Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-05-11
NJ a G G i e S H e a r t


expression that is not all grief on her
tear-stuned face.
They meet again just before dinner,
and Maud says drearniy, and in low
tone. Il wonder IL Ernest viii love ,oc
as dearly as we do. Maggie?"
II hope lie will like m, dear" re-
turns Maggie, quietly, and with an in
nocent smile. why, what has put that
into your head?1
Il don't know. dear, only that he
never wrote snch letter before"
And then, arm in arm. they 80 down
the broad staircase together.
VIII he love he? Will he worship
her with all his heart. and SOUL and
strength? Only few weeks to wait
for the answer: only a few weeks, aud
thea a season Of holly and white berried
mistletoe and peace and good will to
mankind" VIII he love her as dearly as
does his sweet sister? VIII he meet his
fate by the sad sea waves this coming
Christmas time?
Archie had left Brighton for Leices-
terShire at last; and the ladies are alone,
looking forward to Christmas-merry,
joyial Christmas time. with its carols,
and eyersreens, and joyous meeting Of
old friends. and hearty good wishes for
merry times
They were happy enough in their ele-
CANT home. and every day seemed to add
TO their love for Maggie, and to the dis
co, y of new charms and enjoyable
traits in her open character, highly graf
flying TO Mrs Cholmonday.
Maggie. however, was sad to-day--a
shade paler than usual and a little
weary She had had letter from Burn
ham, fun Of affeetionate, loving kind
ness, and gentle messages Of hope and
trust. and with many trembling words Of
encouragement. They had heard from
George, they wrote, in answer to their
letter. and they gave just one little quo
tation from his epistle that set her think
ing deeply When l have completed
my time the poor fellow had written
when l begin, please God. 10 lead a new
and more earnest life, l will take my
darling far away over the sea, and we
will commence Il new life. 1t wiz he
hard work at first. and we shall have
none Of the Injuries, even if we manage
to obtain all the necessaries of life; but
rough il, l know she win make any sac
ri6ce for the deep love she bears me-"
And then Il lot of heartfelt, loving mes
sages. that had been written as the
molten lava OF love had overtlowed his
heart. and had sent the scalding tears
swiftly down his worn cheeks. For if
ever man repented with his whole soul
ii tears Of bitter regret could ever wash
out the sin of the past-if yearning
prayer is ever heard-if the recording
angel ever lowered over this despairing
building wherein poor George was vainly
beating against the bars, and wearing
out his heart in an awful despair-then
surely heaven would be mercifuI, and
give him great joy and content in the
future
Ii was 50 unutterably, avfuiiy strange
to this poor young man that he often
whispered strangely to himself that it
must be a dream. He did his work me-
got up and lay down, did
the exact same things day after day in
a hopeless, dreary lonely fashion that
was enough to drive him mad in this
dreary monotony Of rule.
Poor fellow! he has heard that Maggie
is at Brighton, living IN a family as com
pauion and g0verness-''a kind, good
lady" his aunts had said. who w8aId
be sure to treat her kindly" And he sits
down to his oakum- picking he sees her,
in imagination, "ery sad, quietly dressed.
with pale face and fearful eyes. in her
childish grief calling 70 him, in a wills
per, as she has TO bear the petty annoy
anees Of dependents life, and he
dashes the tears from his eyes, and raises
his head with a great sob, and puts his
hands before his face to shut out the
picture he has coniured mp. Poor Mag
gle" he whispers; Il shall coU.e to you
again By aad by. please God! and then,
when your arms are round me and your
dear lips pressed to mine, We will forget
the past in a bright and happy heaven
of the future"
Poor 90! you will meet her again-not
plainly dressed, aud calling on your name
in childish. loving sorrow; not ready to
rough it with you for the deep love she
bears you; but spleudidly arrayed in
shimmeriug satin and pearls-a naughty,
mag 3ihcent woman, with 40 place for
your wan, piteous face in her heart, but
ready 70 do and dare for the holding Of
the position she has won by right divine
0f her royal beauty, and casting you
from her as coldly as 4 stranger.
But the scales will not fail from your
eyes yet; and, as in most other enjoy
ments. the bright anticipation will he far
greater than TIE reality; and so, poor
George, dream on