Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-26
AT LAST.

Marion Thornton stood alone in the
dull gray twilight of a november after
noon, gazing out upon the snOw-fiakes
coming down faster and faster, touching
everything with fairy-like fingers, caus-
ing the whole earth TO appear very mir
acle Of beauty.
a charming picture she made standing
there clad in her rich silk robes, with the
red glow of the hre falling upon her hair
and lighting it up until it shOne with the
glory that old painters lOvetO represent.
That alone had been enough to have beau
titled any woman, yet Marion ThOTntOn's
hair was but one of the many gifts with
which Nature had been so prOdigal in her
regard. The eyes were large and deep,
and of that peculiar bronze brown so Of
ten read of, yet so seldom seen. Just
now they were full of weary longing
which told of tears kept back by strong
will.
So lost was she in thought that quiet
football never reused her, and she started,
turning from the window when address
ed.
Marion, my time of probation is at an
end. / Yentured to como to you, feeling
sure that you would expect me, even
though your heart has not learned to
echo the love that fills my own"
He was not handsome man, yet no
one would have questioned the fact of his
being the product of generations of afliu-
ence and culture; then there was q look
of power about him that people never ig-
nored. 1t told you that when John
ThOrndyke ,5ilied TO do he aid, perhaps
not hOnOrably, but nevertheless, surely.
He was decidedly an hoplms De societe-
extravagant and mOrbidly fastidious in
taste, and withal delightful to women,
because they were compelled to work
hard to obtain his apparent approval
With men he followed the Scriptural in .
junction, becoming all things to them,
that he might gain them all.
Until six months previous he had new
er yielded to the gentle influence OF any
woman. They had served to amuse and
while away some leisure hours. Having
done this, their mission was accomplish
ed SO far as h ew2s concerned. Perhaps
it had been decreed in the annals of Fate
that his fall should be deferred in order
that it might prove more sure.
lie had met Miss Thornton at the house
of mutual friend, and from that hour
his doom had been sealed. She had inYi-
ted him to call, having known his sister
during her school days, and feeling a sort
of interest in him through the bond of as
ISOLATION. He had ayailed himself of her
courteous invitation in less than a week;
after that he sought her constantly.
There was a new and wonderful salts
faction in being in her presence, in lis
tening to her bright cheering words, in
watching he every movement. He had
all the world from which to choose, but
this calm, self-possessed, beautiful wO-
man rested him, and she alone.
When the summer came he followed
her to Newport, and one evening when
he CHANGED to come upon her unexpect-
ly, as she sat in the embrasure of a win
dow at the Ocean House, he told her that
old, yet ever new story, and then await
ed her answer,
In truth he never questioned what that
answer would bs-there was no doubt in
his mind. Was he not John Thorndyke,
the man who had been flattered and
schemed for, and without whom society
was deSOle.
Miss Thornton listened to his avowal
very quietly, so quietly, indeed, that it
bOded no good TO him; she may have be-
come q trifle paler-but she never had
much color-so who can say that there
wss even a shadow of change?
At last she spoke, regretfully, almost
solemnly.
''Mr. Thorndyke you have paid me the
highest compliment man can offer
woman. Believe me that l am not un-
mindful OF il, nor forgetful of the many
pleasant hours We have passed together.
Still know that 1 cannot make you hap
py, and therefore must rot become your
wife,
She rose TO go, but he detained her
with:
Il will wait-I have been too abrupt.
Give me six months in which TO hope,
then l will accept your final decision;
meanwhile grant me the benefit of the
doubt"
Out of pity, against her better judg-
ment, she had consented to his PROPOSE
tiOn.
How many women have done the same,
thus investing in treasury oJ sorrow
with an ever increasing amount of Capi-
tai.
The days and weeks of John Thorn
dykes time of waiting had written them
selves out, and he had come, as he had
said, for the word which was to bind
them by an indissoluble tie, or separate
their lives forever.
Marion had talked much with her own
heart; she had viewed the matter from
every possible standpoint. There was
no one she cared for, and she felt the
need of strong, honest love to rest up
on At fiYe-And-tweuty life does nOT
seem the same As at sixteen. So she had
decided to give herself to this mans faith,
and TO meet his wants with truth and
constancy-mOre she could not promise.
Now that the moment had arrived in
which she must act, the whole strength
Of her nature rose up in rebellion, yet
she was brave woman, and she did not
Swerye from her resolve.
He stood before her, waiting this time
not sure but patient. Nearer and nearer
she came, until she felt his breath upon
her cheek; then lifting her head and hold
ing out both hands to him, she said:
''Mr. Thorndyke, l cannot give all that
you have asked. l do not love you as
once imagined Imust love the man that
should marry but il is a pleasure for me
to be with you, we have much in COM
mon, and if you can be satisfied with such
regard as l give, though it is not all that
you deserve, why, Will be your wife.
A shadow, so faint, so swift in passing
as to be almost imperceptible, darkened
the listeners face; but he cl2sped the
hands closely in his own, then drew the
beautiful head down until iUrested on his
shoulder, saying:
Marion, l will take the hand now, and
wait for the heart
\ month later, they were married very
quietly, without display or flourish of
trumpets. After the ceremony, a few