The Russellville Democrat., 1880-12-23

Ou WlSh to knOWi she erred out, as if repression suddenly ceased, and the flood gates were opened. You dare to address me so--you, whose wife I had promised to be, whom adored, who forsook me for a dancing girl, and left me desolatew
 There was one moments silence.
 And you believed this" he easped. T suppose it was the dancing girl who stood to me for my picture of the Aimee that innocent little thing, the support of mother and sisters. Since you could believe that" he said in voice shaking with suppressed passion, T will not ask you to believe the truth, that sketching in the Maremma, was seized with fever, and nursed back to life by the peasants living in tomb, and came to my reason to find that you and all of yours had left Rome--had left it with insult and oblo- quy to me. As for the dancing girl-my Godl is it possible? You believe that of me! l ask nothing more of you" And l heard his steps ringing on the shingle; and then Marion had sunk down where she was, in storm of uncomfortable sobs, from knowledge of which 1 crept away like contemptible eavesdroppcr, for those sobs said more than either she or Raymonde had. But if had stirred before it would only have increased the trouble after all
 It was the night for the band to play; but l did not see Marion that evening among all the gay couples, till just before eleven o'clock she was visible, leaning against an open window way, in her creamy crape, and her shawl of red Ma deira lace like q crimson cobweb round ha, L,,, rl, ,F tears or of any emotion on her proud and lovely face, as she listened rather dream fly to the music, took one turn down. the room with Mir. Manson, and going up the stairs. in her slow, calm way of doing ing in wild and wet from the sea. 1 kept my own council, and rather pleased my self with the idea of being the single spec tator of the spectacle.
 It was q day or two before Mr. Ray monde appeared upon the scene-delving at his sketches in his own rooms, they said--and then as naturally as ever he sauntered down among the bathers, and took his dip, and frolicked with the children as usual Water did not make him look as it does some people; the more he was wet the closer curled the dark rings of his hair, that had only a long wave in it when dry, and the rich color lighted his cheek, that was always so pale on shore. Marion, too, was one of those women that are not ruined by sea bathing; she came down to the brink completely wrapped in her long, thick white cloak, which one of the Mercer maids became useful for once by taking, and the moment that she was in the wa ter the waves all seemed to flow down from her shoulders like folds of a gar ment about her, and as she swan away she was more like g Nereid than a board- CT at the Beach house. But suppose even a Nereid might have had cramp, or a shark or other sea monster seize her beautiful foot, or something of the sort; for one morning. as 1 sat on rock sketch ing the bathing scene, there was cry from Sallie and Charlotte and the rest, but none at all from Marion, who had thrown up her arms and gone under. Arthur Santley was swimming to the spot directly, followed by young May bank, and almost before one knew 1t a boat was putting out from shore, when Mir Raymonde, who had been playing with the children at the side of the little bathing cove, and had dived at once, now appeared swimming in. with Marion's head over his shoulder, and wading up the sands, he delivered her to tii6 howl ing maids and Mrs. Mercer, and stalked away to his dressing room.
 or course Mir Raymonde was a hero for the rest of the day, though he begged off from some of the worship by declar- ing that it was nothing to him, for hs had spent his days rescuing drowning maid ems. But Marion was not down stairs. confess 1 was little curious to know what Marion would say to him when they met, or if ghe would send for him to thank him. But my eusiosity was not likely to be gratitied, and nobody knew of her sending for him, and affer she re- appeared she probably said nothing, and they passed and repassed with the eus- toniary indifferent inclination.
 q declare" exclaimed Sallie once, as she witnessed iis ngyement, and before Raymonde was really out Of hearing, T don't believe she has ever thanked the man for saving her lifei'
 "perhaps she aoesn't thank him." said Miss Carmen. Miss Metess always gets as though life were gift not worth the taking"
 Still saw that Marion did not go into the water agajn without a shudder, and presently ceased to 20 q all, although she went down to the shore with the rest. She was standing alone at the head of the eoxc, looking out seaward, not far from my sketci..rg block, when Ray monde came down one morning, and joined her so unexpectedly that she started.
 'Perhaps Miss Garments words were true.p he said land you really do not think life gift worth thanks"
 soh no" she answered quietly, Life is very pIecioas. lipt ] do not think of thanking you for what you could not help doing. do not suppose you would let a dog drown before your eyes"
 'sYou fiatter me-" he said, and remain ed silent; and if, after moment or two, either would have said anything more, fhere was no chance for the scurrying and scanapelipg Yith which the bathers hurried up the cove, has,Ie ssGn man cater or a sea serpent, or an old log, or something of the sort riding along its outer reach. But if either had spoken, I made up my mind it would have had to lo Raymonde; the solid Armament might crack, lut since he had said that he asked notliing mote of her, nothing was bis portion, for all of Marion; She s,ia not thank him for saving her life, eaid to myself; she would rather have died than have owed it to him; and l noticed that although her manner was only shade less haughtily distant to
 ..,e vol her smile would sometimes