Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-19

VI SlccDcIS, M0llOu &W8k&QS.
A little while before they separate he
stares at her steadily and says: The
puss has found better company than her
old papa's at last We battered old sol
diers can't expect to cope with the fine
young dragons"
Malcolm isn't dragoon, papa; and il
he were everything grandest under the
sun you know whom / wouldn't give
him up for"
Marion, Q few moments later, has
escaped to her chamber. / wish i,
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 it before
Edred Gawtrie hates me, for the best oil
reasons. / broke faith with him when
was wild flirt of seventeen. Edred
Gawtrie hates me-there is no shadow Of
doubt there. And-he knoscs! He viii
tell Malcolm. Let hint" she bursts forth
with laugh of bitterness. "Malcolm
will haue to know before many weeks
Mr.. Gawtrie may as well save me the
trouble. Why not. Oh, If / could only
hate Malcolm, and forbid him from com
ing near mel"
Those last words finish with q moan
and then follows almost spasm of the
storniest grief.
1t is some little while past eleven the
next morning, and not very long time
since she has had her breakfast, thai
Marion, wandering near the rivers edge
suddenly sees two slim wineries shoot
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 is
that great marsh.
But, perhaps ten minutes later, Malcolm
appears again, rowing very slowly, and
looking much fatigued.
He smiles sunnily enough, however
the moment his eyes catch sight Of
Marion
with whom on earth have you been
having that mad racep she asks.
A man I've met two or three times on
the river, and known be was aching to
race with me-" Malcolm answers. "This
morning l felt like something serious,
and we fixed ON the stretch between our
first gate and Meddowe's Bridge. / won
by half length, but it was tough work
I'm not what used to be at Oxford
Marion"
"You are not what l am usually accus.
toned to SEQ 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-room, what
he manages to say is almost gasped rather
fhop cnnkop.
"Brandy-fiask here in my coatpocket
right side"
A moment later Marion has found the
flask, and Is pouring the brandy between
his blush lips. 1t almost instantly rouses
him.
at was my own fault" he smilingly
explains, while Marion kneels at his side,
holding one Of his soft, large hands be-
out oftraining, and might have been sure
such 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 l fail to rec
ognize his martial tread? Let the old
Major come in and welcome this very la
teresting young invalid"
But Marion suddenly turns her head,
springs up, dropping his hand, and hur-
ries to the door.
go away, papa, dearr she cries.
"Don't come in here" Her voice has
the ring il it of strong blow on silver.
She pushes the door shut, and rapidly
locks it. Then she turns again, and with
excited eyes, and q 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 he
begins:
Why is your father not TO enter this
rooms You have tried my good nature
more thsl once, should say, during the
past week or so, with your oddities and
crotcheu; but to everything there be-
longs a limit, and no human patience
should think of bearing this queerness
much longer."
Whenhe ends, Marion is standing with
her baci against the door, has drawn her
brows tgether, and has made her lips
meet in one resolute, rigid line. Then
she speaks, each word being hurried out
with hit speed, and in tone of marked
hardness.
"Do,'t bear it any longer. You know,
Malcolm, what told you when you first
asked ne to be your wife. said, No,
no; nt if my love were tenfold what it
is.' HIT you won me over. / yielded at
last. Well, you begin already to weary
of the arrangement. Let US cancel it. 1
am really TO do so here and now"
For answer he springs toward her, and
seizes her in his arms If you are ready,
Marion, am not, and never shall be. l
was wong to speak SO harshly; forgive
me. But, Marion, il, as have more than
once believed, there is some sorrowful
secretof which know nothing, why not
lighta its burden, love, by letting me
shareit with your"
Hiswarm lips kiss her cheek, where
the geat tears have begun TO show them
selve. For slight time Malcolm only
hearsher sobs, while her graceful head
droo,s lower, lower, till its brow meets
his aoulder.
"1ell me-" he whispers, very softly.
Hr sobs increase.
"7ell me-" he iterates, so family that
she ust hears him.
"Eo, no." she exclaims, TREMENDOUSLY,
81 viii not tell you. But have not said
Their was any secretF" she quickly inter
rupb herself, flushing holly 10 the. roots