Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-19
A GOOD Halter.
BY EDGAR FAWCETT.

NEAR the close OF. superb mluSun-
mer day Marion Farrowe leaves her father
seated with a novel on the piazza, and
strolls down through the sycamores and
beeches whose lordly green branches grid
the house with sort of austere privacy.
Having strOlled down, under the lawns
sloistral shadows, to the deep hedge that
separates it from the outer road and the
rivers cool, broad band of silver, Marion
stands for a moment with one hand
elasped about grim, black spike-head of
the small iron gate, looking straight be
yOnd into the shadowy, violet hOllOWs of
the distant hills and overlooking the light
row boat that now pauses just in front of
her
Marionl" voice has to appeal before
the boats occupant can make known his
presence. "YOu have on your sad look
again. What is the matter?"
And then Marion gives a slight, glad
cry, and unfastens the gate, speeding
toward the river, while at the same time
Mr. Malcolm Hurst ships his oars and
springs out on the bank to meet her.
"Why don't you tell me that my mother
called upon you today" Malcolm ques-
tiOns.
simply" Marion answers, " because
was waiting for you to begin the subject
first; and, since you've done it, come,
please, no absurd hesitation about telling
nae Just what she thought of me-"
She thinks you charming"
eyes? Go more into particulars,
please"
And she thought it nothing except
marvellous" he goes on, that you should
have this great distaste for seeing people"
"Pray do not let us pay any more heed
to that subject" Marion plaintively ap-
peals. " It seems to me that everything
you and | mention nowadays, Malcolm,
is sure of leading up to it."
And no wonderr' he answers, with
not little plain sullenness. When we
rented the BroOkes' house, in early June,
and I met you, that evening, walking
with your own brother and my old school
mate, Scott Farrowe, even before he had
presented me, it flashed though my mind,
while looking at you, that you were the
sort of woman to shine in bathrooms and
be courted by thousands"
ooh, hush, Matcolmi | should hate
such life"
and n0ao | should hate to have you
lead it." he tells her, with a tender tone
in his lowered voice. "There is a vide
distinction, Marion, between the ball
EOOul DGltC anu -j1C-uOulCSJlC nun
/ don't want you to be flower, my love
that grows perpetUaily in the shade"
Marion shakes her head with kind OF
slow Impotence.
"But it is my wish, Malcolm; why
should you not respect it-at least for q
year or two to come? 1t is not so 0e14
long ago, remember, since mother died:
and then, father, you know, is quite toe
old for com an0-D
But Malcolm INDUCES IN a roar OF
laughter at this point.
"Your fathes too old for company, in.
deedi Why, he is just at the right age foI
it. By-the-by, mother called him a prince.
The only trouble is he makes you the alb
solute empress of his actions"
"He loves me, you know. However,
Malcolm, let us talk of other things
When are you going to Boston again?''
q can't say. Father has attended to
most of our monetary matters of late
He is there now, and proposes staying
some little time. 1t is really wonderful
that we should have come back from
Europe, after an absence of nearly
twenty years, and found that that man
Gawtrie should have managed our money
as though he had no other business in
all Boston"
"Gawtrie!
Marion merely murmurs the word, but
Malcolm goes on:
"There is a father and son; the sons
name is Edred Gawtrie. He has lived in
New York great deal. Perhaps you
have met him there, Marion, for there
,OGs time, | think you told me, when
you used occasionally to honor assem-.
blageS."
"Yes, there was a time," Marion an
swers, with a little laugh. But New
York is such huge place, even socially,
you know"
81 met Edred Gawtrie the last time /
was in Boston. Father insists upon my
having him up here, so father must be
Obeyed. If he clings too closely, may |
bring him overY"
mo-"
Good heavens, Marion, if you haven't
known the gentleman in New York, pray
have you met him in 2 previous world"
Marion makes no reply; there are some
moments of silence, and then the CONVEX
sation takes a tranquiler and more lover
like turn. 1t is about ten O'Clock when
Marion says goodnight at the garden
gate.
She insists upon his leaving her there
He does not dream of guessing her reason
for walking to the house alone. 1t is this
she wants the darkness and the utter sense
of peace for just little while.
After little she reached the piazza
Gliding up its steps she enters the sitting
room. There, on a most commodiouS
lounge, lies the old Major, whom, lightest
of sleepers, Marion awakens.
A little while before they separate he
stares at her steadily and says: The
puss has found better company than hel
old papa's at last. We battered old sol
diers can't expect to cope with the fine
young Dragons"
oMaicoim isn't a dragon, papa; and i
he were everything grandest under tht
sun YOU know whom l wouldn't give
him up for"
Marion, few moments later, ha:
escaped to her chamber. l wish l
wouldn't weigh upon me so fearfully
And now that Edred Gawtrie's shadow
should throw itself thus across my path
Idiot that | am, not TO have seen 1t before
Edred Gawtrie hates me, for the best
reasons. | broke faith with him when
was wild hirt of seventeen. EdreC
Gaytrie hates me-there is no shadow o
doubt there. And-he En0trs! he VII
tell Malcolm. Let hint" she bursts fortn