The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-07-23
CHAPTER VI.
SOME VIEWS OF POVERTY.

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CHAPTER VI.
SOME VIEWS OF POVERTY
When Brian descended to the break
fast room next morning, he found Mar
garet alone.
She was standing near the open win
dow, and so intent upon arranging some
lilies in bowl that she did not notice
his presence until he was close beside
her.
His voice recalled her absent thoughts,
and. looking up with start, the warm
blood mounted to her brow. notwith
standing her effort to control the mo-
mentary weakness.
Il did not expect TO see you so soon. y
she said, in answer to his Good morn
ing"
And I did not expect to see you
alone. We are both Disappointed
most agreeably. Will you allow me to
assist you? No? Perhaps you doubt
my ability. shall improve it by watch
ing you Or, better still, shall take
advantage of this opportunity to tell
you that l am sorry ever came here. :"
That is poor compliment to Miss
Hilton and me-" replied Margaret. with
an attempt at lightness, and an absorb
ing interest in her task.
You know what / mean, he returned,
with some warmth. You knew why
the very sight of you is painful for me.
You seem happy enough, but l am ut
terly miserable"
Did you sleep well last night?" she
broke in, with questionable irrelevancy,
placing the flowers, which she could
make no further pretext of fixing, in the
middle of the table.
NO, l didn't sleep at ALL, was the
rather short reply; I was haunted"
Haunted. How unpleasant! l wonder
why they don't bring in breakfast.
Will you ring that bell by you, please?"
NO, no. Wait one moment, Mar
garet. / dare say the coffee ism t ready,
or the steak isn't cooked, or something.
don't like my breakfast half done; be-
rides, I'm not hungry"
But l am; I've had a long ride this
morning."
You didn't use to ride at S'conset.
Confound that hole! How | wish it had
been swallowed up before l ever saw it!
Why did you deceive me, Margaret?
You told me your name was Smith"
And so it was while l was there.
Others knew me as Miss Smith, why
shouldn't you?"
She colored in spite of herself.
you might have told me afterward,"
he continued reproachfully. What
difference it would have made!"
Il understand, she replied, with not
a little scorn, and Brian, feeling that he
had committed himself again, was about
to say something in his own vindcatiOn,
when the door opened and Miss Hilton
entered, thus putting an end to the tetc-
a-tete.
He saw Margaret's expression of re-
lief and his heart sank accordingly.
But during breakfast she talked to him
so pleasantly and naturally that he be-
gan to feel less depressed. He was even
planning quiet hour with her during
the morning when she arose from the
table, with the words:
Il think shall ride over to The Cedars,
y sf fe H449n od hRaESswRt fes am A g sp S
and cousin Brian will have lots to talk
over, 50 I'll leave him in your hands.
Miss Hilton noticed the change that
passed over Brian's countenance, but
she answered quite cheerfully:
Very well, my dear. You mustn't
neglect your friends. Brian and will
have a nice, quiet morning together.
Don't let the Colonel keep you too
long"
After your remark about the quiet
morning, | think I'll spend the day"
was Margaret's quiet rejoinder, as she
passed through the door which Brian
held open for her.
Twenty minutes later she had mount
ed her horse, and was following the
well-kcpt road through the busy little
town. But though she was nodding
every few minutes to the people she
passed, her thoughts were far from her
present surroundings.
Certain ideas had obtained Judgment
in her mind and refused to be displaced
For the first time, the possibility that
her uncle had looked forward to union
between her cousin and herself came to
her with certainty that was absolute
pain. She recalled many incidents and
illusions, many half-forgotten conversa-
tons, which received deeper meaning
from this new possibility.
She remembered that often, in speak
ing of Brian, her uncle had said good
wife would be his salvation, that home
ties would bind him to a more useful
life, and that his most earnest desire
was to see his hayward son well and
happily married.
But she remembered, above all, that
when her uncle lay dying he had awak-
enei. after many hours of unconscious
ness, to say, in accents which only her
ear could catch: God will bless and
guard you, Margaret. Don't forget
Brian, and be good to him for my sake.
The request had sounded oddly then,
but now it had new meaning. Was
her uncle looking into the future even
then, or did he in his dying moments
enjoy the happy dslusion that his hopes
were realized?
Margaret was trying to answer this
painful question when she reached her
Destinations handsome. modern look
ing house, surrounded by stately cedars.
Running up the broad staircase, with
the air of one familiar with the sur
roundings, she paused before half
opened door, with the words:
May come in, Aice?'
For answer, there was a glad cry; the
sound of chair falling, followed by
rapid footsteps, and pretty girl of a
brunette type rushed into Margaret's
arms and kissed her with affectionate
impetuosity.
"Oh, | am so glad to see you, she cried
ptlN cen Hti SPdSilitttlC ipu
dear child, you've been away an age.
You look pale, too, or perhaps it's this
black dress. Come right in. Every
things mussed as usual. There. take
my big chair, and consider yourself
quite privileged. SO that wretched
place didn't quite kill you?"
No." laughed Margaret, allowing
herself to be placed in the chair in ques
ton. L am very much alive, as you
see. You and Miss Hilton really amuse
M; your ideas of S'conset are "a differ
ent from the reality as night from day.
1t is whole host of delights in itself. l
am really not an object of sympathy, SO
your pity has all been thrown away.
So il has. YOU bad girl. Why didn't
YOU tell me before. l might have saved
some Still I'm glad to see you back.
Uncle will be delighted. He has been