ABR GTR Becte is the evel ut love.
What a blessed glorious time came for Maggie then! Happiness beyond what she had ever imagined in her wildest dreams.
True, there had been some hours of misery, when her father had come and told her and her stepmother that the enyayement with Peter Wong had been ended by the doctor, Not that either of the women had thought of disputing this decision. Maggie had always been brought believe that a good daughter accepts the husband who has been" chosen by he parents, and looks upon him as her own property from that day forth—for ever, if they are married; if not, till the match is broken off, But what was hard was, not the loss of Peter Wong, but the hopeless prospect of an interminable life at hom There was no chance of ping from it now. She would have to listen to her xtepmother's taunts without the consolation of feeling that at any rate they could not go on for over, that her marriage would put an end to them.
But next day, when Mr. King came, and asked her, not through her father, to marry him! Asked it as a favour tov, he, th wonderful, the clever man, so sought after and admired by every one. It was too much happiness for her.
Quite welcome, as a wholesome tonic, was the anger, were the spiteful speeches of Mrs, Brown, What did it matter now The greatest of men had chosen her, had allowed her to be engaged to him. His condescension almost overpowered he She listened to his, it is to he feared somewhat long-winded, stories of his friends, and of his own exploits, in adoring admiration. He was just wicked enough to make her feel, with a laughing shudder, that he wanted the gentle influence of a wife. She would, of course, influence him, and gently—for good; every wife ought to do so. Then, he was so wise in conciliating Mrs. Brown by devoting himself to her exclusively when they three were together. For, would not they two, Gregory and Maggie, have all the rest of their lives alone together Where did Peter Wong come into these lovely dreams? Alas, it is to be feared, nowhere. He was out of sight, and though Maggie could not put him quite out of mind, she tried her hardest todoso. He was an inharmonious feature in these scenes, for he had been treated badly. Perhaps not so much by her, but certainly on account of her.
And with Gregory she had no secrets. He knew all her evil deeds, how she had taken Dr. Mackenzie's books on the sly, and how she had confessed to the doctor in the study. But Gregory, instead of being angry, had actually laughed at it all.
Ye by the bride's father and was attended by and had promised her any and e book; all the missionaries in the place. To tell she wanted.
They would read them tothe truth, they were somewhat seandalised nether, and he would teach her the ways of ly the richness of Maggie's dress. (the gift the world out of them. Surely never was of the bridegroom), but notwithstanding there a more delightful father confessor. this they were satisfied with the marriage, There was only one person about whom which they looked upon as a distinct re-they did not fully agree, and that cognition of their power and standing among Mackenzie. Evidently Gregory did not foreigners. The native Christians, on the admire the doctor as much as Mag: other hand, were rather conspicuous by always been trained to do, Of course h their absence. They had, indeed, bestowdidn't say anything against him, but Mag ious gifts, inthe shape of pots of instinctively felt the doctor was not a hero slowers and ornamental scrolls, on the bride, to her future husband. This was a_pity, but they did not care to attend her wed-but did not matter much after all. For by ding. Th ies lay rather with the by, after they had been married a long absent Po time, and Maggie had got over her present Then followed the brief and unimpressive shyness, she y possibly be able to torn ity at the Consulate, where the bring Ner husband to the same mind Acting Consul, a pronounced woman-hater, herself on this point, made then: legally man and wife, After As for Mr. Brown Ait this, a sumptuous ce tion at the Com-have felt for the way in which Peter Wong missioner who had suddenly discovered had been treated hat long al! unheard-of attract in Gregory King, lowed up in the saitisfaet ing {and still more in the pretty girl he had secured such a desirable The chosen as his wife.
And finally, as the letter he wrote to Dr. Macken taipan had ill-natuyedly refused" Gregory ug the tum matters had taken, leave of absence for & honeymoon, the ing the day fixed for his dauzhte newly married pair departed to their own age, was one note of triumph fr house ning to end, Welcome, Magyie, welcome said ie also put a little letter, briefly Gre ith'a fine flourish of the hand, he doctor how happy she was, and as he his bride out of her chair, him for all his iciness to hi Here is out for the future." Jin the past.
He would have mid more, but the. boy "She is happy, poe child," mused ppoared at that moment in the doorway doctor to himself, as he re the two letters very embarnussed air, by a flickering oil-lamy in Jomning time one piecey gentleman Lhave done the right thi Ikee, wanichee see you." her from a life of wretchedness, No can see, answered Gregory short-Esppines we osm look for st earth: piness of another is after all the "He no go way," persisted the boy. reason s curling round him from is eyes were a trifle misty, no doubt by "Have talked, wanehee sec."
And he handed Gr 0 card. alittle He dropped the Maggie's brain was in such a whirl with letters into the fire, and resolutely" stiteed all the day's events that she scarcely noticed them round and round till they were this interruption in their progress, Nor duced to did it strike her ax curious that Gregory his long should seem anne ed as he asked three wigs together fu low, lay "Whit side got 2" 2 down, ud slept like till ealy said her husband, "1 have Meanwhile, the weeks of Magyie's engaseto speak with a stupid fellow on business ment flew by Let was not te he a lon fora moment. Go up to your ion, The for Gregory hoy will show you the way, and E will come part ofa lov ina second. difficult part to. play But Maxuie had not got half-way upstairs too humble and before she heal the drawing-roon bell from hin.
In fact, sharply pulled, and an instant afterwards her better, Gregory called out, ina tone that struck termor to her heart Good-looking, when prop "Boy boy. This side!" him, of course, so that one hi She followed, searcely knowing what she blush for her. At the sume time mod did, the boy down the stains, The drawing-and shy—which hat she would never room door stood wide open, and there, es cut her husband accepting bachelor infacing her, hair, with his head vitations. Quick, too, to note an tmspoken thrown back and his eyelids closed, lay ish, which augured well for a housewife, Peter Wong. As she shrank back with a whose one object in existence ought to be ery of fear, fear of she knew not what, she to make her land and master comfortable, saw Gregory yo up and touch the figure, Gregory's prospects for his life at Ching And then, horror of horrors, it gave a lurch cha were decidedly encouraging, Only he forward, and fell heavily to the Hor, forgot that, in bestowing himself, he What did it all mean? She realised what giving much more than he could in the next awful moment, when the boy ever hope to receive in return from a mispicked up from the floor' a small paper, jonary's daughter. hho few grains of white powder still Mrs. Brown, greatly mollified, if not sticking to it. reconciled, by the way in which' Magyie How he had done it they never found treated like a plaything, while she out. But Peter Wong had revenged hin-herself was consulted un every" point, was self, amd that ina truly Chinese fashion. loud in her praises of Gregory. She con-He had poisoned himself in_ his successful gratulated Maggie ove and over again. 's house, on his successful rival's wed-"Tt was a most wonderful piece of good ding day. luck, a great deal better than. could ever
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.