The Republican journal., 1881-10-20

ed" The man, whether lord or vassal
of creation, was her slave forevermore,
bought with glance and fettercd by the
touch OF little hand that fell like white
rose petal into his own great brown palm.
What an amazing evening it was to
John Monteith The dinner table was
spread in fairy land the meat and wine
had the flavor of paradise. And Marion's
singing of the little plaintive Scotch airs
her father loved There are no words
to describe its influence over him. Does
any one wonder that three -tourths of the
human race have always worshipped
some woman? ? 1t is the instinct OF men to
dciy the soul that aWakenS their own.
And truly John Monteith entered into
4 new and larger life at Marion's first
word Hitherto, to weave the finest goods
at the least possible cost, to ecOnOmiZe
labor and material, and to amass money
had seemed to him ends sufficient to
! Justify life. But now, even in the first
tumult Of his awakening. there arose be-
fore him the question: What shall a man
do to be worthy Of such a pearl Of wo-
| manhood
1t was later than usual when Marion
went 10 her room that night She had
her check in her hand, but her face wore
an unusual shadow of perpleXity and
doubt Janet, sitting by the treside,
slipping her glass Of mulled claret noticed
at one. the new expression. "You are
late, child" She said, looking admirably
at the lovely figure, with its daintily gal
| tered foot upon the fender
"Am | ? Papa kept me singing"
''What doyou think OF John Monteth ,"
''Oh, he is nice
"'Nice,' Marion The adjective is
Very improper one applied to men"
''Is it, Janet / did not know. Choose
| one Yourself.
"Entertaning ,"
mo, lie is not entertaining He lis
tens, and lets YOU talk. After all, don't
| know but what that is entertaining"
"llamdsome? 2
1T would be a sin to say no Yes
Janet, your nephew is handsome. don't
mind admitting the truth. even on point
Of beauty Is he going to stop here ,"
He is going into the mills with your
father"
"Where is he going to live Z"
'lle will board at Mr.. Bogarts, hear
"What a tight Minnie and her cousin
can have over him | should think he
would be a man girls would quarrel
about. have half d mind to stay in Jer-
sey, and act as umpire. While we are
away, Janet, why can't he live with papa
| should think they would he good com
pany for each other"
"Suppose YOU suggest it -
II will. | don't like our folks boarding
round. Besides, | have no doubt that he
will De all the better of your keeping him
| i'll sight. Men are lost quantities unless
they are tied to some womans apron
strings
"Nou are quite certain about going to
New York r
''Oh, yes: but we need not hurry for
a few days shall let Julia get the fur
naces into working order and the chill
drens clothes made She is ALWAYS tussv
at the beginning of the season, and very
few nice people are at home vet"
But Marions few days heightened out
into u few weeks, Mr. Laurie was begin
ming to talk ot his own holiday trip to
Julia's before she again seriously c0nSid-
cred the subject. But somehow the quiet
routine Of the house had been wonder
fully frightened by John Montcith's pres
ence at the breakfast and dinner table,
while in the long tre-lit evenings there
was always deep rich baritone minging
with the sweet soprano in the wild, weird,
tender ballads that lulled Old David Lau-
rle into drcam-laud.
Was Marion il love? Who could tell
Girls have blushed and smiled, and sung
tcnderly. and glanced sWeetIy, and dress
ed ravishingly, before now and men
have read all these signs by lights Of
their own, and been miserably deceived.
1t She let her hand linger in Johns clasp,
and dropped her white cyelids over rosy
cheeks beneath his loving gaze, could he
trust that it was for love Of him If She
wore the flowers he brought, and sang
the songs he liked, burst he risk his fate
on such evidences. Nh it is often the
bitterest part Of loves lesson that it knows
not what it may ask, fears where it ought
to hope, and hopes where it ought to fear
Two days before Christmas the halls
We're Uttered with trunks and travelling
wraps, and John Alonteith with sorrow
tul face was walking up and down among
them: Yet it frightened, almost painful
ly, as little figure in cashmere and fur
came slowly down the broad stairs. Ma
rlon was going away; would she ever
come back for him again Tie had not
faith to ask the question; and though
she was in a fearful, tender mood, all the
more reason, he thought to refrain from
pressing his own claims at such time.
He sits beside her in the double sleigh
which carries them to the railway depot
Mr.. Laurie is driving, and the servant be-
side him keeps him in busy conversation
about the greenhouses For ten minutes
Jol,n hos Narip1, III +N Ia
the furs carefully around her, draws her
to his side, bat strange silence falls on
both of them, and not until they are part
ING does he find words to say, Miss Lau-
rie-Maron will you try and remember
me?' There was no word in reply. only
a clasp of the hand, and IA bright look OF
sympathy, yet somehow John took it for
a promise.
Hitherto Marion had seen nothing of
society; she was now to enter a new
world. She came to it as a queen pre-
ordained to conquest. The men followed
her footsteps, the women initiated her tot
lets, Her perfect physical health stood
all tests. In the middle Of February she
had not lost anything Of her exquisite
beauty nay, she had gained, for wo-
man rises with her wardrobe, and often
puts on genius as well as confidence with
a magnificent attire.
The middle of February, and she had
not seen John Monteith since they part
ed at the little wayside depot. But she
heard through Janet that he was putting
up great buildings which were to be filled
with wonderful new machinery and ap-
piances. Did he remember her amid
these business cares Did she remem-
Der him? How could she? Her present
occupations 50 filled every hour that she
could not find time to reach back after
the love and promise Of weeks ago. Low
ers waited on her footsteps; she was fed
on incense and tiattery and yet, and yet
Only two little words, but love has liv
ed on less.
Well, it was the l4th of February, and