"Oh, we shan"t quarrel," with a gay laugh.
The carriage had come for them and there were enough farewells to send them off to Europe.
"Zay _does_ take it beautifully," said a group of girls. "Lucky that Miss Nevins was all bunged up with a bad toothache and swelled face.
She"d counted so much on being in at the feast."
The three elders were sitting up for them.
"We"ve just had a gay old time and Rita was the star of the goodly company," exclaimed Zaidee in her merriest tone. "We drank healths enough to sink a ship and Mrs. Barrington was sweetness itself. I"m tired and sleepy, so you won"t mind if I run off to bed. And Monday the treadmill of school begins. Only one day of grace!"
She kissed her parents, then her sister. Was she beginning to love her?
She had been so radiantly sweet tonight.
"You _did_ enjoy it?" and the Major pulled Marguerite down on his knee.
"Oh, yes, only I didn"t like being quite so much of a heroine. But my most ardent admirer was ill in bed, and I was thankful for that."
He laughed. How different she was from Zay. Had it been her quiet restricted sphere, her struggle with the life she had known in dreams and the bald every day experiences? Zay laughed at the favors and pleasures showered upon her but she would not have been the bright, merry girl without them. Would the gravity of the one help to tone down the mercurial temperament of the other? Oh, it was so good to have them both! Could he ever be thankful enough? And he forgave the poor woman in her grave.
Zaidee chatted awhile with Aunt Kate who fancied she understood all the thoughts of the young girl"s heart. It was not strange she should be a little jealous, but she had more gifts to attract the world with, and the pendulum of her parents" love would swing back presently. Then the child said good-night and went to her white bed, but the sleepiness had gone by and she was wondering about herself.
Would she come to love this strange sister who had been thrust upon her as it were. Truly, she did not know. If she kept the old love of them all, the first love, no one could quite climb up to that place in their hearts and if Marguerite could be content with the second place--that really was hers, she would be sweet and gracious and share honors with her.
Poor child! She did not understand what love really meant; that it was to dole out the overplus of one"s life when one was in the mood, or withhold when one chose, was, as yet, her definition of it. What can an overindulged child know of the grand motives it takes a life-time to learn?
Marguerite looked out on the shining night with its tender hush, with no wind stirring, no sound anywhere. A new life unrolled before her; an illumination and comprehension of the past that would be builded in the years to come. Whatsoever was lovely and of good report was to be the foundation stones of the temple G.o.d had bidden her to rear. Would she learn to be lovely in feature and expression from the inward light of the soul--the lamp G.o.d had set there?
Yet the new life had brought grander duties than mere self advancement, and Marguerite prayed that she might fulfill them faithfully.
ALWAYS ASK FOR THE DONOHUE Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money
Book by MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH
AN ATTRACTIVE LIST OF THE WORKS OF THIS POPULAR AUTHOR
The first eighteen t.i.tles with brackets are books with sequels, "Victor"s Triumph," being a sequel to "Beautiful Fiend," etc. They are all printed from large, clear type on a superior quality of flexible paper and bound in English vellum cloth, a.s.sorted colors, containing charming female heads lithographed in twelve colors, as inlays; the t.i.tles being stamped in harmonizing colors of ink or foil. Cloth, 12mo size.
{1 Beautiful Fiend, A {2 Victor"s Triumph
{3 Bride"s Fate {4 Changed Brides
{5 Cruel as the Grave {6 Tried for Her Life
{7 Fair Play {8 How He Won Her
{9 Family Doom {10 Maiden Widow
{11 Hidden Hand, The {12 Capitola"s Peril
{13 Ishmael {14 Self Raised
{15 Lost Heir of Linlithgow {16 n.o.ble Lord, A
{17 Unknown {18 Mystery of Raven Rocks
19 Bridal Eve, The 20 Bride"s Dowry, The 21 Bride of Llewellyn, The 22 Broken Engagement, The 23 Christmas Guest, The 24 Curse of Clifton 25 Deserted Wife, The 26 Discarded Daughter, The 27 Doom of Deville, The 28 Eudora 29 Fatal Secret, A 30 Fortune Seeker 31 Gypsy"s Prophecy 32 Haunted Homestead 33 India; or, The Pearl of Pearl River 34 Lady of the Isle, The 35 Lost Heiress, The 36 Love"s Labor Won 37 Missing Bride, The 38 Mother-in-Law 39 Prince of Darkness, and Artist"s Love 40 Retribution 41 Three Beauties, The 42 Three Sisters, The 43 Two Sisters, The 44 Vivian 45 Widow"s Son 46 Wife"s Victory