Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-14
CHAPTER XII.

An ouhhy ANtSCs W tuc Uiue NktulteTIUus
can, Margaret passed the winter, and
grew well again, and like her old self, or,
rather, like something better than her old
self, for the girl had never before known
what It was to be 30 happy as she was
now. The visible sunshine Of the world
around her seemed to her only like the
reflex Of the sunshine In her own heart.
Was Il not q thing, she asked herself a
hundred times, to make her whole life
new to be cared for as she was cared for
now By Godfrey?
TAs weeks dregged their allow Length
along, and at last, ut the end Of March,
the day fixed for their wedding came,
and they were married. and 1t was not
uatil he May Of ne following year that
they came home.
In the month after their return a child
was born to thcm-a second Margaret,
whom, however, to distinguish from It's
mother, they came to Gull Rita. From
the birth Of this child new era began
In Godfrey's life. The year that he had
spent abroad with Margaret had not been
q year free from either struggles or re-
Srets, for the dead level Of her nature
had made his unbrOken daily compan.
ionship with her often hard to bear. The
child, however, gave him the first sense
OF returning mental health. He had been
for eighteen months like man living In
some unnatural, exhausted atmosphere,
the eftect Of which upon him had been
to numb his feelings and paralyxe his
energy; but the contemplation of Rita's
little strange unfolding face, and pretty
baby ways, and the touch OF her small
clinging fingers round his own, stirred
fresh well Of life within him.
Godfrey established himself at Iyor.
settled down into course Of life that
gave him occupation and fair amount
Of contentment. After his marriage he
reainQuished the intention he had orig.
tnally had Of going to the bar, and de.
voted himself to literature. He wrote
an historical essay. which he published
when Rita was three years old, and
which brought him some small amount Of
reputation; and this first publication he
followed, a. time went on, with others.
The little one had clear, small voice
that used to 20 singing through the house.
Godfrey would set his study door ajar
sometimes to listen to It, not caring much
though II disturbed him at his work. He
used to wonder sometimes from what an.
cestor either ON his side or Margaret's
she inherited that flexible organ, with its
true, sweet tones; II was neither from
her mother nor from himself, Rita had.
perhaps, never even heard her mother
sing. Margaret did not sing now-as
0odfrey reflected sometimes, not without
gratitude.
But Rita early showed q faculty for
music, and her father liked to listen to
the simple tunes her little fingers played.
She was small, eager creature. and
with mingled amusement and tenderness
ne used to watch her as she spelled out
her scales and exercises, her whole heart
In the work, her lean legs dangling from
cne music stool, too short by far to reach
the ground. perhaps she may sing
some day as jeanne Bercsford used to
sing" he sometimes thought. But NO
one, 1t seemed to him. had ever sang as
jeanne did In those old days.
He felt curious sense Of regret O.
Rita's childhood began to pass away; II
seemed to him like the passing away OF
his own youth. There were lines already
In Margaret's face. She led a placid life,
but her health was weak. and she had
not the art Of keeping young. There
were lines In her face and her hair was
setting quite thin and gray. She belong.
Cd to that class Of women whose con-
stituti0ns wear out early, with no appar-
ent cause beyond their simple want OF VI
tality. BY the time they had been ten
years married she looked older by good
deal than Godfrey.
They used to 20 to London sometimes,
and once or twice again they went
abroad. One summer. while Rita was
still . lutte child, Jack Dallas came by
chance Into their neighborhood. aud. be.
Ing invited ~ Godfrey, stayed with them
Tor two % three weeks. and made him.
self very popular among them. Mr.. Dali
las was unmarried still. and apparently
unlikely to marry. He was also still q
Isht.heaFted a. ever. and almost - much
OF boy.
II ought to settle down, you say! Why
anould y,ssttls down. he asked Godfrey.
II douN know, for my own part. how
people ~ choose wife. Ir there were