The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-13

1
sudden movement toward her, but Mar
garet had heard the sound of earriagewheeIs,
and in an instant was calm again as she
opened the door for her mother.
Two days later, in the afternoon, Meri-
vale called at Vivian Place to see Marga-
ret. There was no lamp in the room into
which he was shown, and when she came
in it was almost too dark to see her face,
but Hal plunged in the midst of things at
once with characteristic impetuosity.
''You didn't answer my letter, Marga-
ret, " he began, $50 1 have come myself to
hear my fate Margaret, he went on with
rising anger in his tone, as she did not
speak, ''you are never going to be so unjust
as to let ridiculous fancy about that little,
half-witted--'
"Stop p cried Margaret, and he hardly
knew her voice, "wait minute You
may be sorry to have said anythiug-un-
pleasant. Sylvia is dead
She saw him turn white in the gather
ing dusk. "Dead y he repeated hoarsely
''What do you mean? She is here
mo; she went home. She read your
letter to me, and then she went home.
Mr.. Thornton was telegraphed for" she
/ wont On in. tbo saroo bo.l -....al..:
voice which never faltered, sand they had
brought her home. She had been to the
Torrent Walk late in the evening, and she
must have-slipped on the stones and
fallen into the water There is deep
pool, Mr. Thornton says-and she was
there. I dare say you know the spot
Hal shuddered
''This was found near the waterfall Mr..
Thornton sent it to me, but see it is
yours; perhaps you had better have it. .
She held out book to him. He took
it tremblingly, and looked at it in dazed,
bewildered way. 1t was copy of 'sUn-
dine. There was leaf turned down at
the place where Undine says to her hus-
band, ~ thank thee for my SOUL Neither
of them spoke Hal sat as if turned to
stone
"Poor little Sylvia" whispered Marga-
ret at last. 81 wonder if she has found
her soul now If she has she owes it to
you, Hal No wonder she is grateful
When Hal raised his head the room was
empty.
Carl had been summoned by old Mr..
Maynard. "You said, if ever you could
help me, my boy, said the old man brok-
enly when he came.
Then followed terrible days Carl felt
that he could not hear to see the old mans
furtive glance at him, full of dread, yet
questioning, whenever he spoke of the
"accident" The outspokenness of Sylvias s
old nurse was, he felt a relief "There's
, them thatll have to answer to Sod for
this child's life, sir, +" she said ;olemnly.
"Hadn't she heart, because she wasn't"
She did not complete the sentence, but
there was no need
For the rest of his life Carl will remem-
Der how the glen looked the day before he
returned to London He felt he must see
it once again. 1t was gray November
day. The stream was swollen with rains,
and rushed with hoarse complaining
voice over the rocks. Every now and
then few yellow leaves whirled eddying
down from the bare woods above As he
stood there a shower of dead leaves fell
suddenly on the fiat stone where few
months ago Sylvia had sat under green
houghs for her picture.
Thornton turned hurriedly and walked
away. When everything was over he
went straight back to Margaret.
As she came into the room he looked at
her sad eyes aud then went to her and
took both her hands. Il did not ask you
to forgive me for coming now, Margaret
he said, 'hecause you know Two years
ago made great mistake. thought it
was Merivale then. have suffered for it
ever since. Am | to go on suffering p
Margaret looked at him, and in her eyes
he read an unspoken question. "Never =
he said. 'Let us have no more mistakes,
Margaret, never in that way-though l
would have given years of my life, his
voice trembled, ''to have saved the poor
child from herself Then is it, Yes?' he
whispered with his arms around her.
eyes" said Margaret, with long, quiv-
ering sigh, Suddenly she broke into a
storm of sohs. @Sylgia my poor little
Sylviar' y she cried. Chow wicked it is of
me tosbe so happy when you are out there
in the cold r
They persuaded old Mr.. Maynard to
make his home with them when they were
married, and the poor brOken-hearted old
man came to them. He spent much time
over his books, and was gentle and courtly
as of old, but the first time they saw him.
smile was when Margaret put her baby in
his arms. eve want to call her Sylvia
she said softly, as he stroked the baby's
little brown head delicately, sbut-" she
hesitated
@Yes, my dear he answered, and his
eyes filed with tears; yes, | should likeit-n
A Trick with an Egg.
From the St. Louis Republic.
Make a little hammock Of muslin to be-
susnepded by four threads. and after hay-