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

its cover. one uiusheu lne
away and looked at the date. Fol
DAYS ago the letter had been posted. -; ,s;--
her home and old homestead in tep>
valley that nestled deep and sweet in - s
the heart of the grand mountain 49,;
range guarding it on every side, rose ali
before her. She saw her father, '
grizzled, stoop shouldered, care worn
oldfashioned in dress, precise in A,
manner, gentleman OF the old
school, a man who never had much He
money, but had sent his five sons
and one daughter to college, giving
them, what the Lees priced most in r.
life, a liberal education. She saw ~,
her mother, thin, fair, tall with the IN
golden hair that would fade but A.;
would never turn gray, the blue h.
childlike eyes, the wis,ful mouth. 4:
Mother! she gasped, mother! -,
The horror of the malady that had .,
seized on the beautiful, dainty, lovely h
woman, so like princessin her bear b
ing, so noble in her housewifery, so
| neighborly, so maternal swept over
her in hot tide, and retreated leav'
ing her shivering. +
must &C home, and at once ,
With feet that seemed to her weight
ed with lead she went straight TO the
Dean, knowing that the gracious
woman's spirit there would be instant
| comprehension, and that she would
receive advice. Sssa--7l
My dear! said tho Dean, you have
heard from Hilox haven't you? We
are so proud OF you; we want
you to represent our college and our
culture there. 1t is a magnificent
opportunity, Margaret.
The Dean was very short sighted
and she did not at first catch the look
on Margaret's face.
Yes, she answered, in a voice
that sounded muffled and liteless.
l have heard from Hilox; l had al
most forgotten, but l must answer
the letter. Dear Mrs. Wade, have
heard from home too. NV mother
is very i'll, and she needs mt. |
must go at tonce-tomorrow morning
| cannot wait Tor Commencement.
The Dean asked for further infor-
nation. Then she urged that Marga
ret should wait over the annual
great occasion; SO much was due
the college she thought, and she
pointed out the fact that Mr.. Lee
had not asked her to leave until the
exercises were over
But Margaret had only one reply
My mother needs me. l must go.
A week later at sunset the old
numbering stage rolling over the steep
hills and smooth dales, drew up at
Margarets home. Tired but with
a steadiast light in her eyes, the girl
stepped down, received her father s
kiss, and went straight to her mother
waiting in the doorway.
l am glad-glad you have come,
my darling! said the mother. While
you are here can give everything
up. But my love, this is not what
we planned!
No, my dearest, said the girl, but
that is OF no consequence. l wish |
had known sooner how very much,
how very much, I was wanted at
home.
But you will not be a professor oi
Greek? said the mother that night. 1t
was all arranged for the operation,
which was 10 take place in week S
time, the surgeons 10 come from the
nearest town. The mother was brave,
gay, heroic. Margaret looked at her,
wondering that one under the shadow
of death could laugh and talk SO
brightly.
No, l will be something better, she
said tenderly. | will be your nurse,
your comfort if | can. If had only
known, there are many things better
than Greek that might nave learned
Hilox did not get the Greek pro-
fessor, but the culture OF Mount Seward
was not wasted. Mrs. Lee lived years,
often in anguish unspeaksble, relieved
by intervals of peace and freedom from
pain. The daughter became almost
the mother in their intercourse as time
passed, and the bloom on her cheek
paled sooner than on her mothers in
the depth of her sympathy. But the
end came at last. and the suffering life
went out with soft sigh, as a child
falls asleep.
On little shelf in Margaret's room
her old text books, seldom opened, are
souvenirs of her busy life at college.
Her hand has learned the cunning
which concocts dainty dishes and
lucent jellies; her housekeeping i:
famous. She is bright talker, witty
charming, with the soft infections which
make the vibrant tunefulness of tht
Virginia woman's voice so tender ant
sweet thing in the ear. Mount Sewart
is to her the Mecca OF memory. II evel
she has a daughter she will send hel
there, and-who knows 7-that girl ma,
be professional at Hilox.
For though Margaret is not absen
from her household, she Is not long tt
be Margaret Lee. The wedding cak
is made, and is growing rich and firm
as it awaits the day when the bride vii
4sat j. The wedding gown is ordered
has proposed at last he ha
1ht of winning or wooipg an
he fair girl who caught HI