Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-13
GIANT HEART NE'ER WON FAIR
LADY,"

WISH W IICIOuuCS NY TcS1ucTS 10 MISS
Marion Laurie, born in New Jersey, but
had been born among the Grampians.
Indeed, her forefathers may have been
the Indigenous growth of that locality,
for Deacon David Laurie :'allowed'' they
were there when King Fergus pre-
empted the Cairngorm tracts-a cir
cumstance touching prehistoric times.
David Laurie, however, seldom per-
mitted himself to speak of such unprac-
teal matters; those blue hills belonged
to his childhood and youth, states which
he had nearly forgotten, the more so as
the bonnie lassie he wooed and won
long dead, and there now remained no
visible link between the shadowy past
and the intensely real present.
Excepting and make the exception
with all respect-Miss Janet Monteith,
a far-awa' cousins of Mrs. Laurie's,
who had filled the dubious position of
maid and companion to that lady, and
after her death somewhat similar one
to her two daughters, Julia and Marion.
But whatever her position, she had dis
charged its duties with an unselfish de-
votion that would have dignifed the
Auh1O1CoC oClNlCCs lluCS c1uCU Ildu
grumbled somewhat through her twenty
years. care, but grumbling with her was
merely habit, without necessary causes
or consequences.
And she had always had two stock
subjects for grumbling about. First, the
flat country: it was constant irritation
to her; and if Janet had possessed the
faith that could move mountains, doubt
less the Grampians would now be in
New Jersey. Second, the still, stealthy
river had it been a river of any sensi-
bility, it would have risen against the
comparisons she was always making
between its sullen-looking waters and
the whipping, rafting, clear-running
streams of Scotland.
But the river did its business--that is,
it run the great cotton and silk mills of
David Laurie in an admirably consist
ent, regular manner; and David was
not ungrateful; he had always a word of
apology for his aid. 1t will not make
picture, Janet,'' he would say; "but
then it's just like yourself, woman-bet-
ter than it's bonnie.'' Yet Janet, in her
white lace cap and neckerchief, was no
uncomely picture, for instinctively she
knew that age surrounds itself with a
kind of youth in garments that are al
ways sweet and fresh. So, though she
was contrast, she was not an unpleas-
ant one, to the lovely girl cuddling
among the crimson damask cushions in
the same room with her.
This girl is Marion Laurie. I have
been prosy about my introduction, but a
beauty, like queen, requires some
ceremony. Now you may look at her
.dimpled face, oval in shape, pink and
sweet as a rose just bloomed. There is
in it something fairly luminous; say it is
the glory of her eyes-large blue eyes
bright and clear as heaven; or say it is
the glory of her .hair-pale golden
brown hair-ike the aureole of saint.
No one would care particularly to an
alyze any creature so exquisite; it would
be like pulling a flower to pieces to find
out where the perfume dwelt.
But as she lies with her small hands
crossed above her head, and her small
feet crossed just outside the ruffles of
her robe, one can not help wondering
what she is dreaming about, or what
ripple of song or murmur of sweet
words will first part the rosy, smiling
lips. She has been still for full ten
minutes. Janet wonders, but respects
the mood; for it is a little crisis in Ma
rion's life, and for the first time she has
full liberty given her to decide upon her
own movements. She may spend the
winter in New York with her married
sister Julia, or she may stay in New Jer-
sey, and gather around her such pleas
ures and company as the rather lonely
locality admits of.
Ten minutes is not long to canvass
both sides of such a question, but Ma
rion's rapid mind managed it quite to
her own satisfaction in that time.
"Janet," she said, decidedly, sitting
upright in order to clasp her knees COM
fortably,. 81 am going to New York !;
that is clear"
81 would ask your reasons, Miss Ma
rion, if / thought you had any,
f"Oh, reasons are plenty as black
berries, Janet. First, l want to go; Sec
ond, want to go; third, Iwant to go !;
and"
i s You medina specify further, Miss
Marion. / ken weel that Il want to- is
reason enough for YOU"
r n nd Il o,-I< 70 ,r>y,