The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-07-16
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Naturally. I suppose she is well?"
Yes, quite well. Her health is
usually good. Still 1 think she has
never recovered from our late bereave-
ment. 1t was sal event for you, also,
Brian"
The old lady spoke f. elingly, and her
words brought an expression Of pain 10
Brian face.
Poor father" he said, after a second.
81 hope he did not think me quite I'M
grateful or unfeeling. 1t will be one of
my lasting regrets that l could not be
with him before the end. | was travel
ing at the time, you see, and your mes
sage announcing his illness reached me
with that announcing his death.
His illness was very sudden" put in
Miss Hilton. None of us realized it
until few hours before the last. He
spoke of you most aifectionately, she
continued bending more closely over
her knitting. Il am sure he felt that
only circumstances kept you from him. "
And yet" began Brian, as the old
lady paused.
Il know what you would say" she re-
sumed. Il do not think the terms of
his will argued any want Of affection
for you. | cannot enter into his reasons,
yet | believe he thought he was acting
fer the best. Margaret has never rec
onciled herself to the condition Of
things"
Il suppose it is only balancing of
the scales, he said, rather gloomily
Il do not question my cousins right
to portion of the money, but
He paused, either unwilling or I'M
able to complete his sentence.
- think it will turn out for the best,
remarked Miss Hilton, with CHEEKY GER
tainty. Money is nice to have | ac-
knowledge, but most of our great men
began their lives without it; and, by the
way, in my pleasure at seeing you |
have quite forgotten Margaret's mes
sage. She is feeling unusually tired to-
day, and hopes you will excuse her I'M
til dinner time"
Certainly" he responded, readily,
approaching the feeling which had
prompted his cousins rema ming in the
background until she should partly
realize his changed condition. But I'M
til dinner time | will allow my curiosity
full play. From all accounts she is
paragon. An unpleasant fact To me, as
/ | shall appear tt disadvantage by con-
trast. | fear she has started out with
bad opinion Of ne.
Then give her reason to change. She
has ideas and convictions of her own,
but she is just and rcco 5nizes merit
where il exists"
Brian appeared dubious.
Ideas and convictions" he repeated.
Il guessed as much from her letters to
me. | think there is something in the
name which gives determination of
character. darcsay she has made a
great many friends here"
H., win, al;
which never fails her. Colonel Barton
you remember him of course-is espe-
cially fond OF her. And the poor people
would go through lire and water to serve
her.
A Saint Elizabeth" put in Brian,
meditativeiy. There are drawbacks to
such character. Is She very prim and
Particular"
Miss Hilton laughed merriIy as
vision of Margaret rose before her.
Wait until you Sc her, and then tell
me your opinion. | suppose you are
quite tired out with trav ling, and in
tend to settle down 10 d more quiet cx-
istcnce:"
You think I've played the Wandering
low long enough he questioned.
We'll, Miss Hilton, bohemian life has
its drawbacks, certainly, but it is
blessed with advantages also. 1t de-
velops the mind Droadens ones views,
and brings new ideas into being. We
realize that home is a very small corner
of the world, after all. 1t is a practical
education"
All, Brian, yol are at your old tricks
again. You can always find arguments
in favor Of what you like.
Brian laughed. Il think we can all
do that, Miss Hilton. Now tell me the
news. The Lady Teazles are not all
! dead, | suppose"
Unfortunately, no; they appear to
thrive on this air. I really don't know
OF much particular news, though. Peo-
pie get married, babies are born, and
people die That is about all they
seem to do around here. OF course you
have not forgotten Col. Barton. His
temper is as peppcry as ever, | think.
His niece is living with him. She is
rather pretty girl, though poor, i'm
agine.
BERTHE is studying law with an old
friend in New York. | shouldn't be at
all surprised to hear of an engagement
between Alice and him one of these fine
days, though that is merely supposition
on my part. Mary Lewis All, here
is Margaret.
Brian looked up quickly at these
words. A slim, girish figure stood in
the doorway. and as his glance fell upon
it his eager expectancy gave way to
CONSERVATION. lie found his eyes
meeting those of Margaret Smith
Incapable of speech, he could only
stare upon the seeming apparition, while
Miss Hilton gazcd h"lplcssly from his
disturbed face to Nargaret's cold, i'm
penetrable one.
Only Margaret was equal 10 the occa-
sion. She had prepared herself for this
meeting, and advancing toward Brian
with easy self-pos -essi N, though with
an air and expression that told OF re-
membrancc, she took his hand, saying
in rather conventional tones:
You are welcome to Elmwood, Cousin
Brian. though | hope YOU need no words
of mine to assure YOU of that. | must
1 beg your pardon for my late appear
ance. Miss Hilton gave You my excuse,
and | am sure her presence more than
compensated for my absence.
Brian tried 10 make some ineligible
I answer, but he was not very successful.
Margaret was amply revenge.
I He wondered if reyeng" had been her
Object in bringing him here. Just now
he was willing 10 believe anything.
/ Margaret saw his inquiring glance,
and probably guessed his thought. She
bowed her head, while a deep flush
passed over her face. Then, turning
abruptly with the announcement that
! dinner was served, she led the way to
I the dining room.
The many excellent dishes failed to
tempt Brian's appetite. While he found
himself unable to penetrate Margaret's
object in con ealing her identity from
MIN, he had an unpleasant remembrance
Of their last meeting. the despicable
part he had played, and the contempt
she had manifested toward him.
Miss Hilton watched him narrowly.
She was much mystiticd, but with an
intuitive sense that something was
wrong, she made laudable efforts 10 ye-
licve the strained condition of things by