The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-07-11

Mr. clarence Arlington is staying here. He
is the son of an old friend of my father.
have been plaguing him about you, and have
told him he mustn't loose his heart.
| Nothing more was said on the subject
but at the breakfast table Marion was intro.
duced to Mr.. Clarence Arlington by Clara
who simply said, while rogush twinkle
beamed in her eyes: This is my dear friend
Mr.. Arlington, Miss Orme'
| "Mr Arlington was to leave few DAYS af.
ter Marions arrival, but on one pretext OF
another he prolonged his stay. To do Mari
ON justice, it can be said that she did not
court his attentions; but they were rendered
SO gracefully, and with such an air of polite
Difference, that she thought no possible harm
of receiving them"
| "The end of Marions visit was drawing
nigh, and she casually told Mr.. Arlington so
| That very day, as she was sitting in the libra.
ry alone, Mr.. Arlington entered and-as was
the custom in those days-threw himself
upon his knees and declared his love fol
| her.
| "'You forget YOURSELF said Marion, rising
knowing in her heart that she had gone toe
far, how dare you address such words to u
married woman
| married and he started back rs if Mari
| on had struck him blow. Yes, sir, married,
and she looked defiantly at him.
MIR Arlington stood as one bcrcft of his
| senses, passing his hand over his face, rs il
recalling some lost thought, said so fair and
yet 50 cruel; It's better as it is; she can have
| no heart
"Mr. Arlington, said Marion, if by any
action of mine have led you to suppose that
| | could regard you other than a friend, am
very sorry
"Sorry = he rctortcd, with Il bitter laugh
| it bleeds, and then you say you're sorryp
"I am sure faltcred Marion, 1T is through
| no fault of mine that you have been led into
| this mistake"
"I accuse you ofnothing,' he rejoined lin
| all probability / was too presumptious for
| that ask your forgiveness, and that you may
| never suffer, as / suffer now, is my most earn
| est prayer So saying, he gave Marion a
look ofmingled agony and reproach and strobe
| from the ROOM"
Wiping her eyes, with suppressed sobmy
grandmother continued:
Full of remorse, and with strange fore
| holdings of evil, Marion retired to her room
there to torture herself with the thought OF
having been guilty of all manner of crimes
| Had she given Mr.. Arlington any encourage
mentg Encouragement meant unfaithfulness
| to her husband, and unfaithfulness meant
What? The idea was too terrible, and in a
| flood of tears she threw herself upon the bed
| in the vain hope to obtain some relief for her
| aching head and heart"
"Heaven help hcrr | calculated most fer
vently.
"How long she lay there she never knew,
but she was suddenly aroused by the sharp
report of pistol that resounded through the
house. fastening TO the door she saw the
whole household in c0mmOtiOn and all with
| blanched and scared looks 'What-what is
| the NATTER? she asked, but received no
| answer; so, following with the Others, she
| came to the room occupied by Mr. Arlington
There upon the floor he lay with pistol bul-
let through his brain, and on his breast was
pinned paper on which were these words
| "A woman's work."
My grandmothers tears were falling fast
now, and she made no effort to restrain them
! was also crying. Going to her, knelt be-
| side her, and kissing her, endeavorcd to soothe
and comfort her. Smoothing my hair, my
grandmother said
"IIcaycn keep you from such an experience
my child"
"Amen" | said reverently
When we became somewhat more compos-
cd, l, still kneeling at my grandmother's feet
| looked up into her face and asked:
"And what became ofMarion Ormc, grand
ma? Is she still liying?"
"Shc is"
| "lIave seen her"
"You have"
| A sudden light broke in upon me, and
blurted out before had time to think: care
you not Marion Orme?"
| My grandmother nodded.
| The following summer my husband made
another trip to Europe; accompanied him
| Upon the dock at Jersey City to sec us of and
wish us god-speed, was Mr. Arthur Chesney
and hanging fondly upon his arm was his new
ly-madc wife, my darling sister Alice.