The Republican journal., 1881-10-20
FAINT Heart Meier Won Fair La

Iarpers Magazine for October
| wish to introduce my readers to Miss
Marion Laurie, born in New Jersey, but
as perfect little Scotch beauty as if she
had been born among the Grampians
Indeed, her foretathers may have been
the indigenous growth of that locality.
for Deacon David Laurie "allowed" they
We're there when King Fergus pre-emp-
! tied the Cairngorm tracts-a circum
stance touching prehistoric times.
David Laurie, however, seldom per
mltted himself to speak Of such unpracti-
cal matters those blue hills belonged to
his childhood and youth, states which he
! had nearly forgotten, the more SO as the
! bonnie lasse he wooed and won among
| their golden brooms had long been dead,
| and there now remained no visible link
between the shadowy past and the in
tensely real present.
| epting-and | make the exception
with all respect-Miss Janet Monteith, a
''tar-aWa' cousin" Of Mrs. l-aurie'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 discharg
ed its duties with an unseltish devotion
that would have dignitied the humbest
service. True, Janet had grumbled some
what through her twenty years care, but
grumbling with her was merely habit,
without necessary causes or consequences.
And she had always had two stock sub
lcctS for grumbling about. First, the Tat
country it was a constant irritation to
her; and if Janet had possessed the faith
that could move mountains, doubtless
the Grampians would now be in New Jer-
Sey. Second. the still, stealthy river !;
had it been a riyer0t scnsibility, it would
have risen against the comparisons she
was always making between its sulen-
looking waters and the whipping, rat
tllng, 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 consistent,
regular manner: and David was not I'M
grateful; he had always a word Of apol-
ogy for his aid. 1T will not make pic
ture, janet he would say : "but then it
just like yourself, woman better than its
bonnie" Yet Janet in her White lace cap
and neckerchief was no uncOmelv picture,
IVl lHStlllCllh tlN SIG hutN lllul t9c SUI =
rounds itself with kind of youth in gar
ments that are always sweet and fresh.
SO, though She was a contrast, she was
not an unpleasant one, to the lovely girl
cuddling among the crimson damask
cushions in the same room with her.
This girl is Marion Laurie. | have
been prosy about my Introduction, but a
beauty, like queen, requires some cere-
mony. Now, you may look at her dimpled
face, oval in shape, pink and sweet as Il
rose Just bloomed. There is in it some
thing 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-like
the aureOle OF a saint. No one would care
particularly to analyze any creature 50
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 rut1les of her
robe, one cannot 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
Tor full ten minutes. Janet wonders, but
respects the mood, for it is a little crisis
in Marion'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 sis
ter Julia, or she may stay in New jersey,
and gather around her such pleasures and
company as the rather lonely locality ad-
mits of.
Ten minutes is not long to canvass both
sides OF such a question. but Mari0n's
rapid mind managed it quite to her own
satisfaction in that time.
''Janet," she said, decidedly, sitting up
right in order to clasp her knees comtorta-
bly,. II am going to New York; that is
clear"
~ would ask yourreasons, Miss Marion,
if | thought you had any"
"Oh, reasons are plenty as black berries,
Janet. First, | want to go; second,
want to go; third, | want to go; and
''lou medina specify further, Miss
Marion. | ken weel that 4 want to- is
reason enough for YOU"
YES am not dour and hard to con
vince, like some people know, Janet;
and don't believe in being very kind to
other people and awful hard upon your
self. | think Marion Laurie has some
slight claims upon Marion Lauries atten-
ton"
81 dinna think you owe the lassie any
thing. She's well enough looked AFTER
"Well, at present, | owe her half a
dozen new dresses, but shall get papa
to give heI check tonight that will
clear him Of all demands. Heigh-ho
Janet! believe | must make myself
look pretty for dinner; for, first, there is
that check to smile for; and second, there
is stranger coming-is there not?'
"Nobody but my ain nephew, Miss
Marion. He is just frae the hills O Scot
land, plain, sensible boy, that kens
mair about weaving than women. It's
no worth your while bewilderng the puir
fellow"
"l am not so sure of that Janet. You
have depressed view of the value of all
men. | shall Just run my own eyes over
him, so get out my navy blue silk dress,
an pearlings an brooches au' a." said, or
rather sang, Marion, for the order ran
easily enough into the merry Tilt of
''wo0d'd an a."
Perhaps Janet had really not so very
many objections to the bewildering Of her
nephew; certainly she went very lovingly
to work to assist in the bewildering pro
cess, and there was small wonder that
the two gentlemen, in the midst of a
discussion about wheels and bands,
catching the first sight Of this radiant
girl in shimmering silk and cleaning gold
should get bewildered, and lose their
argument inextricably for that night.
Mr. Laurie, being partly accustomed to
such revelations, simply wondered and
admired, and gave her check for double
the amount she asked What man could
have helped it with such lovely face
whispering close to his own?
Mr. Monteith looked and the bewider-
ing was fully accomplished. Her face
smote him at once into tender ador alton;