The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-10-13
"MY DEAR M

tees and faculty OF h,F.-The trus-
have been looking for a University
recent graduate of distinctioon. a
some well established Eastern CO.
to take the chair of Greek in ou.1
new institution. You have been
recommended as thoroughly quail
fed for the position. The salary IS
rot at present large, but our un1ver'
si.y is growing and we offer tempt
ing field to an energetic and aHbl'
tious woman. May we write you
more tr!Iy on the subject, if you are
inclined to take our vacancy into
your favorable consideration?
Very respectfully yours. "
Then followed the signature OF the
of the president of Hilox, man
whose name and fame were familiar
to Margaret Lee.
The girls checks glowed; her
dark eyes deepened ; look ofpower
and purpose seuled upon the sweet
full lips. For this she had studied
relentlesslv; TO this end she had
looked /; with this in view her four
years course had been pursued with
pluck and determination. The
picture of Joanna Baker, as young
as herself, climbing easily to the top
most round OF the ladder had fired
and stimulated her, and she had
allowed it to be known that her life
was dedicated to learning, and by
and by to teaching.
All the faculty at Mount Seward
knew her aspirations, and several
of the professors had promised their
aid in securing her a position, but
she had not expected anything Of
this kind SO soon.
Why her diploma would not be
hers until next week Surely there
must be some benignant angel at
work in her behalf. But-Hilox?
Had she ever met anyone at Hilox?
Suddenly the light went out OF the
ardent face, and frown crinkled the
smooth fairness of her brow. This,
then he had dared to do!
Memory recalled an episode two
years back, and half forgotten
Margaret had been spending her
vacation at home in the West Vir.
ginia mountains, and a man had
fallen in love with her. There was
nothing remarkable in this for a
beautiful girl of twenty-five, graceful
dignifed, accomplished, enthusiastic,
and a very lovable creature. A
visiting stranger in the village, the
ministers cousin, had been much at
her fathers house, had walked and
boated with her, and shared her
rides over the hills, both on sure
footed mountain ponies. AS friend
Margaret had liked DR.. Angus, as
comrade had found him delightful
but her heart had not been touched.
What had she with her Greek pro-
fessorate looming up like a star in
mid heaven before her what had
she to do with love and a lover?
She had managed to make DR..
Angus know this before he had
quite committed himself by a pre-
posal; but she had understood what
was in his thought, and she knew
that he knew all about it. And DIR.
Angus had remained and settled
down as a practitioner in the little
mountain toyn. The town had a
tuture. before it, for two railroads
were all ready to cross il, and there
were coal mines in the neighborhood
and altogether, a man might do
worse than drive his roots into this
soil. She had heard now and then
of DR.. Angus since that summer
her last vacation had been passed
with cousins in New England-and
he was said to be counting a Mrs.
Murray, rich and charming neighbor
Of her fathers.
DIR. Angus had friends in Colorado.
Now she remembered he had a re-
lative who had helped to found Hilox
and had endowed chair of languages
or literature: she was not certain
which. So it must be to him and
she was more indignant than CRATE
lul. The natural intervention Of a
friendly hand in the matter took all
the satisfaction out of her surprise.
Not that she loved DIR. Angus!
But she did not choose to he under
obligations to him. What girl
would under the circumstances?
All this time the letter from home
lay overlooked On the pillow. If it
could have spoken it would have
reproached the daughter for her
absorption in its companion. but it
bided its time. Presently Margaret
turned with start, saw 1t, ielt a
remorsetul stab. and tore it open,
without the aid OF the hair pin.
This is what the home letter had
to say. 1t was from Margaret S
father, and as he seldom written to
her, leaving as many men do, the
bulk OF correspondence with absent
members of the family to the care of
his wife and children, she felt a
premonitory thrill.
The Lees were a very affectionate
and devoted household, clannish to
degree, and undemonstr1tive, as
mountaineers often are. The deep
well of their love did not foam and
ripple like brook, but the water was
always there, to draw upon at will
"The shadows murmur, but the
deeps are dumb" 1t was so in the