The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-10-13
CHAPTER XXI,
AHAsrY WORD AND ITs PUNISHMENT.


Il want to see in you the worthy sue
cessor Of my old friend" he said one
day. "You can work out on honorable
career, and you should. You owe 1t
not only TO his memory but also to that
dear, sweet wife Of yours. Let Ter Do
your inspiration. I promised your father
when he was dying that would act the
part Of friend to her. don't believe
I can do that more effectually than by
helping you.
THE old refrain, Doctor. In all that
Is done for me, l see Margaret as the
prompting motive. This prevents any |
feeling of concelt on my part, and l am
willing that she shall have the we'll
deserved credit, but, nevertheless. my
MINDLESS sails hap, rather dolefally'
"Dr. Philips says have dear, sweet
wife. What do you think OF that Mar
garrett"
That he is man given to over
praise" replied Margaret, glanclng up
from the scarf she was embroldering.
"A very nice man, though" she added.
turning to her work once more. so
good to me and so good to you.
He was standing behind her CHAIR
and bent his head to look into her eyes.
Nervous under such close contact she
started up, and made d pretensee OF ar"
ranging some books upon small taole.
The sigh with which his eye followed
her awakened in her heart some tWlngs
Of remorse for what, she felt obliged to
confess, was an unreasonable betrayal
Of ill-huumor.
Come back to your chair, Margaret.
Won can be very cruel sometimes.
Have you any right to blame NO.
Brian2"
| A glance at his face made her regret
this question the second 1t passed her
Iips. but before she could recall 1t ne
had left the room, with the words des-
| tined to echo in her heart through many
long, bitter days. ~
see your love is not for me.
A few minutes later she heard the
sound Of his horses hoofs on the drive
outside. 1t was too late now. She
must wait until his return. Then she
would tell him how sorry she was.
She wondered why the moments
dragged SO heavily, scarcely an hour
had passed since Brian had left her; i,
seemed more like three. The sound Of
some disturbance down stairs came tc
her ears. With nervous start she
listened anxiously. There was no mis-
taking the hurried footsteps and sub
lued voices. Something unusual hat
happened.
With mind filled with terrible dread
and heart beating to almost sunoca
zion, she flew down the steps. along tn
hall, and into the library, and there
No need to ask the matter now. During
a second, in which she seemed to die
hundred deaths, she took in the whit
ACE and still form upon the sofa. an
,hen. without even O cry, but with a
expression that fixed itself indelibl
1pon the minds of those who saw il
,he knelt beside this remnant OF tn
ife and strength Of an hour before, anC
taking the cold hands between her owl
. .oothed and pressed them in her 'etfor
q bring back their lost warmth. Poo
lands! little while ago she had shrun
J.. rom their contact. and now they were q
,owerless, too helpless to respond eve
% her touch; yet she would still hol
= hem, and, perhaps, after time he migl
EEL. She would lay her heart on hi
,e would hear its beating and mig|
l. understand. She would
Margaret.
She heard her name repeated softl
,he felt gentle touch upon her shou
Ter, and strong hand lifting her 1ro
,er crouching position, and she raise
Or Yer face, haggard and drawn with su
OF ering, to meet DR.. Philips sympathet
ov Don't give way" he said kindly, Sc
til ng the question in her eyes. we mu
al yet him to his room, and meanwhile
al nay hope that things are not so bad
~ poor child" he murmured after
I'd had left her; land poor Brian. lit
I'd thought, when I saw him 30 well o
I'd strong Yesterday, that to-day he wot
lrd pe so near death. A sad ending to
T. Toung career.
While Margaret sat. by Brlan's 81
irving in the pain and remorse VIII
'e1 iiled her heart to overlooking to ma
she most Of the few attentions she COZ
avish upon him, thought came to
. ike ray Of hope.
Will ask Min ~ COIue, oho u
,nder her breath. Il will ask him
"a como. Did you call me, Brian" {
yes bent over the bed and gazed NUT
YES ,pon the motionless face. No, Br
,ad not called, and with heartbrol
e1- sigh she turned away to write the tt
avs gram which was to tell Wilson
m Brian's danger.
;, On And three hours later Wilson ca
'''' Well might Margaret say, as her hi
to rested in his sympathetic clasp:
ces, Il felt SO sure that you would Co
Your presence gives me strength
80 hope. 1 feel that he will be SAFE
your hands.
aAs safe as these hands can m
him, Mrs. Leigh. Please God,
confidence will not be misplaced.
a Margaret herself scarcely realized
~ sxtent of this confidence until she
~ taken Wilson to Brian's room,
waited with suspense that amour
: 10 agony the opinion which she
ora would mean so much.
8. She watched his face anxiously,
:. Il revealed little, and only by gu
intuition did she understand that
considered Brians state most critic
" With the last CLEAN OF hope d
F." from her heart, she followed him
the room.
"Tha tr1,th. - she pleaded, pres