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

"TheD you will MORALLY offend my
mother" Malcolm cries, with anger. II
think l see how it is. You wish to shun
Edred Gawtrie"
Poor Marion clutches at this one sud-
denly-ofered straw of excuse. Hitherto
she has had no suspicion that Edred Cav
trie was to be among the guests; but she
hides this ignorance with prompt skill.
"How can you expect me to dine at
the same table with this man, them" she
hastily questions; for | suppose, of
course, from your manner, that you know
everything Of what once happened be-
tween u.s."
Z" do not know" frowns Malcolm.
Years ago, in a sort of secret way, we
were engaged. thought it very clever
then to induce man for whom | cared
nothing to believe that I loved him. [
behaved horribly to Edred Gawtrie. 1t
sickens me now to think of how l led
him on to a certain limit, and then SIM
ply laughed in his face.''
Malcolm, staring straight into her face,
feels all his anger vanish.
"a very awful story" he comments, as
she finishes. Glow lucky never could
} find out how it feels to be jealous! But
Marion, my darling, a recollection has
Just crossed my mind which bears rather
oddly upon present affairs. [ remember
that both father and mother specially said
they had not mentioned the names of any
of our guests to you. In this case, your
putting forward the fact of Gawtrie's
presence as a reason for not appearing
at our table has trif1e Of inconsistency,
[ think" He draws nearer and takes
both of her hands "Ah, Marion, strang
est of mysteries You must find some
better excuse"
She looks at him with cold eyes.
will 90 myself. I will not let father go.
Does this satisfy your
" 1t will not satisfy them. You must
both come, Marion"
AS she separates from Malcolm that
day, it is with the half-shaped resolve
that she will go alone, and that
an excuse shall be made for her
father that must pique nobody, viz;
sudden illness-that excuse which can
shadow so many sins of omission.
Marion stands, little later, at the
door of the sitting-room, having left
her own, the lack of color within her face
making an utter ghastliness there.
Papa" she calls softly, while knocking
at the shut door; and her fathers voice
bids her enter.
Let us not follow her. For more than
may be heard in the silence of the outer
hall.
When Marion energies from that room,
it is to go Immediately and write Malcolm
a note. In this note she positively
promises that her father and herself shall
dine at his house on Thursday.
The day Of the dinner at length arrives
Marion and the Major drive over in a
carriage of plain elegance, and cause, as
they enter Mrs. Hursts rooms, quite a
little admiring buzz.
The Major is more the prince this even
ing than Mrs Hurst has yet seen him.
The rooms are quite well peopled when
he and Marion appear. Two or three
male hands are held out to him almost
Immediately, by friends of former days,
and he hears cordial words spoken that
light his face with a sweet, rich smile.
Marion is listening to few sentences
from Mr.. Hurst, when a voice at her elbow
makes her quickly turn, with vivid
little flush.
Good-evening, Miss Farrowe. 1 have
come to give you my congratulations"
Her eyes are now full upon the pale,
handsome, oval face of Mr.. Edred GaWtrie.
And presently her hand is in the hand
that he is holding out for her. Good Mr..
Hurst takes the opportunity of smiling
himself away.
To Marion this meeting is an intense
annoyance. Her eyes search the room
nervOusly for Malcolm, while Edred
Gawtrie stands at her side, well dressed,
well bred, with the suspicion ofan amused
smile at the edges of his thin, pale lips.
But Malcolm is nowhere to be seen; he
has not, indeed, been in the room since
the Farrowes first entered it.
Presently Edred Gawtrie speaks again,
with sly kind of suavity.
q trust that the present engagement
stands no chance whatever Of missing
matrimonial consequences"
MariOn's brOws cloud.
| see you sneer," she bluutly retorts.
/ dare say deserve it. But sneers will
do no good"
Just then, to her intense relief, Mr..
Hurst returns, offering his arm to take
her into dinner.
Malcolm now appears, and very soon
the large company move toward the din
ing-room, where is prepared rare ban
quet, costly in all appointments, and
choice beyond expression in its many
dishes.
1t is not until dinner is about half over
that Malcolm notices a very strange ex-
preston suddenly possesses itself Of Ma
riOn's face. This expression deepens ter
ribly before long. He puzzles himself
vainly about its cause.
At last the banquet is ended, so far as
concerns the ladies' share Of it. The Ia
dies leave the table. Marion has been in
the next room not more than minute
when Malcolm joins her.
ooh, am so glad you camel" she tells
him. "Won't you 90 out into the air
with me? My head seems bursting"
Certainly" he answers. Her light
shawl is on near chair. Very soon she
is on the piazza, having hold Of his arm.
Il noticed that you looked unwell at din
ner," Malcolm tells her
She leans her head suddenly against his
massive shoulder, with a great sigh. 90
MalcOlm!" she means, quite family,
chow pity you'll"
PITY mep'
She lifts her head again. "Hush, l
didn't know what was saying How
good this air is when ones head aches
like minep'
Malcolm tries to talk of brighter sub
jects.
They possibly spend twenty minutes
walking the piazza like this, Then Ma.
rion suddenly interrupts a sentence OF
Malcolm's by exclaiming:
"Let us go back into the house.
You must join the gentlemen,
and /" Here she stops, star
ing at large French window, which
overlooks the piazza, and which they, are
now just passing. "To what room does