Page:New Peterson magazine 1859 Vol. XXXV.pdf/24

 "IN

THE

BITTER

COLD.”

BY FRANK LEE BENEDICT.

“AND you never knew that your husband had been engaged to anybody else? Perhaps I ought not to have spoken, but it is such an old story that it never occurred to me it could be news to you. I have not hurt your feelings, have I?”

The listener shook her head; for the moment she could not trust her voice to speak.

“I don’t think you seem well, Margaret; you ; looked pale when I first came into the room.”

“I am well, quite well,” she said, faintly. “But you did not tell me your story connectedly. . “Mr. Hope was engaged.”

“Of course, my dear; no doubt of that. He: had been spending the winter South, and he met this Miss Melville—a beautiful girl she was, and very rich. What broke off the affair I never knew, but we were all sorry, it seemed just the match for him—beauty and wealth. Not that I eare now, you know, Margaret, for you are a nice little thing; but I own at the time I did feel provoked to see my cousin take up with such a} sickly-looking body as you were when I first saw you.”

“I had suffered so much,” Margaret said, ‘and I never was handsome,” she added, moura- fully.

“Oh, beauty isn’t as much——”

“I know, I know! I was poor, and that is; worse than a misfortune, it is a crime.”

“Oh, Margaret, I am sure I have said nothing te deserve so bitter a speech.”

“Was it bitter? I am sorry, I did not mean itto be eo. But I should like to hear something more of this Miss Melville.”

“Oh, it is not easy to explain! She was very proud and impetuous, and Arthur was not patient in those days! I suppose there was some little misunderstanding which ended in a rupture.”

“Have you ever heard that this was the case?’

“No—not in so many words—one gathers those things one scarcely knows how. Arthur looked pale and sad for some time: but he seems very happy at present; I am sure I am glad that it is so. To be sure, he conceals his feelings wonderfully always—that is a peculiarity of our family—still I have no doubt that he is quite contented.”

Contented! How Margaret Hope's whole soul rose in rebellion at the word! She, who had given the undivided devotion of ber woman’s heart to meet with this reward, and to know that she must be satisfied therewith! But she gave no expression to those feelings, and sat waiting to hear what her companion might next relate, what other firm life-hope was to be torn ‘away by the utterance of a single careless word.

“You are not annoyed by all this, are you, Margaret?”

“No,” she replied, in a voice which only betrayed her repressed emotion by its peculiar gentleness; ‘I am very glad to have heard it— it was best every way.”

“I dare assy it was; now you will know pre- cisely how to manage—only if Arthur ever dreamed of my telling you he would be frightfully angry.”

_ Have no fear; I shall never speak of it te him.”

‘‘That is right! He is very kind—he told me he was going to have a governess for your nephew; the care of him and your baby was too much for you—I am sure you both humor the boy to death.”

‘‘He was my only sister’s child,” Margaret said, firmly, ‘“‘and when she died he became mine; while I have a crust of bread he shall share it.”

‘*Oh, of course, I haven’t a word to say against it! But isn’t that the baby Ihear? I won't keep you-——good-night, I shall see you soon again.”

Mrs. Chilton went out of the room and left Margaret Hope sitting alone in the grey of the gathering twilight. The girl crouched down into her chair, clasping her hands tightly together, and trembling in every limb from the. chill which had fallen upon her heart.

Only a year before Margaret had become the wife of Arthur Hope: a year in which had been. concentrated much happiness, disturbed only by. the wayward fancies that she had at times conjured up to mar her own quiet. Mr. Hope had. become acquainted with her only a few months before their marriage, during a season of much suffering, when she saw her fortune wrested from her by distant relatives, and herself and little nephew left in absolute poverty.

Then in the midst of her anguish came Arthur Hope, and before she had recovered from the