The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-16

| HEARTH hAIdHSt IA NiNhNA Ndi'' 30
Margurth.
II was dusk when she reached the little
cottage. How long she had wandered in
her crushing grief She did moi know. The
door stood open, and as she crossed the
threshold her foot touched q PROSTATE
/ figure. 1t moaued as she bent over 1t,
and Margurth cried in sudden horror,
Aunt, aunt"
By great cxertion she succeeded in get
| ting her on the bed, and then she threw
her little shawl over her head and started
for the village The way had never been
so long before. vet she had never gone so
fast. At last she stood before the house
| Of the English doctor, who had recently
come there, and hurriedly rang the bell
She could not go 10 DR.. Mackenzie, who
had dosed her aunt with harmless pills
for years The doctor was 1t home and
looked sharply at her as she made known
her errand.
you are cold and tired, my girl, he
said. "come in and rest
INA, ma. Gamma" she cried, breath.
lessly. Haste, guide mon, oh, make
haste-she's like to dec II seemed to
her almost as though she was in some
way to blame for her aunt's seizure.
The doctor shook his head when he saw
the patient. She might live a month, he
said, and she might live only till morn
ING. He gave Margurth some medicine
for her and then went away, promising ,c
look in again the next day.
One week. two weeks passed and then
the stern soul was forever at rest. 1t
was not until after the funeral that Mar
gurth had time to think Of herself and
her own future. The events Of that al
ternoon had so faded before the tragedy
that followed, that il was not until now
that she remembered how near fair night
had come Her mind was in an agony of
hope and fear, belief and forebOding Her
days were full of waking terrors, her
nights. Of fearsOme dreams. The min
lister called TO advise with her as 10 her
future, and was willing enough to receive
her into his own family, her aunt having
left her all the little wealth accumulated
by years of toll but Margurth seemed
scarcely 10 hear him, and only said,
wait "A wee, sir, an let me speir wi my
sell afore ] say 'ay' OF ma.
Il am fearful, Margurth, that what the
evil tongues say has some foundation o
truth. viii return 70 you when you
are acqucnt wi your own mind, said the
good man. half angr,ly, as he took his
leave. II shall send my sister to be wi
You till you hae decidit"
Twas fair day fast sinking into night
All day long knots Of girls had gathered
among the gay booths or under the trees
at the edge of the grounds, discussing
some project which seemed 10 cause mirth
for ali, and to which one fair haired girl
cried "shamei'-a cry which was drowned
in laughter As tho dusk deepened they
stealthily left the place and in the early
dark gathered around a little cottage in
the outskirts of the village At first there
was laughing and rapping at the doors,
and cries of "Margurth then one or
two stopped and threw landfuls OF mud
al the shining windows; and finally one.
more bold than the rest, pushed open the
door and led them in to wreak their chas.
tisement Oh the unhappy girl within.
But Margurth was not there.
1t was a beautiful night-soft and dark,
lit only by the stars, that winked merrily
at the dark river flowing heavily by.
Two forms were outlined against the star
lit sky. sitting hand in hand Oh the bal
cony above a third crouched stealthily
below The man was speaking and there
was no installing the love that quiyercl
through his earnest tones. The listener
below shivered with mortal cold
There is one incident in my life, Ethel.
that | have been ashamed 10 tell you.'
His companion turned her soft eyes on
him in wondering surprise But now
that our wedding day is so near, he con- /
tinued, 81 feel that must tell you and
30 be able to bring TO you clear con
sciegee. More than Q year age ! was in
Scotland, as You know, and while there a /
little Scotch Iassie fell in love with me,
III admit J was faitered, to, and-wen, I
to tell the truth, suppose made love TO I
her, and finally went through tle Scotch I.
custom of breaking Il siXpencc with her /
partly because she expected ~, and !
couldn't bear 20 see the tears in her blue 7
eyes, and partly because couldn't resist /
the romance a. it. | kept my half; here /
il is. "
He laid the little broken bit Of silver III /
the palm outstrctched te receive it, kiss
ing the little fingers as he did so.
but you love me best, Alan!' she muir /
INJURED.
"Ay, love, better than life itselfl' he I
said, and the crouching figure moaned as I
if in pain, then rose and stole noiselessly I
away
Then I forgive you. you bad boyI' she /
said, tenderIy And no doubt your /.
Scotch lassie forgot all about you before /
the year was out, and has peacefully mar |
ried some shepherd or something-they /.
are most all shepherds in Scotland, aren't |
theyY'
Il hope she has, said Alan, doubtfilly.
Some way he could not quite forget the !
look in her eyes that last morning as she I
babe him good by.
"Hark, what was thatW
But the river tells no tales even though /
II gives up its dead.--Kate A. Bradley in /
Detroit Free l'ress.
A Substitute for Wool.