The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-06-09
THE MARKED CHEEK.
BY ROsH HURST.
seIs this Mr.. Rushton's?,,

BY RosH HURST.
S'Is this Mr.. Rushton's?'
1t was a 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
MIR. RushtOn's only daughter Fanny
herself.
"What a pretty little soulP' he
thought.
Then, as she turned her head, he won
dered for moment whether somebody
had just slapped her on the left cheek
there was such q singular mark there
exactly like the scarlet print of palm
and four fingers.
But that mark had been there al
Fanny RushtOn's life, and it was her one
grief, her perpetual torment. She had
grown morbid about it in these early days
of womanhoed. But there were no COS
metics and no arts of surgery that could
remove it. There the red mark must be
as longas she breathed, its hateful scarlet
attracting the first glance of every
stranger.
Mr., Rushton at homer said Luke
Robbins with a bow.
Yes" said Fanny.
Then She ushered .ALE Robbins into
the parlor, and went away; and in few
moments the mill owner sauntered in.
1t was business call The business was
easily completed, and then Luke Robbins
rose to depart.
''The hotel is long way off, and I
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" kA
Thanks, said Luke Robbins. You
are very kind" AZ.sEz
Then he thought of the pretty face
with the red mark on the cheek
Despite this mark, he wanted to see it
again. 6JuI EG Ills &e
1t sat opposite to him at supper time.
The best and kindest face in the
world, " he said to himself dozen times.
And he did hissbestto win alittle chat
from the shy girl, who could not forget
her tornfenting mark until they sat In
the twihghtso on the piazza afterward.
Mrs Rtslft0h had a call from some
neighbor, and 50 tapart eonyersing.A Mr..
EushtOn. aftef9niany ailniable attempts
HSltCD.
Through the evening shadows Luke saw
the girls tlnely-eut profile. and exquis-
ltely-sh2Bed lead and the moon turned
aii 10 9, bfa9cS D and White soon, and blotted
out tbezred mark. ISL 4..l isa1 % l-
go - sszsrffaz 3 So as- 2 ssii b. fnsbHz.
And hesataslclose TO her as he dared,
and her sweet voice charmed him. and
he fell in love, as7nAenf do, for an. .El1our,
Ioor little Fanny gave away her heart
that night = in one whole pieeesI5It is
always beststO keep a.4ittle piece ..oif one
eanit but sometimes thatis impossible.
Oh, what a Observation-Disclosures said
Fanny as she stood on the porch with
her mother after the gentleman had re-
tired & TsucR4 fine breeze and md such such I. a
ITS quite damp. We'd better retire:
] wonder whether your pa vail be suited
with ate-morrow's breakfast. He does
ask visitors so unexpectedly, returned
Mrs. Rushton. .hz-e
Married fortysand single twenty take
different views Of lifesometimes Fanny
went to bed TO dream of Paradise; and
the next day was all happy in memory of
a parting pressure of the hand, and a
whispered hope that they might often
1,ooett aoa5r r,aa tisgs ~ AL So
asH 8 . d.
g What a pity that mark is, thought
Young Rob bbins.' - q She's a darling little
thing; and IisupposeT that Rushton is a
'try rich man, H a young man might do
worse than be his son-in-law. ~ e IA.a
Then,as the trainFwhirled shim away,
lie aaid to hilpselfS lsG z uEl3lt@
What pity that mark is
Nevertheless, very often after that he
was with Fanny great deal a.
Fanny mother felt that though this
oTwas4n0t trich; he was eligible, and
she knew that that red mark was a dis
advantage t6 her Fanny. a-er
lie certainly means something, said
mamma. .ffa-iaaa5 50 = 1901 . sf
And they could always live with us"
sid papa; e we need never part from
our only one.
Our eyes grow used to everything after
awhile luke Robbins forgot that there
.v9s'any mare on lEai1nyis faae, unless
something particularly called his atten-
ton to it. lie loved her very, much at
times, though there were long hours in
which he meyer remembered her exist
encego Twice a week, at least, Luke
thought enough of Fanny to buy her a
bouquet, or some music, and to spend
stwo hours on a dusty railroad for the
sake of seeing her. He felt her love for
hia an 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 twas not old Mr.. Rush
TOMS money that made him decide to
otter himself to her, despite the red mark.
fMss, the next time he went hewould ask
Fanny 10 ohave him FOR better Or worse.
And he knew that she would say
Yes"
There are evil moments in every ones
life-moments that change ones DESTINY
for the worst III e6ks4
- If only it had rained one morning; if
oillgo Fanny, had fallen i'll; If only she
iE2d not undertaken that trip to the city
Just when she did this would be differ
-enf st0FyaasaA hsa4ang sals sfa
2 she usedsto be Shy Of going into the
crowded. streets alone, and, even withlher
mother wore and felt I'M
Comfortable when any one looked al her.
sf AT ghA
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