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


ner," Malcolm tells her
She leans her head suddenly against his
massive shoulder, with asgreat sigh. 30
Malcolmp she means, quite family,
show / pity your
PITY mel"
She lifts her head again. "Hush,
didn't know what l was saying. How
good this air is when ones head aches
like minel"
Malcolm tries to talk of brighter sub
jects.
They possibly spend twenty minutes
walking the piazza like this. Then Ma.
rion suddenly interrupts sentence of
Mslcolm's by exclaiming:
LET US go back into the house.
You must join the gentlemen,
and L" Here she stops, star
ing at large French window, which
overlooks the piazza, and which they are
now just passing. ITO what room does
that window belongt"
THE diningroom.
She gives slight, excited cry, and hur-
ries toward it. Malcolm following.
The blinds are tightly closed, but the
windows have been left open, because of
the mild weather. Marion slowly opens
one segment of blind until she can see
within toe dining-room.
do you see themy asks Malcolm, at
her elbow. Do they show any signs of
getting tireds And is anybody tipsyr'
"See for YOURSELF" she answers him.
In that vague light the face which she
turns toward him is drawn livid, anguish
full. Then she points toward the place in
the blind through which she has been
looking. "See for yourselfl" she re-
peats, with laugh; and the laugh is a
little harsh, hollow sound.
Amazed, Malcolm leans forward and
looks into the room. Nearly all the men
are grouped about certain chair, on
which an almost Incapable sitter Is blurt
ing forth some choked incoherencies. He
springs back from the window in his dis
may.
At the same moment Marion hurries to
his side. She points to the window with
one hand; she lays another on his Shout
der.
There is the explanation, Malcolm, of
every thing odd and mysterious in me
since you and / have met. You did not
dream that my reason for shutting and
locking the door that morning when my
father almost stood on the threshold was
because your brandy flask was set upon
the table. 1t Is pc or papa's one devil
The instant he yields an inch to IL he is
lost. Is il not terrible that there should
be such curse laid on such q manr"
Malcolm just murmurs, "Terrible"
Last April" she goes rapidly on, al
made a great resolve. l said TO myself,
This monster shall be put down, even If
| devote every action of my life to it, l
was doing this when you met me. No
woman ever struggled against loving
man as l struggled against loving you,
Malcolm"
poor Marion i--poor childl-poor dar
lingw
He murmurs this between the kisses
that he leaves on the hand which he has
seized between both his own.
81 have dreaded so to tell you" she
proceeds, quiveriEgly. Don't think that
took this means because of such cow
ardice. All, no, no! Papa promised me
so solemnly that ne would touch nothing
If he came--promised il over and over,
you know-that / gained little conf.
dence, and let him come. When / saw
him taste the FIRST glass, at dinner, t knew
that this must be. There was no getting
him away without worse shame
and scandal (for wine at once Is
NORWOOD to his sweet nature and
makes him british If he Is crossed),
or l should certainly have gone TO
you for assistance. But now he Is differ.
ent. Cannot you manage TO get that star.
ing crowd from about himy II Is so hor.
rible for me TO think of his being stared
at in his shame and overthrow"
.han hx, dana AZ ~
Malcolm leaves her, and approaches the
window. The long French blinds are
fastened on the inside, but they can be
opened from without. Malcolm, know.
ing this, stoops down and opens them.
Then he slips into the dining.room.
Malcolm looks round him, and address
es the company with a clear voice;
Gentlemen, am sorry enough to In
terrupt your conversation, but fear 1t
will be only courtesy TO the ladies for US
70 join them in the next room"
The group shows immediate signs of
and does disperse presently in
silent couples and trios. Not long after
ward the only occupants Of the dining.
room are Malcolm, his father, Edred CAV
trie and the Major, whose loud, thick
breathings already tell the beginning of
De60tted sleep.
Come" says Gawtrie, "let us have
farewell glass Of this jolly Madeira before
we join the ladies'"
Malcolm smiles, takes up glass and IL
about to I'll 1t, when he feels hand lay
itself lightly upon one Of his shoulders
He turns, and is astonished 70 discover
Marion
IL wish you would drink no wine with
that man." she says, pointing directly 70
Edred Gawtrie. Her voice is not loud; II
seems, indeed, 10 be somewhat low, and
yet, by virtue Of certain cold vibration,
II Is heard clearly in every part OF the
spacious dining room. II will tell yon
why think he Is not fit, Malcolm, TO re-
ceive the courtesy Of any tue-bred gen
tleman. Having borne personal spite
toward myself, and wishing 70 deal me
good blow of revenge, he has used tonight
all skiilfnI arts Of persuasion In the mat
ter Of making my father yield to a weak.
ness which he has for years known him
TO possess. When my father came here
tonight it was his honest intention TO
drink nothing; butagain and again saw
Mr.. Gawtrie tempt and re.tempt him with
zeal. repeat that saw this,
and dare Mr. Gawtrie TO deny it."
Naturally clever man, quick at expe-
dent, rich in repartee, Edred Gawtrie is