The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-09-06
THE MARKED CHEEK.
By ROSE HURST.
q tnis Mr. Rushton'sT"

1t was handsome young man who
asked this question And the girl who
had opened the door for him, In that
pretty country place where the richest
people were not very fashionable, was
Mr.. Rushton's only daughter Fanny
herself wAl g.
"What pretty little SOUL" he
thought. a4a ffk
Then, as she turned her head, he won
dered for moment whether somebody
had just slapped her on the left cheek,
there was such singular mark there,
exactly like the scarlet print Of palm
and four fingers
But that mark had been there all
Fanny Rushton's life, and it was her one
grief, her perpetual torment. She had
grown morbid about il in these early days
of womanhood. But there were no cos
metics and no arts of surgery that could
remove it. There the red mark must be
as long as she breathed its hateful scarlet
attracting the first glance of every
stranger.
"Mr Rushton at homer said Luke
Robbins with bow.
EYES," said Fanny.
Then she ushered Mr.. Robbins into
the parlor, and went away; and in a few
moments the mill owner sauntered in.
1t was a business call. The business was
easily completed, and then Luke Robbins
rose to depart.
"The hotel is long way off, and /
should be pleased to have you stay over
night with us, said the old gentleman.
There are one or two spare bedrooms,
and supper will be ready in fifteen min
utes. Let us have the pleasure of your
company" .5s-s-...
= Thanks" said Luke Robbins. g You
are very kind" l.sft 8 &
Then he thought of the pretty face
with the red mark on the cheek.
Despite this mark, he wanted to see it
again. gA
Itsat opposite to him at supper time.
"The best and kindest face in the
world" he said to himself dozen times.
And he did his best to win little chat
from the shy girl, who could not forget
her tormenting mark until they sat in
:. the twilight on the piazza afterward.
Mrs Rushton had a call from, some
neighbor, and sat apart conversing. Mr..
Rushton, after many aimiable attempts
to rouse himself, went soundly asleep.
Through the evening shadows Luke saw
the girls tinely-cut profile and exquis-
itely-shaped head; and the moon turned
all to black and white soon, and blotted
out the red mark. .,.....
And he sat as close to her as he dared,
and her sweet voice charmed him, and
he fell in love, as men do, for an hour.
Poor little Fanny gave away her heart
hat WI n1a -
always best to keep little piece, if one
can; but sometimes that is impossible.
ooh, what beautiful nightw said
- Fanny, as she stood on the porch with
her mother after the gentleman had re-
tired. "Such fine breeze, and such a
bright moon"
It's quite damp. We'd better retire
l wonder whether your pa will be suited
with to-morrow's breakfast He does
ask visitors so unexpectedly" returned
Mrs. Rushton.
Married forty and single twenty take
different views of life sometimes Fanny
went to bed to dream of Paradise; and
the next day was all happy in memory of
parting pressure of the hand, and a
whispered hope that they might often
meet again.
What a pity that mark is" thought
young Robbins She's darling little
thing and l. suppose that Rushton is a
very rich man. A young man might do
worse than be his son-in-law."
Then as the train whirled him away,
he said to himself; =
What pity that mark is"
Nevertheless, very often after that he
was with Fanny great deal.
Fanny's mother felt that though this
sutton was not rich, he was ELIGIBLE, and
she knew that that red mark was a dis
advantage to her Fanny.
He certainly means something" said
mamma
And they could always live with us"
said papa; I'VE need never part from
our only one"
Our eyes grow used to everything after
awhile. Luke Robbins forgot that there
was any mark on Fanny's face. unless
something particularly called his atten-
ton to it. He loved her very much at
times, though there were long hours in
which ne never remembered her exist
ence. Twice a week, at least, Luke
thought enough of Fanny to buy her a
bouquet, or some music, and to spend
two hours on dusty railroad for the
sake of seeing her He felt her love for
him in her very finger tips; he saw it in
her eyes; he heard it in her voice. He
was man who is happy in being be-
loved. And it was not old Mn Rush
tons money that made him decide To
offer himself to her, despite the red mark.
Yes, the next time he went he would ask
Fanny to have him for better or worse.
And he knew that she would saw
Eyes"
There are evil moments in eyery ones
hfe-moments that change ones DESTINY
for the worst.
If only it had rained one morning; II
only Fanny had fallen ill; if only She
had not undertaken that trip to the citv
just when she did, this would be differ
ent story.
She used to be shy of going into the
crowded streets alone, and, even with her
mother, wore thick vail and felt un-
comfortable when any one looked at her.