Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-24
CHI APTER 1.


NM Es-sHE LOVED HIM:
SE 1t was thing which has hap
@ pcned over and over again
ICY which will happen while the
world endures; almost the saddest thing
which can occur in the life of woman;
he only liked her-she loved him.
l use these impersonais In commence
ing, because they seem to come natural
.ly in writing of the two concerned
He and She were then, and for years
after, the most important objects in my
circle of existence-my brother, Alwyn
Reid, and Marjory Blair He lived with
me, earning his bread as teacher of
languages in our country neighborhood;
she was his pupil. At least this was the
tie between them at first; gradually l
found he had gained the footing of
friend in the house. Old Mr.. and Mrs.
Blair were simple people; fonder even
than grandparents are prOverbially al.
lowed to be. They liked every body who
liked MarjOry.
And Alwyn told MEAS I doubt not,
both in word and manner, he had OPEN
ly expressed at the farm, for he was
warm hearted, impulsive. and demon
strative fellow-that he liked Miss Mar
jory very much indeed.
She was the first woman he had known
intimately--that is, the first who pos
sessed youth, grace, and cultivated
mind; and at his age all women are an
gels. feel sure that, for a little space,
his fancy had thrown the glamour of
poetical ideal over the simple manners
and mild expressive face of Marjory
Blair. For day and half he even
contested with me that she was hand
some. However, that notion faded
away, and lie contented himself with
| avouching that 1t was her soul which
made her beautiful, since in her were
combined the finest intellect and the
! highest moral nature he had ever found
| in woman. He used to talk of her
| qualities, taking her to pieces, anato-
MIXING her, as it were, by the hour to-
gether, proclaiming continually her per-
fection, and how very, very much he
| liked her.
At first was uneasy for his sake. re-
membering that Mr.. Blair was rich
| farmer, and my brother poor teacher
of languages. Afterward, on keener
observation, grew satisfied on his ac-
count.
Thus things went OIL for a whole sum-
mer; 1t was not until the fall of the year
| that l myself was formally invited to
| the farm.
Coming home, after having for long
|
l just drew from my own mind the con-
clusion, which afterward only became
too clear, thinking it sadly over to my
| self--in almost the same words which,
head this chapter.
Aye. Marjory loved him. Poor little
girl!
/ Icould not think he was to blame; he
was very honorable fellow. He did
not make love, as the saying is, in the
slightest degree. The love- made itseli
-sprang iustinctively in response to his
goodness, his tenderness. For she was
a feeble and delicate creature; and 10,
Alwyn to feel and to show a protecting
fondness over such an one was as natu'
raj as the breath he drew. Then he was
so totally different from all other youns
men in our parts. He had nothing tC
do but to be himself-his natural, true
self--without any seeking to please--to
to make almost any woman care fol
him. ss
And so this fate befell poor Marjory
who was simple and lonely, and per
haps, from her weak health, too muci
given to look to the dreamy and roman
tic side of things. Also, the cup, thu
universal cup, being held to her lip
rather later thon to most, for she wa
four-and-twenty--sixm months older thar
Alwyn--she drsuk--drank; thinking