The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-18

style Of building that then prevailed.
The gables are quaint, and the win
dows stretch down to the floor. The
company had assenlbled when we ar
rived, and we were cordially greeted
by all. The merriment was in full
progress and we were invited to join.
There were games and music and sing
ing. Ia
After the refreshments were served,
someone proposed to play hide and
seek in the house, and after some de-
bate the company resolved to do So
was about to withdraw but they all
urged me SO strongly to join them that
i yielded. aIhe game was accordingly
begun, and 8the merriment grew high
as it progressed. The formalities of
modern society had not then been in
troduced among us, and the young men
and women enjoyed themselves in a
hearty, Joyous manner not being tram
neled by the bands that are imposed
upon the young people of today All
went we'll for some time, till we missed
Marguerite. When calling failed to
bring her, the whole company turned
into a searching party. Some went
OUT of doors and some remained in the
house to make a thorough search.
Among the latter went upstairs. Be
hind chairs, under beds, and in closets
they pried. went down the hall to
light of the moon, entering through the
window, dimly Illuminated the room
1 saw at a glance that it was used as
store room Several boxes and di-
lapidated article of furniture were
scattered about, and in one corner
stood a great iron-bound chest. /
called Marguerite's name aloud nv i'm
pulse, and fancied that family heard
my own in response. But Just then
the others crowded around, declaring
loudly that she was not in the house,
and we then went downstairs and out
of doors. The moon was shining
brightly and it was light as day. we
searched far and wide, but without
success. / soon became Very much
alarmed The whole company then
assembled and formed into small par
ties to carry the search farther in all
directions. Though we searched far
and wide throughout the whole night,
she was not found when the sun arose.
At sunrise we were all fatigued from
our excitement and exePtion; and new
parties being organized to continue the
search, we retired for much needed
rest. After the last alarm I gradually
StrOve to assure myself that she must
be safe, though l could not account for
her disappearance. So with prayer
for her safety l sank into a troubled
sleep, to dream of her I was aWak-
q
pounding at my door. AS I pursue the
train Of incidents that happened now
so long ago all the agony l suffered
then returns to me. I shall state plainly
what had happened. In the morning
one Of the servants had occasion to so
into the little storeroom, which [ have
mentioned, in order to replace into the
great irOn-bound chest all the silver
and linen that had been used the pre-
ceding evening. The chest had been
emptied Of it's coatents for the occa-
sion. The servant had left the lid
open, and was surprised to find it clos
ed; and, it having a spring lock, was
obliged to unlock it in order to open it.
What was her horror to find cramped
The maid screamed and tainted, and,
others coming, they found Marguerite
there quite dead.
I still cherish with the fondness of
my first love for her the memory of
my lost beloved. I may say that 1
have welded her memory, for through
out the years that have passed since
the lamentable tragedy which has de-
prived me of her, [ have thought of
her as ever mine. With the hope of
seeing her again, which the voice of
faith inspires, 1 have been sustained in
years that might have been dreary. So
I have striven with my powers to do as
much as I could to earn that blessing
which 1 devoutly anticipate the mercy
of God will vouchsafe to me. His
hand is ever merciful, and if it strikes
hard at times He has some good pur-
pose behind it, for it never brushes,
though in our blindness we may be un-
able to discern where blessings may
accrue. I can testify with the conf
dence of absolute assurance that the
terrible calamity He visited upon me
has been blessing. It humbled my
will to His, and opened up my heart to
the cares and sorrow of those with
whom I have had to deal, so 1 have
been able to render real assistance.
Truly L may say that "All things work
together for the good of those who that
love Cod"