The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-16
A BIT OF REAL LIFE. .

Mr. Warner, an old and respected either
had gone off and married Margaret Dorm, b
woman very much his inferior, with notb y
ing to recommend her bat q bright com
plexion, blue eyes and q pretty Irish face
Margaret Dorm occupied small but
neat cottage not far from Mr.. Warner b
home, and any morning she might be found
picking the weeds out Of her little garder,
gathering flowers to brighten her solitary
home or clipping the withered leaves from
the bright yellow marigolds that bordereh
tho path leading to the littlewhite door on
which the brass knocker shone SO brilliant
ly in the sunlight.
People for miles around would stop at
Margaret's door with orders for fancy
work, mending, embroidery, etc. Her
marvellous ability with q needle had been
the means Of supporting her comfortably
for years.
Mr.. Warmers maiden aunt was pa
troness of Margaret, and often asked hdr
nephew to call for or leave package ON
his way to or from business. In this way
Margaret and Mr.. Warner became quite
good friends. The latter, being n suscepth-
BILE bachelor, fell into the willy clutches of
the pretty Irish woman.
Ere long Margaret learned to watch reg
ularly for her admirer. Months passed,
and four or five nights week Mr.. Warner
would find his way round to the little cot-
tage where Margaret stroye to make thinge
as homelike and coZy as possible, In order
not only to fasoinate her lover, but to en-
hance his infatuation.
One winters eve, when the wind wts
blowing a perfect gale and hailstones were
beating against the pavement, Margarft
and Mr.. Warner drove off to the sheriff g
hnuua e{tyfafad in n hpal1tiful mark xVhnta
the courthouse stood.
After knocking and knocking, but all in
vain, Mr.. Warner was about to turn away
and go home when Margaret, weeping
pitifully, pleaded with him to rap again
This last frantic knock succeeded in
arousing the sheriff, who gruffiy demand
cd, "Who's therefe ''I am Mr.. Williams
and want you to marry mo to this woiAl-
an
The sheriff lighted a lamp, unbarred the
door and admitted the couple. A goldpiefe
slipped into the magistrate's palm silencdd
his tongue, and he sullenly and sleepily
performed the ceremony, pronounci1g
them husband and wife.
A more unoanny scene cannot be coh-
ceived, as the rain beat on all sides Of the
carriage which conveyed the weeping bfShe
and Indifferent husband to their respective
homes.
Mr.. Warner had made Margaret bis
wife, and then cruelty left her on that aw-
full wedding night-he to make his abode,
as usual, with his aunt, and she to care fpr
herself in her own little home.
As Margaret became less able to work
Mr.. Warner sent her checks from time TO
time, which enabled her to employ mid
die aged woman as nurse and housekeepdr,
and when, o few months later, a little girl
WINS born Margaret felt that at least now
she had daughter to work for and to love,
even If her husband had deserted her.
Tho mother regained her strength, car
ing for and nourishing her little girl, who
was such a comfort and a joy in the little
| home.
Three years passed, and Julia, toddlihg
about the house, playing with her little
toys, was familiar figure, or prancing bn
the lawn with her pet dog. Passersby Qf-
ten halted to admire this bright, yivaciohs
| little girl who was so radiantly lovely, her
little gingham frock and huge sunbonne net
seeming only to add greater charm to her
| freshness and purity.
| The child had inherited her mothers
beauty which had captured the father in
| years gone by.
| Mr. Warner kept track of his daughter,
| and one morning, when her mother hid
| just stepped In the house for moment, he
enticed the child to follow him.
Julia was installed in tho kindergarten
In connection with the young ladies' SEM
mary in the town, and an extra amount
| was paid for tuition, with the understand
ing that close vigil should be kept over
| her
As for the mother, when she found that
the only light of her life had been eKtin-
guished and fully realized her inability to
recover her lost child, grief overpowered
the poor woman and wrecked her health so
materially that she was confined to a hos
| pital for months, and when convalescent
was removed to o sanitarium.
The Instructors learned to love the child,
who was not only beautiful to look upon,
but brilliant of intellect and an apt scholar.
As years advanced their charge steadily
progressed.
1t was Julia who was appointed to sing
little songs or play upon the piano for the
entertainment Of the boy students, who
were invited from a neighboring collegeto
attend the soirees given every Friday 1or
/ the mutual improvement and amusement
of the boys and girls.
These evening fetes would close with
dancing and collation., and the boys and
| girls brought together in this way formed
stanch friendships.
/ Julia, like many other girls who wore
fpFlBnb anu WHY Hhu u uaSu u uiapleTie
| in her makeup
Her fancy inclined toward one of these
boy visitors, senior, when she was but
girl CT 15, in one of the lower grades.
When out promenading, she would stdal
away from the class to catch glimpse of
Howard at his study window, who know
ing the hour for recreation, was on the
alert for the young ladies with their tutdr.
| Sundays, by special permission, the
young ladies were allowed escorts to and
from chapel, and on these walks Howard
poured forth his ardent tale Of love into
tho willing ears of pretty little Julia, W ho
was just about to enter a new path of life
full of adventures.
Little did she know how wholly incar a.
BILE she was Of treading the strange folds
that swept before her.
Howard correspondent with his SWEPT
heart by tying notes to the end of a
weighted string that Julia would throw
from her window.
One night according to agreement,