Hutchinson gazette., 1900-08-16
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Z ON THE BANKS OF TIE THAMES /

the river Thames, An old'iNshioned
house with gnbled roof and French
windows stood In the background. The
windows were all open, for the day
was II hot one In July, by one OF
them girl stood In white dress
with crimson rose fastened into her
belt. She was pretty girl, with rip
pling black hair, a rich complexion
and spOrkling' eyes, She stood lenn
ing against the window SILL She was
imperylous to the beauty OF the land
Rcape at the moment, Her eyes were
lowered; she was rendng letter
The letter was on thick pNpcr. The
handwriting wns large, Four sides OF
the paper were covered, but four sides
OF paper In that special handwriting
need not contain great deal. The
girl, however, found deeper color com
ing into her face as she read, She
was devouring the words In an instant,
when the letter fell from her hands
To the grass nt her feet. A little ter
rier came up ad begun 10 worry H.
She did not notice him, she was hook
ing intcntly out over qhe summer
scene; her eyes had troubled, wlst
ful, puzzled expression In them.
"lts awful to think of the two let
ters coming the same dny," she said
10 herself. "0f course, l know what
this letter contnlnsp Here she looked
down ut the unopened envelope which
she was holding IN her right hand
hrmly. She hesltnted as she glanced
At II, and with an effort she took out
the second letter and read the follow.
ing wordsi
"Dear MNrgot; For Gods sake do
not give yourself to that other fellow
because he Is rich. You know per
feotly well that i love you to distrac'
tion. Yours. R0BT CECIL"
"Margot, Margot," shouted a gay
voice. Some little steps We're heard
on the gravel and little girl II or ~
years of age, with quantity OF hair
falling over her shoulders, ran around
the house and up to Mnrgot's side,
"Sir Peter Ansell is coming down
the avenue, Mnrgot-he Is driving hie
mail phneton tandem, and It's perfectly
splendid to see him. Why how funny
you look and what Is that letter which
Clip is worrying! Oh, Mnrgot, IT'S in
Sir Peters handwriting,
"Plck up all the bits Polly, do, do"
exclaimed the elder girl, "Oh, you
wicked Clip, what Il nuisance you are.
Why, ! had scarcely read the letter,
nnd-Nnd-"
"WNs II very imponant?" asked
Polly, who was down on her knees
helping to collect the scattertd frOg'
merits.
"Oh | suppose 50; well, II does not
matter. Is Sir Peter coming around
here, Polly? DO | look all right?"
"You took splendid" said Pollywith
emphasis. "Of course he is coming
around here, 1t is you he has come
to visit-we all know what he wants,
Oh, Margot, do say yes to him, do
want to drive n tandem so dreadfully,
and Bob said, this morning, he was
going 10 get pony first thing out OF
that old bcggnr Of an Ansell, see II
he wasn't You have got 10 say yes,
and see that you do, Oh, what letter
is that YOU are crushing in your
hand?"
"Nothing-nobody's letter." said
Margot, incoherently. GLOW do You
DO, Sir Pcter?" She held out her hand
to stout forid-looking man now ap,
preached.
"Well, | Thought I'd come over to
make sure Of seeing you early" said
he. 81 knew you'd be about reading
my letter now, and I thought I'd strike
while the iron was hot"
And here he looked Significantly at
Polly, who thought it best to make
herself scarce
All the color had fed from Margot's
face, 1t was perfectly whitc--her
eyes hnd the expression of creature
caught in trap.
Sir Peter Ansell was not keen OBJ
server Of human nature, If he noticed
anything in Mnrgot Forrester's face,he
set her emotion down to the delight
with which she had received his offer
Of marriage.
"Well Margot," he said, "you have
rend my letter, and, of course, it's to
10 be yes, isn't it--you do love me a
little bit, don't you?"
''Yes, like you" said Margot, max.
ing desperate effort
swell, that's pleasant to hear-you
ran easily change that into love, now
can't you?"
Margot thought of Bob, who wanted
good schooling; of Polly, who was
running wild without any choice OF
growing up as young lady should;
Df her father who was over head and
heels in debt, and OF her mother, who
had been worried straight out of the
world by money cares,
She shut away the picture OF the
man who had sent her the other letter,
"After ALL" she said to herself, "what
does one girls life matter? Sir Peter
Is millionaire and he can save us all.
Yes, I will marry him."
She turned her face toward the bur,
Iy countenance of her lover, and said
bravely.
"You are very kind to me,and sup.
pose I'll learn to love you in time"
"Yes, that you shall, and pretty soon
BOO, he answered. "Now give me
kiss Margot."
Margot put up her cheek. Sir Peter
put his arm around her neck and
kissed her several times.
The rest of the day passed in a scrt
OF dream. There was excitement and