The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-24
From the Haddonield Asteroidl
Her Promise and His Vow.
BY Lillian LESTRANGE.

twas proud, happy day for Marion
Altemus when Aleck Prescott declared
his love for her; not that it was new
thing for Marion to have lover, for |
doubt if there was any girl in the viii
lage who had more admirers than Miss
Altemus.
AleCk was handsome fellow Of
about twenty-five, and when one Of
Marion's friends introduced her to him
that eventful summer, he mentally
thought he had never seen more
beautiful girl. And, truth to tell,
Marion Altemus was pretty. Her worst
enemy, if the girl had one, must have
acknowledged that. The golden hair
fixed in dainty braids and Curls on the
small head, dark violet eyes that could
look so bewitChingly into yours when
they chose, a small, delicate figure, yet
withal very dignilied one. This was
Marion Altemus, who, although an or
phan, would never feel the need of a
mothers care with such an aunt as
Miss Linton to watch over her. Marion
and Miss Linton both lived in the large
stone house on the hill which was still
called "the squire's house." though the
master fit had been dead nearly twenty
years. His gentle wife soon followed
him to the grave, but before doing so
placed little Marian, then a bright,
pretty child of two years in her sisters
care, charge which Mary Linton
faithfully kept, so faithfully that people
said Miss Marion was really spoiled;
but, spoiled or not, she was a general
fayOrite with all who knew her, es-
pecially the male sex, and they were all
little jealous when she allowed Aleck
Prescott to pay her such marked atten-
tions. One more than any | am afraid,
for Felix Darcy had proposed a month
before and been refused by her. Some
thing which upset his pride wonder
fully and maybe did him little good,
for the next time he met Marion he
was certainly more respectful to her.
Well, Aleck was a lucky fellow the
people said, all except Felix, in whose
heart growing hate for his good-look
ing rival came, that grew stronger and
took flrmer hold every day, although he
pretended to be Alexis warmest friend.
But now something had happened
that made pretty Marion shudder to
think of. She was riding home from
Mrs. Greyson's party when she heard a
voice that was dearer to her than all
others, in loud dispute. She leaned for
ward and told the COaChman to drive
slower, it was such lovely night that
she was in no hurry to get home. The
man obeyed, and Marion put her
frightened head out OF the carriage
window and looked at the two men,
one steadying the other, who was evil
IDENTIFY intoxicated. The sober one was
Felix Darcy, the other-Good Heavens,
not Aleck Prescott? As the siCkening
truth forced itself upon Marion, she
leaned back on the cushions almost
fainting, though Felix's loud, coarse
words "Come, Prescott, don't be such Il
fool, hurry and get home. Suppose
your angelic Marion was to see you in
such a plight, what would you do?"
did not escape her sensitive ear. Then
they came to their boarding house and
both went in.
Poor little Marion, who had never
known care. 1t was hard to love an
idol and find it clay.
Marion did not often return home
from parties alone, but Aleck had told
her he had some urgent business to at
tend to and would not be able to see her
home. So she had refused all the many
offers, preferring to be by herself to-
night. She needed no company, and
was only happy in the thought that
Aleck loved her
But now all was changed. She was
angry that she had not found out his
fault before. OF course she would never
marry him now. Her revcrie was in-
terrupted by the coachman opening the
carriage door and saying respectfully,
"You are home, Miss Marion" She
recalled her scattered senses like one In
dream. She went hurricdly by the
cosy sitting room, where Miss Linton
always waited up for her and where
Marion was won't to come In and re-
hearse all the evenings proceedings,
into her own room and threw herself on
the bed, giving vent to hard, dry sObs.
But she was not left to her own rcllcc-
tions long, for Miss Linton had followed
her and coming in now found the small
figure on the bed, her face buried In
her hands.
"Why, Marion, my child, what Is
the matterY' she questioned In SUR
prise.
Marion turned her tear-stained face
the kind, gentle one bending over
her. Here was help indeed, for she al
ways went to Miss Linton with every
trouble. SO leaning her golden head
in her aunt's lap, she told her the whole
disgraceful story,
Miss Linton listened with a white,