Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-27
come 20 her. At last che was startled by
voice at her side--Phihp's
\. Nina M0rOAret.U

he said in his musical tones.
She did not reply. and when ne looken
into her face he saw by the hight ina. sun
fingered in the west that she was ~eering.
Ne stood in silence for moment looking
down NJ the froil. helpless form. lie had
never before felt for any human creature
such pity. sympathy. love. He knelt on
the ground bv her chair and took the httie
holpless hands IN his. She was touched py
his display OF sympathy and sharp PAIN
darted through her heart Of his manner;
he was silenced by the depth aud strange,
ness of the emotions that thrilled niin' anu
for time the stiffness was unbroken.
Little Margaret he said at last IN his
low. deep tones. II have discovered to-
night what ! never expected to hnd' !
have found that ] am in love-l love you.
know there is small hope of woman as
pure and good rs you returning the love OF
such n man "a YOU must know am; but
can't be silent. All the better part OF my
nature-I did not know was not all tsa
TIL now-fsns the hire OF my IoNe NJ
urges mo to speak. / know how neon,
Cruous il would be--the union OF an anger
such as YOU are with a brute like myself
for am far from being a good man.. Mar
yeret. There is scarcely no form OF vice
I'M which have not indulged-sunk deeper
than perhaps you think. But can ie'I
now the uplifting influence OF my love l9f
YOU. II bids me leave the old lite behlnu;
forget the past. improve the present, ana
thus make n spotless future. Oh, darling.
say YOU love me Help me to be better
man! Let me feel that you care Whetner
| become a man worthy OF good woman
or still 1--we on as / have lived with no goa
but pleasure. no ann but the gratlhcation
OF deprayed tastes. Oh. darling, help me:
save me. You alone can: VIII your
Can't YOU love me, Margaret!
,.e..a4 t.rh no
MIR. Lawrence, am sorry that you ieei
toward me "a you do" she said trying 10
speak evenly. but hardly succeeding, 1
know YOU can be a good man, ana up
preciate the honor you do me, but must
not answer what my conscience fOrOius. l.
will never marry any man. HOW can 4
she said, faint ring OF scorn Tor her help-
lossness IN her voice.
Ion. Margaret, think what you do" he
said boarsely. You sink 10 greater depths
an already depraved soul, you XII ell the
better part OF me, for as have sald you,
Won alone, can make me good man.
Darling. don't love the man ] am, love the
man that bv your help will be- 9,
Mr. Lawrence, | am sorry that you reel
compelled 10 speak 10 me IN TINS manner,
she SAID gently. for nothing can MAKE
me alter my decision. why the luea o5
Won. rejoicing in perfect health ana
".
less cripple. unable to make one step, 10
rise from my chair, 20 hardly tie my bon
- would think my life well spent if
used IN making you happy, ne sald
mournfully. "Oh, Margaret, let me i've ioI
YOU. Let ms life be spent IN helping, you
bcor the burden of affection which nave
loidupon Won. and which is too grievous
Tor you alone. / am afraid you reject my
PROPOSAL because of your condition you 90
moi say Won do not love me. On, darling,
Iot nothing but absence Of love keep you
from Granting nv prayer, | VIII try 10
make YOU happy. Oh. the bliss OF the ue-
votion of an otherwise useless hte 10 your
service!
Gently. but firmly. Margaret rejected his
proposal, though 1t was Win f"e eio-
ouence that he plead his cause. III,
Il am afraid you do not fully reai'Zo tne
oufnl .ogueuces of your words" he
said as he rose TO ms feet " don't blame
YOU. though. little Margaret; you were TOO
good for such man a. l.: III.
f" DON'T 90 vet, please" she said softly.
He turned and waited for her TO speak.
She did not speak for several moments,
lint sat somewhat embarrassed, trying 10
frame a suitable sentence with winch 10
beyln what she wished 70 saw.
"Pbilip." she said at last In low Voice'
"vou said YOU wanted to be good man
and think YOU can be. You have some OF
meuis noblest qualities, which II develop
od M they are capable of beng. would
make Won "A man far better than most of
those whom | know. You say You love
me and / think you DO. You know now
greatly would rejoice 10 see you the man
Won can be. Won't you try TO lead better
life? Won't you try Tor my saAe II rom
mo- higber motivey for though a pauper
and n miserable cripple for life, Will not
deceive YOU into thinking that your love ~
NOT returned. though ] can never marry
In an instant he was kneellng by her
cloir ooain hisarms about her slight. PAIN
rtcked form, and his kisses teu last on her
II am saved" he said at last. and speak;
| inc I'm solemn tones. FOR your saAe any
by your help will be the man YOU we. woq ~
have me. and when a Lawrence prehXes ms
- will 10 "A resolve it will be accomplished
If In the bounds of possibility.
- feel sure YOU will not violate your
nro,nise~ She said in glad tones. but
Vour will strong as II IL, ls moi alone SUM
cient. You must have the support OF an
Arm stronger than your own to denver
Won in the time of temptation -,
"Then. God helping NE, VIII iead q
pure liten he said rcyerentiy, ana toucheu
his lips to nor brow, =.
MARGARET lived on at Maple Grange,
tenderly cared tor by the Lawrences., she
was often CALLED nj the thought or belhg
so entirely dependent upon them. Even
the very clothing she Wore was gwen her,
and although her tastes IN TINS dlrectlon
were very simple. she was dressed WIN
more extravaganza than she had ever
known. Besides the so-called hecessarles
az life all the comforts ana luXurlous
trlfes that refined tastes couIu suggest
were lavished upon her.
II seemed as though Philip would 1ul-
fl his resolve TO lead a better lie. he
rarelv lett home for awhile, so AS 10 AVOID
Le;o0 thrown with old companions. lie
never INDUCED IN those drinking nouts
with which the ne'ghbornood "9s SO laihli-
/ lar. and the servants. and tarm-iaoOreis at
| Maple Grange wonderlnSH SPOKE oI tne
! kindness and consideration winch he no"
| showed them, so different from his former
| naughty. overboaring, and at times Vio-
1 lent manner towards them. .-.
| Thouah lie never spoke OF II 10 her now,
| he had never lost his love Tor Margaret
indeed. he thought It strengthened with
tmo. Ii was ms greatest pleasure 10 Wy
/ 10 make her suffering existence more oetr-
able. and IN many ways no helPou nol "
/ while away the dreary days.
10Th ms mother and sister knew OF
| pbihn's love for Margaret, and had attrl-
| huted his reformation 80 her lhuu9hGe'
| Both loved her better than ever, ana the
mother used to often tell Edith that she
was almost clad OF the circumstances that
| had brought Margaret into their lives. g.,
One winter morning Margaret was seated
before the fire in the drawing-room when
| Edith entered.
"Here is a letter for you. Margaret she
said. Giving her large. official-lookng en-
velope. Break the seal quick. From the
appearance think 1t is bursting with I'M
Nargaret had no correspondents. so 1t
was with a feeling Of curiosity tnat she
| broke the seal. ,,t>,
II was from a firm of Helena (Mon.) law.
vers announcing the recent death there, OF
| n maternal uncle OF Margarets whom his
FAMILY had supposed killed in an Indian
font wears before. He quarrelied, with
! his family when but a mere boy ana had
cone West TO seek his fortune. lie had
| been successful, and though he never cor;
| responded with any OF his family. ne had
! bv different means kept himself informed
| jn regard 10 them, and, dying chlldless, re
! Iod ief. tho whole of his great fortune 10