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Faithful Margaret A Novel By: Annie Ashmore |
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A Novel. ROBERTSON'S CHEAP SERIES POPULAR READING AT POPULAR PRICES. BY ANNIE ASHMORE.
"Vengeance for any cruel wrong
Bringeth a dark renown;
But fadeless wreaths to her belong
Who calmly bears it down;
Who, scorning every mean redress,
Each recreant art abjures,
Safe in the noble consciousness,
She conquers who endures ."
TORONTO:
J. ROSS ROBERTSON,
CORNER KING AND BAY STREETS. 1880.
FAITHFUL MARGARET.
CHAPTER I. A DYING WOMAN'S COMMAND.
She was dying good old Ethel Brand, the mistress for half a century of
the hoary castle which stood like an ancient cathedral in the midst of
the noble estate in Surrey, Seven Oak Waaste. No need now of these whispering attendants, and that anxious little
physician; she would not trouble them more. No need for these grim
medicine vials, marshaled upon the little table near her couch; she was
past mortal needs or mortal help; her face, set in cold repose, seemed
glistening with supernal light, while waiting for the fatal kiss of
death. And over her bent a woman, breathless, pulseless, motionless, as if
carved from stone, listening, with straining ear, for each slow,
rattling breath; watching, with great, glistening eyes, for each
darkening shadow over the noble face Margaret Walsingham. No high born dame was she; no fortunate next of kin, watching with
decorous lament for the moment of emancipation from her weary wait for a
dead woman's shoes. Only Mrs. Brand's poor companion, Margaret
Walsingham. Four years had she ministered to the whims, the caprices, the erratic
impulses of that most erratic of all creations, an eccentric old woman;
and exalting the good which she found, and pardoning the frailties she
could not blind her eyes to, her presence had become a sweet necessity
to the world weary dowager, who repaid it by unceasing exactions and
doting outbursts of gratitude; and there had been much love between
these two. Paler waxed the high patrician face, darker grew the violet circles
beneath her heavy eyes. Margaret clasped her hands convulsively. "Will she go before seven?" whispered she. Old Dr. Gay stooped low and listened to the labored inspiration. "Going going fast," he said, with faltering lips. A wail burst from the crowd of servants standing by the door; sobs and
tears attested to the love they had borne their dying mistress. "Hush!" whispered Margaret. "Do not awake her." "They'll never wake her more," said Dr. Gay, mournfully. She turned at that with terror in her eyes; she laid a small, strong
hand upon the doctor's arm and clung to it convulsively. "She must live to see St. Udo Brand," said she, in a low, thrilling
voice. "She must, I tell you it is her dearest, her last wish it is my
most earnest prayer. Surely you will not let her die before that wish is
fulfilled?" She gazed with passionate entreaty in the little doctor's face, and her
voice rose into a wail at the last words. He regarded her with helpless
sympathy and shook his head. "She can't live half an hour longer," said Dr. Gay. "She'll not see St.
Udo Brand." A fierce shudder seized Margaret Walsingham from head to foot. The blood
forsook her lips, the light her eyes she stood silent, the picture of
heart sick despair. She had often appealed to Dr. Gay's admiration by her faithfulness, her
kindness, her timidly masked self sacrifices; she appealed straight to
his heart now by her patient suffering, unconscious as he was of its
cause. "I will do what I can to keep up her strength," he said, approaching the
bed to gaze anxiously again at the slumberer. "I will try another
stimulant, if I can only get her to swallow it. Perhaps the London train
may be here by that time." "Thank you! oh, thank you!" murmured Margaret; gratefully. "You little
know the desperate need there is for Mrs... Continue reading book >>
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