Morris tribune., 1880-08-05
WINIERED,s ELOTsAM

twenty, was still bachelor and heart
whole. Until this summer he had never
been rich enough to support wife; it
was almost more than he could do to
take care of himself, 30 he did not feel
justified in paying attentions to any lady
seriously.
Although he was industrious and tai
ented, clients were few and far between
were almost unknown to the deserving
young lawyer, until he did not so sorely
need them. One week-such IS the per-
versity of fate-atter he got news that an
uncle had died and left him his sole heir,
and found that he was sure Of an income
of nearly two thousand a year, then the
world suddenly realized that young Aver
Ill was very promising lawyer.
Having good income and prospects
of plenty Of renumerative work, Guy
Averlll began to think seriously OF
matrimony, and rather eagerly accepted
an invitation to accompany his chum,
Cassius Barclay, to the little town OF
New Myrtle, where said chum's fnacee
lived.
For this fnace, Helen Tremaine, had
two sisters, and Mrs. Averill agreed with
Casslus Barclay that there were not three
such girls in the world as the three Ire
maines. Mrs. Averill had met them one
winter in Washington and afterwards
had spent six weeks at their house
hence Guys invitation, though he had
never seen one of the family.
He knew them all by description. Hell
en- was not pretty, but was domestic, ac-
eomplished and very charming the next
one, Wlnitred, was great rider, swim
mer, skater, archer-in fact, lawfully
fast,'' though magnifcently beautiful; SO
Guy felt strong presentiment that
while he would like Helen, and tolerate
Winifred for her sake, he would be very
sure to fall captive to the charm OF nine
teen-year-old Marcia, the gentle, fair,
lovable girl whose picture he had ad.
mired so much.
When he first saw Marcia he was lit
tie disappointed; her picture fiattered
her; but he soon forgot that in contem-
plation of her graceful figure, her gentle
voice and her quiet womanly ways. He
loved to see a woman all womanly,
thought needle and not a pen should
be her tool, believed that the freslde
was woman's sphere, and so on; all OF
which conditions Marcia filed.
"Your sister rides beautifully" ex.
claimed Guy, few hours after his arri.
val at Mrs. Tremaine's.
eyes, she should; she spends hours on
her horse" replied Marcia, sweetly.
"Do you ride3''
"Not much. / don't care for such
such violent exercise. In fact, I don't
have much time for it, have good deal
of sewing to do, and" Marcia hesitated
and shook out her work rather ostenta-
tiously.
II didn't know you had any little
folks In the house." said Guy, his atten.
ton thus drawn to the small apron in her
hand.
"Oh, we haven't. This is for some of
our poor Sunday school children. When
! am at loss for employment / always
know where to turn, in a manufacturing
town like this there is 80 much suffering,
you know
"Do your sisters aid you9''
"Helen can't, her trousseau keeps her
busy now; and Winitred-well, I'd laugh
to see her doing such work."
''As what2" asked Winitred, who had
just entered.
"Sowing or embroidering," answered
Marcia, not quite truthfully; but Guy,
not knowing the difference between en-
broldery and plain sewing, was none the
wiser.
"What is absurdly known as fancy
work / utterly abominate; 1t seems to
me great waste of time to pass hours
and hours in making hideous tides and
mats, or high art curtains cut of ticking
and such stuff"
"Don't you ever sewP''
"Not if I can avoid it; certainly not for
amusement"
''Not for the poor!"
"The poor9'
Eyes, as Miss Marcia does"
"O-hi No, don't work for the poor
-as Marcia does, was Winifred's con-
temptuous reply.
And Guy was disgusted. How was he
to know that the little apron in Marcia 8
hands would never have been thought
of il Guy Averill (whose mother had
written of his great love for womanly
women) had not been there to see and
hear it9
But though he was disgusted with this
athletic young woman's sentiments he
was by no means so with her. Her dark
blue riding habit showed her supple form
to perfection, her soft brown hair was
ruffied by the wind, and her cheeks glow
ed with health and vigor, and she was a
great contrast to her pale housekeeping
sister.
And as the days passed, Guy was COM
PEELED to change his first opinion of the
sisters. Winlfred's health, spirits and
temper seemed to be perfect. Marcia, on
the other hand. sometimes forgot her
would-be gentleness, and ,owed snap
pish petulance that amazed Guy.
s'What helpful, CHEEKY woman she
would bel'' meditated Guy, but not of
Marcia. mo headaches, no sulks, no