Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-01-08
MARGUERITE.
q. BY N. /. ARMSTRONG.

- 10
Wa ------
b n &: ny NJ. /. ARMSTRONG.
Il Tom Bentley ana I were partners in
81 lucrative mercantile business ii New
York. Tom was good sort of q fellow,
: little eccentric, perhaps, but upon the
whole frank, congenial warm-hearted
friend. He was wealthy, and besides
his house in the city he had avilla at
Long Branch and q small summer
residence in tho Adirondacks; but this
time we had come to a little out-of-the-
way fishing village on the Penobscot to
spend the summer, I think from the
fact Tom had got tired of being angled
for by mammas who had manageable
daughters. s'e*r aeja 4 y ~ @s&s.&&s-}., 4
Tom was great favorite with the
fair sex. That is one thing I never
understood about him. While he was
always attentive to their most trivial
I wants, he frankly declared himself per
fectly Indifferent to their subtle charms.
But it was his way, and / thought
nothing of it. ~.t+.
People seemed to come here mostly
70 build up their systems, instead of
reducing them, and enjoy a few weeks
Of rest. And yet, there were those who
came to kill time, or because certain OF
heir set were there; and SO it usually
turned out that there was a fair display
Of beauty, fashion and folly-enough to
attract the admiration of the observant
villagers, the feminine portion of which
took birds cye view from all the cham
Der windows of the quaint houses, in as
close proximity as possible to the world
gone mad.
For me, I was too much taken up
with my sketches to take part in any
of the doings which took place at the
hotel, and was quiet observer Of all
that passed. II was an out-of-the-way
place, and the only possible inducement
for people to come here was the vast
amount of pleasure they could have of
of little money. A pleasant country,
dotted around by brown old homesteads
and orchards of delicious fruit; there
was but little opportunity for amuse-
ments here, except the pleasant walks
that nature had furnished.
There were here at this time about
100 visitors stopping at the hotel in
quest of rest and health. We met in
the upper saloon and lower saloon; on
the veranda, in the pleasant walks, and
on the shore; and a very motley crowd
we made in one place and another. .
One evening I came in later than
usual, The dining room was deserted,
save by a lady who sat opposite my
usual place at the table. I was out of
humor, for had not succeeded in get
ting the right shade to my picture that
day, and l did not pay any attention to
my new neighbor, until she asked me
to pass the butter, when I looked up
and beheld the most beautiful face !
had ever seen. She was very farther
small head, the clustering hair, the
youthful eyes, gave to her an almost
childish look, whom Aidosuses had sent
up to seek for life and light.
BEG PARDON / stammered, "did
you speak?"
Eyes" was the simple reply, "Ihave
spoken to you twice, but you were evi.
IDENTIFY very much preoccupied, for you
did not hear me-"
And she gave low, sweet laugh
that sounded very pleasant to my ears
The ice once broken, we talked about
things in general, and before supper
was over learned that she came with
m invalid lady, as companion, and
they were there for the season.
There was something about her sc
simple and childlike, yet 50 brave anc
womanly, I inwardly made up my mine
she should find friend and protector
in me; for, Judging from her converse
ton, she was poor and had hare
struggle to get along in the world.
I think she must have read my
thoughts, for when we passed out O
the supper room, she held out he1
hand and said: ''rhank you; all
very much in need of a friend like you
Call me Marguerite, for I like it best. ,
I would have asked her more abou
. herself, but there was something in hel
voice that forbid such familiarity.
"Elwood, old boy" said Tom tina
night as we sat on the verandar smok
ing, "tell me about her"
"Whop",I asked, taking down m,
feet from off the railing, and looking a
him with surprise.
chow don't feign innocence, old fel
low" he replied, with the utmost non
chalance imaginable; ''she is wcndrous
" beautiful. "
His praise of Marguerite nettled me-
there was an under current of sarcasm
in his voice which did not like; but
told him all I had learned about her
and ended by advising him not to fall i,
love- ~
.sNever fear; there is no danger" h
replied, with shrug. "You say she i
very poorp'' 60. 49,. -.
Eyes, I replied, .'depending ertiei.
upon her own exertions for her living.
..ssThen you may have her, was TIL
beartless reply, and Tom pulled hard a
, his Havana, while I fell to thinking Q
Marguerite. l was provoked at him
7. all the moro SO, because he was wealth
and she was a, poor girl. -, e..
n &&j$5{$T sawr q GOOD deal Of Marc1,erite DIR