Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-19

Ing near mel!
Those last words finish with moan
and then follows almost spasm of the
stormiest grief.
1t is some little while past eleven the
next morning, and not very long time
since she has had her breakfast, tha
Marion, wandering near the rivers edge
suddenly sees two slim wherries shoo
past her at what seems fine speed
She just has time to recognize
Malcolm before the bend in the river
hides both boats; and beyond there i:
that great marsh.
But, perhaps ten minutes later, Malcolm
appears again, rowing very slowly, anC
looking much fatigued.
He smiles sunnily enough, however
the moment his eyes catch sight O.
Marion.
with whom on earth have you beer
having that mad racer" she asks.
"a man I've met two or three times OF
the river, and known he was aching t.
race with me-" Malcolm answers. "Thi
m orning l felt like something serious
and we fixed on the stretch between oul
first gate and Meddowe's Bridge. wor
bv half length, but it was tough work
I'm not what / used to be at Oxford
Marion"
"You are not what I am usually accus
toned to see yOu," she makes rapid com
ment. "You are horribly pale, and
don't draw your hand away, sir-you
tremble like leaf"
He has to take Marion's arm, this ath
letic Malcolm, before they reach the
piazza While sinking into chair, after
they have entered the sitting groom, wha
he manages to say is almost gasped rather
than spoken:
"Brandy-fask here in my coatpocke
right side"
A moment later Marion has found the
flask, and is pouring the brandy between
his blush lips 1t almost instantly rouses
him.
1T was my own fault" he smilingly
explains, while Marion kneels at his side
holding one Of his soft, large hands be-
tween both her own. g was completely
out of training, and might have been sure
such a squirt as that last would have USED
me up in my present condition" At this
moment there is the sound of a steady
decisive step in the outer hall. "That is
your father, Marion; or do | fail to rec
ognize his martial tread? Let the ole
Major come in and welcome this very in
teresting young invalid"
But Marion suddenly turns her head
springs up, dropping his hand, and hur
ries to the door.
GO away, papa, dearm she cries
"Don't come in herep' Her voice ha:
the ring in it of a strong blow on silver
She pushes the door shut, and rapidly
locks it. Then she turns again, and with
excited eyes, and a pale, quivering chin
looks toward MalcOlm's chair
1t is empty. He has risen, and stareS
at her with most penetrating scrutiny
His voice sounds stern and hard as be
begins:
"What absurd mystery is here, Marion
Why is your father not to enter this
room? You have tried my good nature
more than once, | should say, during the
past week or so, with your oddities anG
crotchets; but to everything there be
longs limit, and no human patience
should think of bearing this queernes;
much longer"
When he ends, Marion is standing will
her back against the door, has drawn hel
brows together. and has made her lips
meet in one resUlute, rigid line. Their
she speaks, each word being hurried GU
with hot speed, and in tone of marked
hardness.
"D0n't bear it any longer. You know
Malcolm, what told you when you frs
asked me to be your wife. | said, No
no; not if my love were tenfold what il
is.' But you won me over; [ yielded a
last. Well, you begin already to weary
of the arrangement. Let us cancel it.
am ready to do so here and now"
For cyvvar no toward her anC
seizes her in his arms. If you are ready
Marion, am not, and never shall be.
was wrong to speak so harshlY; forgive
me. But, Marion, if, as | have more thar
once believed, there is some sOrrOwfu
Tighten its burden, love, by letting me
share it with yOu?'
His warm lips kiss her cheek, where
the greattears have begun to show them
selves. For slight time Malcolm only
hears her sobs, while her graceful heaC
droops lower, lower, till its brow meets
his shoulder.
Tell me-" he whispers, very softly.
Her sobs increase.
Tell me-" he iterates, so family tha
she just hears him.
"NO, no." she exclaims, TREMENDOUSLY
q will not tell you. But have not sale
there was any secret?" she quickly inter
rupts herself, flushing holly to the roots
of her blue-black hair. Malcolm knows
it is useless to plead longer, after that.
"Was ever such a saint as Malcolm p
Marion muses., that same afternoon. IC
think of his having answered that Wllo
TRADE of mine only with kissesm
The next ten days or so glide along
smoothly. Finally Malcolm comes over
one morning, with the most troubled OF
demeanors. He has Joined the Major
and Marion on the piazza, and sits be
tween them, with eyes fixed studlously
on his right boot, and with his cane i'm
patiently tapping it. There has been
little silence, to which the Major has
given certain character, as one might
say, by several meditative whorls OF cigar
smoke.
Suddenly Malcolm exelaims, looking
up with earnest eyes upon both Marion
and her father:
q have been having rather unpleasant
times at home-in fact, worse than that
Major mother thinks that you and Marion
are treating her very badly indeed. She
called here nearly fortnight ago, anc
there has been no return-visit yet
Mother is proud woman, MAJOR, but
woman of clear judgment. She feels now
that every hour increases the slight which
is being offered her"
The Major has sprung from his chai
and seized one of Malcolm's hands just a
that last word is spoken. My dear boy,
he cries, nothing could be further from
either Marion's or my own thoughts thai
to offend so charming q person as YOU
mother We shall take pleasure in pay
ing her visit this afternoon"
That afternoon the visit is paid The
Mainr imnrnves nnnn the good imnres