A Hero, or a Heroine?, Chapter XVI-XXV [pp. 497-515]

A Hcro, or a Hcro~~e? 499
"Yes, my dear," returned Miss Se- all difficult to her to wnte, though she
lina rather plaintively. "I must not once or twice laid down her pen and
be selfish; but when do you think of thought for a few minutes, with a
leaving me?" grave face.
"To-morrow." She wrote no rough copy, and made
P6or Miss Spelman was astounded, no alterations; but went on fimily,
shocked, and hurt; but Margaret pa-, line by line, till she had signed her
cified and consoled her. She assur- name, when she read it carefully over,
ed her that it was a great deal bet- sealed and directed it. It took her
ter than if they had had this separa- about half an hour, and then she went
ration hanging over them for weeks, directly to bed, and slept as soundly
and if she had been obliged to take a as a child.
formal leave of every body. Dr. James's state of mind grew
"Now I have bidden them good- worse and worse, as he approached
by in the pleasantest way," she said; his home, and, after leaving Rosanna
"they are all pleased with me, and so at her stable, he walked up and down
must you be, too, dear, dear Aunt Se-. before the house many times, before
lina! We are too good friends to dis- he went in to write his letter. Never
agree about this." before had any letter given him such
But you will come back after the trouble. He wrote and rewrote it;
wedding, dear? You feel this is your left it and walked about his room;
home, do you not?" took refuge in a book, and then put
"I will come back, but not imme- it down in despair. At last he rediately. I mean to pass next winter solved to try for the last time, and
in New York; and you will come and keep what he should write; and this
make me a long visit, to make up for was his`letter:
my living on you so long here." And "Mv DEAR Miss LESTER: I have a huMargaret drew so bright a picture of miliating, confession to make to you; but bethe good times they would have to- fore I make it (afterward it would be impos
gether in New York that Miss Spel- sible) I feel obliged to say to you that your
conduct since you have been at Shellbeach
man bade her good-night quite hap- has compelled my respect and admiration.
pily. Margaret's movements were al- ~ appreciate the courage and earnestness
ways so sudden that the quiet old lady with whid~ you adopted your change of life,
was not, after all, as surp'nsed as might and, instead of seddng in it only your own
have been expected. amusement, made your stay here not only
"It was just like her," she said; a pleasure to your friends, but a blessing
to persons whose number I can only guess
such decision of mind, such energy at, but whom your own heart knows.
of character!" "I know, Miss Lester, you are wealthy;
I knew it long before you came here. And
your wealth, I acknowledge it to my shame,
CHAPTER xvii. has been a temptation to me. I believe you
consider all men mercenary, and fortune
cONQUERED BT cONQUERiNG. hunters. I think you are mistaken; and I
wish you to take the humiliation of what I
am going to say as a proof that you are
Margaret, meanwhile, who had qui- wrong. Miss Lester, I know I do not love
etly completed all her arrangements you, and here is the proof: If I think of
and packed her trunks, went to her you a& my wife, the thought of`what your
room, and, after laying aside lier rose- money would be to me comes first to my
colored dress, and putting - on her mind. Having said that, I can say no more;
b
wrapper, sat down to her table and ut I am, always yours faithfully,
"FRANcis JAMES.
wrote her letter. It diti not seem at "SHEu~EACH, July ~8, i868."