Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-19
THE DRlFT-NO0D FIRE.
lIarpors Weekly

III NILS our laSl utSllt ~ lllN hCANlt
House. and those OF Us that were LEFT
had clustered round the fire that had
been laid on the hearth Of the great
hall, where all summer we had been
wont to 40 our incorporating and our
dancing.
We were none of very gay; indeed,
We were some Of lis very sad, We were
lust about to separate, and summer WAS
oyer II was II Wild autumn storm out
side md there was not another house
within half dozen miles of this lone
some hosiery. hat, more than all il
was two days and night since we
had seen or heard If Raymondc. whose
roval foreign name only bespoke royal
foreign nature; for how such trop-
zeal soul came out OF our commonplace
temperate existence and civilization
was not to be explained lie was won
derfully charming in his appearance,
dark and pale, With glowing eyes as
dark as eyes dare he, and dark locks
falling ever vide. low, white brow.
As YOU looked up ut his face, You were
reminded of something of the princes
ia the halls of Eblis before their hearts
took tire, SO gentle Il melancholy was
stamped there. Vet ii was not easy to
understand this melancholy; he seemed
to have almost everything in his life
that made others people glad and gay,
He WAS rich, and had no sordid cares;
he WAS SO manly that women adorcd
hlm, and So gentle that men loved
him: he had such marvellous powers
that hecould acquit himself Well in nj
most every one of the artS-could
paint. could model. could harmonize;
and he had such discretion that he
contented himself with swallow flights,
and sketched on broad canva>Ses,
planned no great symphonies. He
liked his gun better than any of his
plavthingS, and really seemed 10 be \
little proud Of being able to toss Il pen
knife in the mir, and split bullet ON its
descending blade and Of nothing else.
He had been Mt the Beech since June.
and had unconsciouSly led MI hearts
captive, although he cared for nothing
less. We were little interested TO
see how lie would strike Marion NIcr-
ecr when she arrived, with her mother
and aunt, and the maids, and the bird,
and the dogs, without which Mrs.
Mercer never travelled. Apparently
lac stuck her no more than If he had
been the shadow of somebody else.
She never had any color. and 50 none
f0Se to her cheek, and no fresh light
came t. her eyes, aS-Nhen hailed and
saluted ON the piazza, ms She came in,
BY Sallie Worthen-Mr. Raymonde,
standing near, WAS presented by Sallie
with the air of treasure trove; and Miss
Mercer bowed in her slow, graceful
way, and passed on, while Mr. Ray
monde lifted his hat rs inditlerently.
We wondered little that Marion did
not give - extraordinary person, rs
we had come to consider him, j sec
ond glance, and nj Mr.. Raymonde's
languld careleSsncsS rs well I'm the pres
ence Of Marion, who had never known
anything but conquest; but perhaps
we were Just rs wei content, although,
for my part nothing of the sort made
amy difference to me--a sick old maid,
on The outside of all such matters But
sometimes the lockers on III Vienna
have a better time than the players in
the pageant: ana realized il one even
ing. after week had gone by in
which 10 one saw Raymonde looking
over Marion's sketching book, OF ask
ing her to dance, or exchanging 4 sin
Gle glance With her, or Marion'S eye
once flashing in his direction had
taken a longer walk ON the lonely
beach than | had intended, and, quite
tired with hurrying, bad stopped to
rest, on my way back, in the shadow
Of the cliff, and | think | must have
fallen asleep a few moments; for all 1t
once | started, shiyering, to think what
had happened, and finding that il was
quite dark, and to hear Il yoice-a
voice that ! knew ut once was Ray
Notwithstanding, Marion, how
long do you think can endure this2r
4 don't know what you mean, sir, :"
was the cold reply.
Aha, Miss Marion Mercer thought
| NOW | know why it is that none Of
these suitors suit. And you and Mr.
Ravmonde such strangers too"
Marion he exclaimed again, in a
tone that would have rent her heart if
she had any, thought
BE So good rs to let me pass she
said very low and distinctly.
No, he returned, not till know Of
what it is that You hold me guilty, why
ms letters have been returned, I'M
opened ana my name refused at your
door
You wish to know" she cried ont,
a. II repression suddenly ceased and
the food gates were opened You
to address me so-vou. whose wife
had promised 70 be, whom adored.
who forsook me for dancing girl. and
loft me- desolate!'
There was one moments silence.
md you believed this III gasped.
i suppose il was the dancing girl who
stood to me for my picture Of the
Amee-that innocent little thing, the
support IL mother and sisters Since
vou could believe that, he said la q
voice shaking with suppressed pas
SION, Nill not ask YOU to believe the
truth. that ,ketching IN the Mar
emma, | was seized with fever, and
nursed back tolfe ~ tie peasants liv-
ing II tomb. and came to MY reason
only toiind that YOU and all yours had
r. Il ~ \