The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-10
WESTMINSTER, MD, SATURDAY, JUNE 10. 1893

"Tm making them sofa-cover,' she
said "It's nearly finished. You must
look at it as soon as we get home, and say
if it isn't pretty. It's black satin, and all
crewelled with roses and lilies. l thought
I'd put in some forget-me-nots, but there
seemed color enough without the blue. !"
sThere will lie good many thorns
among those roses, Meg" said l.
'Will there ?" she answered slowly, al
don't know It's no business of mine.
I've not put them in the crewel-werk-not
thorn. It's only the lilies and the roses.
like little Eden here below
And Meg smiled. l did not like her
smile.
at is preposterous, l said. ale has
no right to marry another girl. He liked
you"
''No,'' said Meg "That was all a mis-
take. He was only very anxious about
my spiritual welfare as good as told
me so. What's the matter, Jack What's
that you're saying? He explained be-
cause-because | made fool of myself.
let him know-if doesn't matter. Jack,
never you throw yourself at mans head
Oh, you can't; l forgot. Well, then, never
at girls head; for once lose your self
respect, and it's all over with you! I've
lost mine"
She had spoken very quietly, but now
she touched the pony with her whip, and
we drove on faster.
"You haven't 1 said "And he is
making a mistake.
"Why?" said Meg. "She will be a
splendid minister's wife, Celia Doone will.
She'll go in and out visiting always as
fresh as flower. She has been as good
as gold ever since | remember. | always
tumbled down stairs and tore my frocks.
She never tore her frock but once, and then
it was blackberry picnic, and pushed
her in among the brambles-ever so far
because she called me Miss Crosspatch."
Then Meg began to talk of other things
till we reached home | saw the sofa
cover, which was nearly finished. could
not wholly admire it, but l did my best,
and Meg was satisfied Her taste in colors
was rich, if not barbaric; but it seemed
very probable to me that Mr.. Weston
would like it, and reiterated this opinion.
The new curate had arrived, and though
Mr.. Weston was continually coming and
going between Marten and Nunthorpe we
saw very little of him. The weeks passed.
Three days before the appointed wedding
day Meg took the sofa cover to Celia, who
received it graciously, and told her that
Mr.. Weston was at Marten, but would be
back that afternoon.
Celia displayed the sofa cover to him
when he came She was not jealous of
Meg in the least, being girl without
many intutions; and never having heard
of the hymn tunes in the twilight, she
talked of her not unkindly, but as it was
natural to talk of one for whom she had
a kind of liking but who had often shocked
and scandalized her.
II think there is too much color" she
said, "but it was very dear Of her, and
how much time it must have taken! |
never thought she was so fond of me, Mar
Gus really never did. The tears quite
came into her eyes once. If only she
wasn't so very odd at times. l have
really almost wondered if there wasn't
something in the family. Not on nice old
Mr.. Thirlwall's side, Of course, but her
mother was a curious, eccentric woman,
from all l ever heard We must ask her
over to Marten some day, Mark. Poor
child | am sure | should be glad to be
kind to her, but you never know what she
will do next She has always been like
that"
A man of Westons type can stand a
good deal, but Celia's words Jared. He
had never loved Meg-at least he often
said to himself that he had never loved
her-yet there was a strong charm about
her that apparently Celia had not remarked.
He felt stirred, almost indignant, but he
did not let his Indignation appear. Only
he very soon took up his hat.
Il must go and see old vickers, dear"
he said. Il fear he is dying"
'But that is such long way" said
Celia, with mingled reproach and admira-
ton. She really loved Marcus; all that
he did was right in her eyes; though she
wanted him to stay, she felt that his going
to see vickers was 'just like him"-as,
indeed, it was The man had . high idea
of his vocation, aud discharged his duties
conscientiously, as a rule
1t was hardly part Of his pastoral duty.
however, 10 cone pavA W tue eshUic' "nion
was half mile further round. But then
the evening was lovely, and so was the
shore, and Marcus thought very highly of
the sea, which had provided him with il
lustrations for some of his best sermons.
All the same, he had better not have gone
that way. He did not expect to meet
Meg-no. But when he saw spot Of
blue color on the rocks at some distance,
he knew what it washer old blue dress
that was not afraid of the spray. He
might have turned back then, but he did
not turn back, but hurried pp A hetter
man would have turned back-so would a