Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-08
CHAPTER xxi.

CHAPTER XXIf.
NJ sgie lay sobbng and weeping on
Der little bed in shabby room, till gen
tle sleep closed her eyelids with merci-
Snl chliy.on, and the cool evening air
woke her up with faint zephyrs. Mrs.
Atkins enters the chamber aud tells her
that tea is ready. and asks X she can
do anything for ler
''No, thank you, replies Maggie; and
then, when the woman has gone she
iavss her face and brow in cold water
ana sulo0thes her hair. and goes down
20 tea.
It is very lonely for her, poor girl,
after Mrs. Cholmondely's gag household,
but she makes the best OF it; and it is
only now and then, when she thinks Of
che happy past. that a shadow comes
over the face, or tear springs to the
bright eye
After tee she returns to her room, and
draws the table to the window, to catch
the cool breeze, and commences to write
her letters.
She writes to a Mr. Royston Of Chang
meor House, who has advertised--a very
1ignihed. clever little note giving Mrs.
2 Ch0m0ndely as reference. and enclos-
Ing the name Of the firm OF solicitors
through which she may be communicated
with. aud stating her qualifications and
ability and willingness 10 undertake the
situation. And then long and rather
apologize letter to Burnham, excusing
herself from coming down, and sending
her love--heF dearest love-to George,
when they write again.
,2+hs,v aF ..
herself, for as she looks out - the win
dow in the dull street. the remembrance
OF his letter. and his apticipntiens OF
roughing il in the future, are exceeding
ly distasteful te her.
And Sc she 'ams on, while the old
ladies read her letter, with great mis-
giyings I'D many tears.
She is not coming to us, dear, after
an the eldest had said, after reading
her letter. she has sadly forgotten her
old friends. I'm afraid"
They wrote to George n long letter
full OF commonplace topics. telling him
6hat Maggie had left Mrs. Cholmoudeiy's
and hoped to get another situation in
Devonshire, Of which they would apprise
him if she were successful.
And now the poor prisoner began to
weave wild tissues Of Ingenuity in his
brain. and TO long madly for escape.
There was something in this letter 50 de-
spairing. lack nr 50 much the cheerful
elasticity Of the usual epistles from his
aunts. that coupled with the fact that
Maggie. his own wife, had never written
q line 20 him all this long time, almost
maddened him, and brought many
white streak to his once bright hair
Slowly, little by little. unknown 10 the
prison authorities. George Temple was
going mad. With bat one dominant idea
In his mind. that be hid away ms cum
niHgly as q mise does his god-and
that was 10 go 10 his darling agau--to
escape, and rush to Maggie's arms. and
feel her loving embrace once more.
Maggie heard from Devoushire a few
mornings after the dispatch Of her letter
and the answer was very favorable To-
Esr hopes: so. knowing Mrs. Cholmon-
dely would speak well Of her she began
her prepara tons for moving into her new
home.
Now that Maggie was actually likely
TO be soon leaving. Mrs. Atkins was very
SOLICITORS. aud rushed hither and thither
to help her. and the two women got 70
like each other, or rather to understand
each other better than tLey had ever
done before.
At last n letter came from Changrnoor
House, stating that the reference that
had been received from Mrs Cholmon-
deiy had proved highly satisfactory and
would Miss Duncombe make it conven-
lent - come down by the 1885 aud the
carriage would meet her at the station.
The next DAY there came letter from
Maud. young matron now and there
fore capable Of giving the sagest ad-
vice. Dearest Maggie" she said. Il
on so glad 20 hear hat you are success
full. and so ! am sure is mamma. al
though she viii rot sag anything about
you; Archie frowns az me If ever speak
OF you, and mamma says she does not
wish TO hear your name mentioned again.
What can you have done. my darling
nothing wilfully. l know; but. however.
just now. am writing more for mamma
than myself. She wishes me 10 say that
you have not written FOR any money, and
therefore l have enclosed some. And be
sure and write to me. dear, and let me
know how yen get on"
Then the letter concluded with a
touching reference to poor Ernest who
was going on dreadfuily. poor boy. aud
who was breaking her mothers heart by
This silence and neglect. And in the let
ter are four clean. crisp notes, and 4
few faded autumn flowers.
So the evening came when It was to
Zoe the last in the shabby -genteel house
and the last. too, that she would evei
spend in the city.
What could have possessed Mrs. At
kins-but Sertain II is, that she was a,
anxious about her beautiful i1dger to
night as il she were her own daughter
She insisted upon providing an elegan
little supper this last night. sent up {
wonderful little glass jug OF iced lemon