The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-01-30

had good ground for her assertions, and
stood upon them 50 firmly, that Spence
left her in fit of pique.
Marion watched his tall, manly form
disappear down the road. What
kingly fellow Spence was Never be-
fore did she take notice of the width of
his shoulders, or the manner in which
he carried his head, so thickly covered
with tawny, curling locks. How foolish
she was to quarrel with Spence; and
Marion's heart rose in her throat, and
her eyes filed with tears. Was ever a
hero in novel handsomer than he
and to quarrel with him for that plain,
matter-of-fact John Dutton.
Perhaps it was John Dutton's tall,
lank, misshapen form appearing upon
the lawn, that revealed Spence's fine
proportions 80 wildly to Marion. Surely
one could never make hero out of him
And to think that she had quarreled with
Spence on his account. She would never
speak to the horrid man again; and it
was not enough for Marion to think this,
but she sought Uncle James, and told it
to him with stamp of her foot and
toss of her head, and Uncle James said {:
My dear you are altogether too ro-
mantic, (which was the truth for the
old gentleman.
Marion tried her best to dislike John
Dutton, but she was interested in him
in spite of herself. There was some
thing in the mans nature that she could
not fathom ; perhaps it was this that in.
terested her so much. He looked at her
so gravely indeed, he even went so far
as to shake his head at her wilful con-
duct, and with that shake of his head,
John Dutton put his foot in it. Marion
had her own way all her life, and she
would let John Dutton see she would
not be dictated to by him. He was
throwing a spell over her that was every
day becoming harder to resist. Indeed,
she was miserable ever since he came to
her home-miserable for Spence Arnott,
whom she loved did not like John
Dutton, and was growing colder towards
him every day.
"I will not have him regard me as the
chief of sinners. will not allow him to
come between me and Spence l' cried
Marion. 81 will be as wicked as |
possibly can before him ;" and, unthink-
ingly, Maron threw her little pet dog,
which she had been fondling, from her
lap as she rose from the seat on the
porch.
The dog strsck the stone floor i'll a
manner that made him howl piteously
for minute, and in that moment John
Dutton appeared and shook his head
gravely at Marion. He spoke not 9
word, but Marion understood him, and
said
cts only dog, and any way it's
mine, and I shall do what I please witt
him."
"Only dog, Miss Marion
| "He prayeth well who loveth well,
| And things, both great and small
For the dear God who loveth us,
Hath made and loves us ALL"
Marion's eyes filed with tears. Some.
thing in the depth of his brown eyes
something in his gentle voice touched
her heart with remorse. He cast an in
fuence over her that she could not easil,
resist. Just at that moment she felt lik'
telling him that she did not mean to d.
that cowardly act, but just as she wa
about to speak Spence Arnott, who hat
been in the house unknown to her, step
ped out upon the porch. The tears wer,
still in Marion's eyes, and, as a matte
of course, she looked confused.
"Ah, I beg pardon for intruding,
said Spence, about to step back.
" You are not intruding, Mr.. Arnott
believe you have right here p sal,
John Dutton, quietly, and turning ava,
he entered the house.
"Marion, what does this mean?" erie,
Spence, an angry flush spreading to tn
roots of his hair, as be perceived Marion
agitation. .ltE Egrli5s
go Spencep' cried the impetuous gil
unable to control the tears which wer
fast rolling down her cheeks; {" don't b
angry, he is so good |"
$50 good I hate him, there /" an
Spence Arnott strobe angrily away.
Marion stood looking after Spence
She was the picture of grief and despair
and John Dutton's heart was filed wit
sorrow as he watched her from With
the window. He came to this house
meet his fate--a fate of which he no.
little dreamed. He had learned to lov
the handsome, wilful girl standing OF
there on the porch, but that look on he
face now, as she gazed after Spence Al
mott, told him, beyond doubt, where he
heart was. He had nothing to hope fol
That night John Dutton was awakene
from his sleep by some great confusio
in the house. Through his window b
saw that the sky was in blaze. Thei
was big fire somewhere in the neigl
, borhood, and in an instant he was u
t and dressed. He went down stairs, an
l the first one he met was Marion, in bon
net and cloak, crying and wringing h,
' hands.
{ "Oh, Mr. Dutton, will you take N
r there? The Arnott mansion is in fame
8 caught fire while the inmates were a
Q sleeping. must find out whether ever
Q one has escaped"
John Dutton drew the little han
/ within his arm, and hurried ont into I'll