The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17
Margaret reigh's Sacrifice.
BY LieIa Moseley Johns.

BY LieIa MI
Cav Head Beach was an ideal spot
nesting by the sad sea waves. There
were lovely walks and driveways with
choice bits Of scenery, where the blue
eyed violet. the creamy honeysuckle and
the fragrant trailing arbutus grew in
profusion. One could look far out on the
grand old ocean and see great ships
speeding on their way to foreign ports
the ships that pass IN the night as
some huge birds with Wings outstretched.
It seemed Just the place to lay down ones
burdens and rest and as Margaret Leigh
sat on a large grey rock with the ever
restless. noisy waves playing merrily at
her feet, she was absorbed in memories
of the past, Of how for her fathers sake
to save him from financial ruin. she had
sacrificed her happiness in marrying
man for whom she had no affection.
What an awful sacrifice 1t proved to be
she realizes now more than ever before.
How we'll she remembers the day on
which as a bride she stood at the altar
in the dear little village church which
she had attended when a child. She seem
ed to hear again the words of the min
lister she had known and loved all her
life as he said "for better. for worse" to
see the dear ones gathered near the lights,
the flowers to hear the dreamy music.
IT seemed now like some miserable dream
from which some day she must, she would
awaken.
The evening shadows were verging into
the darkness OF night, the birds were COO
ing their last sleepy good-nights to each
other, the moonbeams play hide and seek
among Margaret's golden tresses. tears
fill the sky-blue eyes, so tender, SO true,
the pretty mouth quivers, she sobs aloud;
but this would never do She must be
brave; so drawing her shawl closer about
her, for the night winds were chilly, she
hurriedly returned to the hotel, to find
sleep and peace, and awoke one morning
to find she had been Ill for many weeks.
When memory came back to her. she
wept, that there should have been an
awakening. Through the long days of
convalescence grew bitter realization that
she had still work to do and she must
live. in loneliness but bravely. She was
not raaigned; that could not be; she
simply endured.
After breakfast one morning RS usual,
the guests of the hotel gathered on the
vc1anda of the hotel to see who would
arrive on the morning train. AS there
was but one train a day each one was
looked for with much interest and antici-
patton. On that day one passenger alight-
ed; man of distingue bearing, apparent
ly about forty years of age. tall and
slender with a wealth of hair, and OK
pressive eyes. as dark as night, who walk
ed briskly up the steps, entered the hotel
and registered as Mortimer Blaine. Vir
giria. He had just returned from an ex-
tended European tour which embraced
nearly all the principal cities on the con-
tinent. for the old mother whom he had
tenderly loved. died in tho autumn Of the
last year. Just as the leaves assumed
their many varied. beautiful colors and
the flowers began to droop and fade, she
died. Then he became restless and sail
ed across the sea. Now on his return. at
the suggestion of his cid friend, Ralph
RAYMOND he joins him at this picturesque
little resort.
The days glided by pleasantly with
sailing, boating. lawn-tennis. and pin
pong In the last game Mortimer was
considered an adept. and what a fascinat-
ing game it was to him. He has met
many ladies, but none particularly In
terest him. Would he ever care for
one? He felt so lonely. Would it al
ways be so? These queries perplexed
him, so one morning. lighting a cigar; a
panacea to some for all ills, Mortimer
strolled out on the beach, and as he
walked slowly along something filmy
and white fell almost at his feet. he
stopped and picked it up, and glancing
on the grassy knoll above him to ascer-
tain from whence 1t came, he saw Mar
garet Leigh with sad face looking visit
fully seward He had met her several
times, but did not yet know her life
story He climbed up and handed her
the bit OF lace. she said THANK you,"
in soft accent, and as her eyes. so full
Of pathos. looked into his he felt he had
met his fate and if he were to be gov
erned by the DEGREES of destiny he would
have to submit to them. Are you fond
of sea, Mrs. Leigh. or do you admire the
beauties of mountain and stream more?'
No. indeed" said Margaret" 1 pre-
fer the sea in its majestic grandeur. to
watch it's restless waves as they come
and go to hear the sea-gulls lonely cry,
as it swiftly flies way out DER the water,
and the vast scene OF earth and sky,
blended
81, too like the sea-" said Mortimer,
and I think l prefer sailing on it to any
other pleasure. I judge you are some
what poetic composition I am more pro-
sale don't you think?'
Yes, perhaps SO, replied Margerst,
but yours is much the better and you
are happier sfcr it. And SO they talked
and fingered until the hour for dinner
arrived.
Some days elapsed after the above con-
Of a number of the guests OF the hotel,
including Margaret and Mortimer 1t
seemed an suspicious day. There was
not a cloud on the horizon, the water
never looked more beautiful Everyone
started out with bright anticipations of
much pleasure. All went we'll until they
were some miles out at sea. when clouds
began to gather, the wind became brisker
and the waves somewhat rough. yet not
enough to cause alarm as it was thought
there would only bo q slight shower, with
no harm to those aboard the little sail
Ing craft. But their predictions did not
prove correct for the wind increased in
violence, the waves became higher and
higher vivid and frequent flashes of
lightning and deep mutterings of thun-
der warned the party Of the near ap-
proach of a storm They set about
measures for their safety bringing the
boat up into the wind so they could
take a reef in the sail. Having accom-