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

The instant he yields an inch TO il he is
lost. Is it not terrible that there should
be such a curse laid on such mans"
Malcolm just murmurs, "Terrible!n
Last April" she goes rapidly on, al
made a great resolve. l said to myself.
This monster shall be put down, even if
I devote every action Of my life to it, l
was doing this when you met me. No
woman ever struggled against loving a
man as l struggled against loving YOU,
Malcolm"
Poor Marion! poor child poor dar
ling!"
He murmurs this between the kisses
that he leaves on the hand which he has
seized between both his own.
4 have dreaded so to tell vou.n she
proceeds, quivelingly. Don't think that
1 took this means because of such cow
ardice. All, no, not Papa promised me
so solemnly that he would touch nothing
if he came-promised it over and over,
you know-that | gained a little conf
dence, and let him come. When I saw
him taste the first glass, at dinner, I knew
that this must be. There was no getting
him away without worse shame
and scandal (for wine at once is
wormwood to his sweet nature and
makes him british if he is crossed,
or | should certainly have gone to
you for assistance. But noao he is differ
ent. Cannot you manage to get that star
ing crowd from about him? Tt is so hor-
rible for Re to think of his being stared
at in his shame and overthrow"
Yes; it shall be done at once.n
Malcolm leaves her, ana 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, l am sorry enough tc in
terrupt your conversation, but | fear it
will be only courtesy to the ladies for us
to join them in the next room"
The group shows immediate signs of
dispensing, 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 a
besotted sleep.
Come" says Gawtrie, "let Us have a
| farewell glass of this jolly Madeira before
| we join the ladies'"
| NdlCOllu SLnllSS, Gdh6S up glass anu is
about to fill it, when he feels hand lay
itself lightly upon one of his shoulders.
He turns, and is astOnished to discover
| Marion
81 wish you would drink no wine with
that man." she says, pointing directly to
| Edred Gawtrie. Her voice is not loud: it
seems, indeed, to be somewhat low, and
vet, by virtue of certain cold vibration,
| II sc hoard alnorIyr in Of no
spacious dining-room. 81 will tell you
| why think he is not fit, Malcolm, to re-
| ceive the courtesy of any true-bred gen
| tleman. Having borne a personal spite
| toward myself, and wishing to deal me
good blow of revenge, he has used tonight
all skillful 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
| untagging 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
now completely nonplused. He springs
up from his chair and begins, with a
choked voice:
Madam, if you were not lady"
"Spare yourself the trouble of talking,
Gawtrie," breaks in the stern voice of Mr.
Hurst. 81, for one, feel certain that Miss
FarrOwe has spoken the truth. | re-
marked your conduct at dinner, and your
attempts to gain certain object were very
noticeable"
Edred Gawtrie is biting his under lip
now, while either cheek looks quite blood
less. Presently, making each word dis
tinct, separate sheer, he gives rapid an
swer to this effect:
am really sorry so to have called
down all this wrath. Of course, | don't
care whether | am believed or not, but the
truth of the whole matter is simply that
| supposed Major Farrowe had seen the
folly of disgracing himself among assem-
blages of refined people; otherwise, took
the liberty of believing that his daughter
would have had more respect for the FAM
iLy and the friends of her future husband
than to run the risk of what has tonight
occurred Miss Farrowe's charges are
quite absurd, though doubtless pardonable
under the present unhappy circumstances.
cannot say the same for yours, Mr.
Hurst; unfortunately, not even your
mortified pride can excuse their absurd
ity."
And then this best Of haters slips from
the room with little hooking smile and
considerable grace of exit. 81 have left
my sting behind me-" he confidently tells
himself.
Everybody has now left the dining-room
except Marion, Mr. Hurst and Malcolm,
and, alas! the poor Major, wholly inert
and unconscious in an easy-chair which
has been provided for him some time pre-
viously, and looking sad enough wreck
of the splendid guest who entered Mrs.
Hurst's rooms with so lOrdly a presence
not many hours ago.
And now Marion breaks down utterly.
It is torrent Of tears and s0bs. She i'm
plores Malcolm not to dream of holding
to his engagement she begs Mr.. Hurst to
tell her his true feelings, which she knows
are those of horror at becoming connect
ed with such family As for Malcolm's
mother, on her account it will be hun
dred-fold better if the engagement is
broken. These and words much wilder
leave her lips. Mr.. Hurst and Malcolm
both try to minister comfort; tits without
avail. She throws herself on a great
lounge in the corner of the room, and
m cams and sobs only more terribly.
They leave her thus for little while, and
at last, after she has grown much quIeter,
soft voice calls her name, and two arms
lift her almost forcibly from the cushions,
and pillow her head upon large, warm,
motherIy bosom instead.
a have heard everything my child"
Mrs. Hurst murmurs, " and l have heard
also that YOU persist in talking wild, fool
ish words about your engagement being
i Al.