The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-08-15
More SillGd Against Than Siluilg.
BY MAs. e, II. HoUGH.


which had been her only home, out
into the windy autumn evening, and
run for the river, stopping once or
twice to listen for sounds of pursuit;
but she heard only the moaning of the
gale and the wash of waves upon the
banks below,
In few moments she reached the
river, and loosed small boat from its
moorings.
Dragging it to the water, and wading
in lnee-deep, she scrambled aboard
and begun to pull with long, steady
strokes down the stream.
The waves were wild, but wind and
tide both being in her favor, she made
good headway, needless of her dripping
skirts and uncovered head with the
black tresses blown all about it.
Two hours later, wearied by her ex-
ertions, she saw great brig bearing
down toward her.
Fortunately at this moment the
moon rode clear from the cloud wrack
and shone full upon the boat.
She shouted w1tp ner strong. young
voice, and waved her hands wildly in
the air.
Then as the vessel swept closer a
rope was thrown to her, the boat drawn
alongside the brig and she was soon on
deck, uncomfortably conscious Of the
curious group of men who stared al
their unexpected visitor.
"Who are you-what brought you OIL
the river so late?" queried the captain
The girl hesitated and looked about
her.
! A little apart from the group O.
sailors stood a young man whom sht
rightly guessed to be a passenger.
Her great, wild eyes appealed to him
Stepping forward he spoke gently
and gravely,
"Do not fear, child. Tell us wher,
you belong and why you are here"
81 am from up-river," she replied
81 have no home At the place where
| lived the people we're wicked and cruel
l was in fear of my life and ran away
want to go to some city and ge
work"
"What is your manner"
Margaret et-Meg,"
= slave you no other?"
She looked at him slyly for an instan
and then added:
"Steele"
He did not show his suspicion tina
this was but an assumed name.
Her youth (she seemed about sixteel
and her friendlessness appealed stronl
ly to the tender side of Richard Win
throp's nature.
When he went ashore at P
? took the girl with him, and was drive
in carriage to his mothers home,
fine old place on the outskirts
the city.
Mrs, Winthrop took Meg in rath
doubtfully, and gave her some ligl
,t duties to perform about the house.
As the days went by Meg Shove
IN such aptitude, such intelligence, tn
- the elder lady became greatly attach'
to her, and finally proposed to Richa
that she should be educated al
brought up like a daughter Of Il
house,
To this Richard heartily agreed.
AS for Margaret, she was not whol
happy.
A dark secret lay heavy at her hea
which she knew should be revealed u
less she chose to exile herself from
house of her benefactors,
But she had grown to love the
deeply
She recalled her old life with
shudder,
Could she not atone by doing |
noblest now-by a lifetime of devoti
to the two noble hearts who had TAX
her into their happy homer
So she hushed the tiny accusi
, voice within her.
She was sent to school, and in tn
years returned a beautiful, refined a
: intellectual wsman, TO whom Rich,
= Winthrop lost his heart
She cried like child when he t.
a her of his love,
T "What am I that 1 should be blesse,
: she said
But her lover laughed in ten