Middletown transcript., 1891-02-19

| LOST stars may not klndie agaIn..
| AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY.
BY MAY cRoMMELIoN.
The guests had all said good-by.
The last carriage had rolled from the
door, and quiet was settling down
over Mayfair. Aunt Agg, Maggie
Macintosh and | were left in the
great drawing.room together, where
nv .aunt's old butler was putting out
the many wax candles in the big
glass chandeliers Mrs. Upcher
was saving old lady, in spite of her
wealth. Stay few minutes and
have chat with me, Harry" COM
manded my Aunt-she could not
help her last request sounding i'm
perative; "and Maggie, my dear, you
can go to your bed.-Goodnight."
Maggie submissively obeyed, though
l fancied she gave me her hand in
parting with a wistful look, as if she
would gladly have stayed to. ! had
hardly found minute, somehow, to
speak to her during the evening,
being called upon to do the honors to
my aunt's guests, as her recognized
heir; still, Maggie and | had been
good friends from childhood. She
was an orphan whom my aunt had
taken into her house years ago out Of
charity, said friends as soufredou-
leurs, said enemies. Poor Maggie !!
What kindly creature she was. /
have never seen her plain, honest
face and reddish hair since that even
ing, years ago, though I hope to shake
hands once more with her some day,
Just to show there is no ill-will
between us. "Now how did the
party go off, do you think p went on
Aunt Agg, sinking into capacious
arm char, and motioning me to be
seated also. !" Tt was given in your
honor, Harry, because I am so pleased
that you have passed your staff ex-
animation in such a distinguished
manner. I am proud Of you, my dear
boy" (And my aunt nodded her
head, with its wonderful cap of lace
and feathers. as much as to say that
for Mrs. Upcher to be satisfied with
any one was such an honor as the
recipient might exult over in his
heart with never-ending joy.)
"You are very kind to cay 50,
Aunt Agg," cheerily replied. /
think the party went off famously,
and nobody looked half so splendid as
yourself, in that gorgeous gown and
those magnificent diamonds. Come !!
you really must wear them more
often, if only to, please me. l love
seeing such beautiful stones and |
was noticing the fire and changing
| lights of yours all the evening" Ny
aunt bridled, and touched the REVERE
of lustrous stones she wore around
her neck as she somewhat solemnly
said:
"They shall beeyours, Harry, to be
worn by your future wife. There! |
have said 50, and never take back
kmy word. And as we are upon the
subject of marriage, l want to speak
| to you about it seriously.
"In for it noW," was my ruleful
reflection, struggling to pluck up
courage, while conscious that my
heart was sinking to my shoes.
And yet, if you please. | was a
| captain in the Queens Own Hussars,
andI had earned more than one
medal, besides certain small iron
cross in African battle-felds.
at is time for you to think of
getting married" intimated my aunt,
Setting down with an absolutely un :
necessary thump in her chair and
shutting her teeth together with
snap. "Don't you agree ?"
| I hummed, pulled my moustache
thoughtfully, then observed with suspi.
cious willingness.
"Yes, agree.
"You have thought about it?" de-
manded our family tyrant.
"I have thought about it," was my
brief, decided reply, given gravely.
Nv manner ought to have warned
her that man does not generally
confess to having thought seriously
on marriage without having some
special reason therefore in his own
mind. But, unbeeding these, the old
| LADY announced, in much the same
way as she would have called atten-
ton triumphantly to some skillful
placing of her pieces on chess board
aVery we'll, then ! I am glad tc
hear it. So now / will tell you what
is nv wish upon the subject-shat you
shall marry Margaret Macintosh.
Whati" l pushed back my chail
and stared at my aunt, disbelieving p
nv own ears. Marry Maggie? ?"
:" Yes. Why not pray?" And
Aunt Upcher's face took a slight flush
of rising anger. 81 am fond Of
Maggie, though you may not know it
and [ wish to provide for her as 8
daughter. At the same time you are
one Of my two neplews who is not &
fool. You are an ornament to my
family, and as / never hold with
leaving money away from ones rela
tions or splitting fortunes, it is my in
tention to leaYe every penny / posses
to you'll You knew this vaguely before
l fancy. Now you have the matter il