Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-01-10

My name is Margaret, and mamma
is called Elsie Wallace"
Mr.. Charlesworth rose, and took the
little child's hand in his.
Come, child, take me to your
home,' was all that he said.
It was Elsie pale, sallow and wan,
the ghost of her former self, her voice
interrupted by a hacking cough, her
hands transparent and feverish-yet
Elsie still.
You have forgiven me, Tom? Oh,
Tom, I could not have died without
Your words of pardon!"
Il forgave you freely, Elsie, years
ago.
Il have expiated my folly on the bit
he was a fiend in human shape" she
added, shudderingly; ''but now
She mutely motioned toward the
scantily furnished room, the dying
fire in the CRATE, and the child who
stood shivering in her rags at the foot
of the bed.
1T is not for myself" she faltered.
Heaven knows I have not long to
suffer, and 1 am well Injured to it;
but my poor little Margaret, what is
to become of herr"
"ShaH I take her, Elsie?"
For your OWN"
"For my own" Tom answered,
quietly. II have neither wife nor child;
and for the sake of what you once
were to me, Elsie, will love the child,
and be kind to her,
Elsie drew long sigh of ineffable
relief, as her fevered fingers closed
on CharleswortI's palm.
II can die in peace now!"
When the sods had been laid on
poor Elsie's coffin, Margaret came to
Mr. Charlesworths luxurious home,
shy, timid, shrinking child, with big,
hare-like eyes, brown skin, and a.
nervous way of starting when one
spoke to her.
Margaret" said he, stroking the
pretty hair, what shall / do with
your"
II should like to go to school, she
said, wistfully, tand learn to be like
other girls. Papa always spent all the
money and mamma could never send
me-
WELL said Mr.. Charlesworth,
'that's a very sensible idea of yours,
do you know, little girl? to school you
shall 60"
Three years afterwards Margaret
came back, royalty beautiful as Cleo
! patra. Mr. Charlesworth had sent a
little brown girl to school, and, to his
surprise, a radiant butterfly foated
! into his presence,
my little girl he said, fairly con-
founded and taken by surprise, chow
lovely you are!"
Am II" said she, demurely. II am
so glad
Little vanity"
"No,' said Margaret, Il don't think
it is altogether vanity; but you know
I wanted you to love me-
"You are a foolish child" said MIR.
Char1esworth, a little sharply, "and
you've no idea of what you are say
ing"
J
said to annoy her guardian, but let the
matter drop; and the weeks and
months went by, and the young girl
became the very light and sunshine of
Toms life.
margaret" said Mr.. Charlesworth
one evening, II have found a husband
for you; what do you say?"
| r L; 81, ic
the right one!" laughed the girl.
Tom felt a keen, strange pang at his
heart, but he kept a brave counter
ance.
"Well, it is Harry Montague . he
said, striving to speak cheerfully.
'Tell him no."
"You don't like him?"
s'No, Mr.. Charlesworth." .
'sBut he is young and handsome. .
"And the man I love is not young
and not particularly handsome.
Margaret, are you in lover"
eyes, Mr.. Chariesworth, she said,
a little saucily ''and so are you
He WINGED.
'You have no right, Margaret to
look into the sanctuary OF my neaTC.
She came up to him, and, putting
both her hands on his shoulders, gazed
with half-smiling, half-tearful eyes
into his face.
'sBut suppose, Mr.. Charlesworth I
look into my heart, and see yours en-
throned and enshadowed there?"
"What do you mean, Margaret"
"Ah, you are not so accomplished a
dissembler as you may suppose, sir, .
said the girl, nodding archly Il have
discovered that you love me, but you
are too modest to fancy, until | tell
you so, that"
'"That what, Margaret?''
Pale and eager, he listened for am
answer.
''That I love you! Oh, Mr.. Charles
worth, my mothers treachery blighted
your youth, Let my love and affec-