The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-28
4APTER ~.
The Story Of Margaret Gather.

woods. Before they had gone very far
they heard rustling, swishing sound
in the pine thicket through which they
were passing. and a moment later Nan
Darlington. followed by Tasma It'd,
burst from the pine thieket, crying. "Oh,
you walk so fast. you two!" She was
painting and laughing, and as she stood
before the lads. one little hand at her
throat and the other vainly trying to
control her flying hair, a delicious rosi-
ness illuminating her face, Gabriel knew
that he had just been doing her a gross
injustice. As he walked along the path,
followed by his faithful Cephas, he had
been mentally comparing her to young
woman he had just seen in Mr.. Goodleu's
hack, and had been saying to himself
that the new conner was, if possible, more
beautiful than Nan.
But now here was Nan herself in per-
son. and Gabriels comparison appeared
to be shabby indeed. There was a flavor
of wildness in her beauty that gave it in
definite charm and variety. All that Ga
briel was conscious of, beyond dim sur
prise that Nan should be here-the old
Nan that he used to know-was sort OF
dawning thrill of estacy as he contem-
plated her. He stood staring at her with
his mouth open.
why do you look at me like that, Ga
briel?" she cried. Il am no ghost And
why do you walk so fast? 1 have been
running after you as hard as l can. And
wasn't that Francis Bethune in the wag-
on with Mr. Sanders 2i
Did you run hard just to ask me
that? Mrs. Absalom could have saved
you all this trouble" The mention OF
Bethune's name had brought Gabriel to
earth again. yes, that was Master Be
thune, and he has grown to be a very
handsome young man."
oh he was always good-looking said
Nan lightly. Where are you and Cephas
going?"
straight home" replied Gabriel
We'll I'm going there, too heard
Nonny" dhs was Mrs. Absalom) says
that Margaret Gather has come home
again. and then | remembered that your
grandmother promised to tell me story
about her some day. l am going to tease
her today until she tells II"
So Nan went home with Gabriel; was
there before him, indeed, for he paused
moment to say something to Cephas, She
ran along the walk took the steps two at
a time, and as she ran skipping along the
hallway she cried out: Grandmother
Lumsden! where are you? Oh, what do
you think? Margaret Gather has come
homer When Gabriel entered the room,
Nan had fetched a stool, and was al
ready sitting at Mrs. Lumsdens feet
holding one of the old ladys frail, but
beautiful white hands.
Here was another picture the beauty
of which dawned on Gabriel later-youth
and innocence sitting at the feet OF sweet
and wholesome old age. The lad was al
WAYS proud of his grandmother. but
never more so than at that moment when
her beauty and refinement were brought
into high relief by her attitude toward
Nan Dorrington. Gabriel was very happy
to be near those two Not for weary
time had Nan been so friendly and famil-
lar as she was now.
Margaret Gaitherl Margaret Gath
err Gabriers grandmother repeated the
name as If trying to summon up some
memory of the past Poor girl! Did you
see her, Gabriel? And how did she look?'
With a boys bluntness, he described her
physical condition. "Oh, Ini's SO sorry for
her! and she has a daughter said Mrs.
Iumsden softly. II will call on them as
POCA
garet is unable to return the visit, the
daughter will come. And you must be
here. Nan; Gabriel will fetch you. And
you, Gabriei-for once you must be polite
and agreeable. Candace shall brush up
your best suit. and if 1t is to be mended,
1 will mend it,"
Nan and Gabriel laughed at this. Both
knew that this famous best suit would
not reach to the lads ankles, and that
the sleeves of the coat would end a little
way below the elbow.
II can't imagine what you are laugh
ing at" said Mrs. Lumsden, with faint
smile. II am sure the suit is very re-
spectacle one, especially when you have
none better
However the affair never came off. rhe
dear old lady had no opportunity to send
the invitation until long afterward. Nan
was compelled to beg very hard for the
story of Margaret Gather. 1t was never
the habit of Gabrels grandmother to in
dulge in idle gossip; but Nan had the art
of persuasion at her tongues end.
Whether it was this fact or the fact that
Mrs. Lumsden believed that the story
carried a moral that Nan would do we'll
to digest ii would be impossible to say.
At any rate, the youngsters soon had
their desire. When it came to an end
Nan was almost in tears.
TT happened, Nan, before you and Ga
briel were BORN said Mrs. Lumsden.
Margaret Gather was one of the most
beautiful girls that have ever seen, and
at that time Pulaski Tomlin was one of
the handsomest young men in all this re-
gion Naturally these two We're drawn
together They were in love with each
other from the first, and, finally day
was set for the wedding They were to
have been married in November. but one
night in October the Tomlin place was
found to be on fire. The flames had
made considerable Roadway before they
were discovered.
'Well, it was impossible to save the
house. 1t was all that the neighbors
could do to prevent the spread of the
flames to the nearby houses. All of a
sudden, Fanny Tomlin-"
You mean Aunt Fanny?" interrupted
Nan.
yes, my dear All of a sudden Fanny
Tomlin remembered that her mothers
portrait had been left hanging on the
wall Without a word to any one she ran
into the house. How she ever passed
through the door safely l never could
understand, for every instant, it seemed
to me- great tongues and sheets of flame
were darting across 1t and tapping and
licking inward. You may be sure that we
who were looking on, helpless, held our
breaths when Fanny Tomin disappeared
through the doorway. Pulaski Tomlin
ran this way and that, like one dis
traught. Twice he called her name, and
his voice must have been heard above
the roar of the flames, for presently she
appeared at an upper window and cried