Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-12-12
TIsTgsIsl's Secret.


smiled-a half knocking smile. She
knew of warm affections, of fierce re-
sentiments, Of passionate dreams that
kept her lying awake through the
night; of moments Of anguish and hot
tears. She knew that this outward
GOODNESS was but that of snow lying
above volcano. one whose feelings
were not so strong might have dared
to show them to the world; Margaret
dared not.
She knelt beside her trunk, think
ing something Of this as she quietly
and tidily packed 1t for q journey.
On the morrow she was to leave her
village home to teach music In a city
boarding school. She finished It
speedily, and then stood beside the
little window, looking out upon the
road-grass-grown, and little troubled
by wheels; and, beyond little wood;
field or two; spire pointing heaven
ward; and purple hue Of distant
mountains.
From this very window had Mar
garet looked upon this very scene for
years-almost ever since years had
been for her. 1t was hard to leave it
hard to leave her few friends. One
must be richer than Margaret to have
many. But this was not the pain that
lay deepest at the girls heart. She
could have left all others with little
softening of the heart, tear or two,
a lingering regret, which she could
not have wished to conquer; but it was
a different thing to leave Christopher
ing Ieft-who did not care, as she
knew, whether she stayed or went.
Margaret had had admirers, hand
some and richer than Christopher
who, to other eyes, was only not very
Unlocking young man attached to the
telegraph Office Of Fernley. She did
not even triumph in these contests
Christopher had proved his months
Irritation by forgetting all about it.
Margaret had but one comfort in the
matter-that was, Christopher never
guessed, never could guess, that she
loved him.
''She is statue Margaret had
heard him say. Zone had as well
yard yonder."
Now, the statue was burning for a
glimpse of the man she loved so; for
one touch of his hand before she left
Fernley, 1t might be, forever! She
could not go without it-she would
not! And she put ON her hat and
turned villageward, and soon came to
setting sun of the August day flung
his beams aslant, lighting up the
windows finely, and lighting also a
youngish head with rather pleasant
face, under what any one else would
have called very red hair!-to Mar
garet it was golden! The face was
turned the other way.
How beautiful he is.' she said to
herself. What soul there is in his
face! oh, Christopher! Christopher"
Never in her life had she called him
anything but "AIr. Hayes" but he was
Christopher to her.. Once or twice she
repeated the name, christopher!
Christopher And then, with her
quiet smile, walked up to the lounging
figure at the door, and dared to do
what not one woman in n thousand,
desperately and hopelessly in love as
she was, would have dared to do: Of
fered him her hand!
II saw you as passed the Office, Mr..
Hayes" she said, in her low, meas
ured tones; land since 1 am going
away tomorrow, made UP my mind
that It would be the time to say good
bye"
Going awayY' he exclaimed. "why,
Miss Margaret, you were one of the
institutions here, / thought. They'll
miss you. 1t is cerainly very cruel of
you. Though, to be sure, for your
part, j congratulate you. Fernley is
a dull place"
''Yes-it is dull said Margaret.
But then l like it. Nothing like
habit, you know"
Elise how could one endure this" he
said, looking into the Office and yawn-
ing a little. Il beg your pardon" he
said, apologetically, for his stretched
mouth, but it Is so stupid here
She laughed.
I'm like Robinson Crusoe," he said
"It's very good of you to come out OF
your way to say goodbye, Miss Mar.
garet, to an isolated wretch like me-"
"Sorry to quench your vanity" she
laughed; "but perhaps 1 should not
have thought of 1t had 1t not been just
in my way. Goodbye, then"
"A pleasant journey" said he; then
forgot all about her. His eye grew
bright, his face flushed. His glance
passed Margaret. She turned hei
head
A little pony carriage, driven by a
girl, was whirling softly over the
dusty road. She knew Virginia Halle
woods parasol. The carriage stopped
The little gloved hand beckoned.
Excuse me, Miss Margaret" said
Christopher, and ran away to obey the
summons.
For one moment Margaret was white
to the very Hips; the next she smiled
and buttoned her glove.
"It's only about a message, Mr.
Hayes" twittered Victoria. II want
papa to bring me up some lace to-mor
row. One can't go down such days al
these"
And there was more of II, and some
scribbIing on bit of paper.
Meanwhile, Margaret saw something
IA pile Of small vignettcs, on a table