroused as to the nature of
Msggie's acquaintance with the stran-
ger.
81 am determined to ask her why she
went out with the fellow, and who he
is. directly she returns" growled Ger
aid.
Have you any right 10 he so inquisi-
tiveg | ventured to suggest.
Perhaps not. except that she knows
love better than any one else, and
that | intended asking her to be my
wife, he retorted, passionately.
"What! marry girl in her station?"
was the question which rose naturally
to my lips.
"Oh. hang family pride in this easel
! am now rich enough TO fling it aside
for once and marry girl who will,
know, make me happy. Besides, Mag
gle is a perfect lady. Yet | do not I'M
derstand why she drives out with that
stranger" rctorted Gerald.
The lover sat anxiously at the window
watching for her return. An hour
passed, and he grew grad ally more
wretched. At length thee rriage drove
up to the door. II con aned no Mag
gle but the coachman handed a note TO
Mrs. Robbins. Gerald rushed eagerlS
down stairs and exclaimed, as he met
the housekeepcr:
where is Maggie gone to?'
For answer she placed the note in his
hand. 1t was written in haste, and was
from Maggie. II ran as follows:
"DEAn Mn. DE votssY: Allow me To thank
you tor our kind attention during my stay
In New York. | have pcen unexpectedly
obliged to return to Lont Branch, and can
not, therefore. have the pleasure OF bidding
you sood-by except by letter.
Yours truly, MAGGIE.
This was all the information poor
Gerald could CLEAN concerning the girl
he loved. for Mrs. Robbins would an
swer no questions, and when at length.
he spoke of his affections for her daugh
ter, her face expanded into smiles. and
she told him not TO lose hope, because
she believed all would be well, and that
Maggie returned his affection. She adj
vised him to write her few lnes.which
she prom sed to post. The result was
an eilu-un OF mingled jealousy and
love from Gerald. which Mrs. Robbins
forwarded that night. The next aftel-
noon the stranger who had caused m,
companion such anxiety again called
and we were barely civil to him. until
he handed Gerald note from Maggie,
inviting him and me warmly to return
with the bearer to Long Branch where
she was staying.
We needed no time for reflection, but
started at once, full of anxious curios-
ity. Ouryisitor was strangely silent ON
the Journey. Only rogu sh smil'
twjpkled in his eye a he evaded oul
Questions. We both were lost in con
lectures as TO what would happen next.
Az last we arrived at certain well
known. large hotel, and followed the
..s,rangern INTO handsomely furnished
private sittng-room. :,
"If YOU will be seated gentlemen. J
will tell Maggie you are here, he said
as he left the room. mn
In n few moments he returned. They
had seemed hours OF torture to 1eraid
He led Maggie up to him, and witt
mock gravity said;
"Aliow me to introduce TO you
capricious Young lady in her real char
sc,er. This is my daughter, Margare
Livingstone. known to You both' be
Iieye. as Maggie Ro bins.
We were speechless with surprise
aud a look of intense rel l.cf passed owe
Cerald's face. Maggie, laughing an'
biushing, was very reticent in answer,
;ng our inquries as to the meaning Ci
ths deluson pract ced on us. Latero on
yhon she and Gerald were engaged
With her fathers consent, the "hoi
VIII haoame known to us. Mrs. Rob
iiu.h ~" -. ,,,otbor and when