Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-08-25
IN TEE DARK.

IN TEE DARK.
{" / cannot see what possesses you,
Eryine, to act as you do |" complained
Mrs. Grancy. "You know very well that
you will never have such another oppor-
tunity to secure rich husband. Here
is Morgan Ingraham all cut and dried
to your hand, rich and agreeable and
handsome. must say I never saw a
handsomer man. And not creditable
rival in the way, for neither your cousin
nor Vashti Short can hold candle to
you II point of beauty"
"Well, mamma, and if I don't want
Mr.. Morgan Ingraham ?'' said ErYine,
indolently, without raising her eyes
from her novel.
"Don't want Mr.. Morgan Ingraham
Then who on earth do-you want p in
accents of despair.
I'm not sure that want any one-to
marry. am only Just twenty, and as
strong and healthy as an orthodox
young plebeian should be. I suppose
it is not imperative that I should have
husband I" Ervine answered, calmly,
still, to all appearances, deeply inter-
ested IN her book.
!" Well, suppose quite differently.
What do you think your aunt invited
you here for but to get husband?
Certainly not for love of either you or
I. She hates us both. And she con-
siders, as she distinctly told us, that
she will have quite done her duty by
us, now that she has educated you,
when she has given you one season in
society under her prestige and chance
to make match"
Mamma, I am extremely obliged to
Aunt jerome for my education, as
have told her; and I mean to put it to
such use as to pay her back every cent
she expended on it, as I have not told
her, but she will find out some day. As
for her invitation here, I accepted it be-
cause I thought I might as well have
one little taste of life before settling
down to sober realities and hard work;
but to marry at her command, or any
ones else, / have no intention of do
ing"
"No intention of marrying? Then
what are you intending to do, may
askY' questioned Mrs. Grancy, in a
passion. :" / suppose we are both to
go to the poorhouse p
Not at all. Your income is the
same as it ever as-sufficiently large
to enable you to live comfortably.
shah make no demands on it. I intend
to work for my living" Ervine said,
firmly, turning page slowly and de-
hberately with her strong white hand.
"Work for your 1ivingl" with fine
scorn. And what do you expect to
do?1
/" Really, mamma, have not decided.
But Mr.. Ingraham would not be likely
to refuse me. do you think. position
as saleslady, or, perhaps, cashier, in one
of his numerous establishments, were ]
to apply ?"
g Ervine, you try me beyond all en-
durance For heavens sake put down
that book and let us talk sensel You
can marry Morgan Ingraham if you try,
and you must r.
Miss Grancy threw aside her novel
now, and stood up, revealing her strong,
shapely young figure at its best.
Mamma" she commenced, proudly,
am quite willing to talk sense ]
have talked sense from the first. Don't
yo1 suppose Mr.. Ingraham knows that
am poor and have been asked here to
.entrap him because he is rich-into q
marriage? Has Aunt jerome lost any
opportunity Of letting him know the
true state of affairs Have you lost any
opportunity of throwing me at his head
! Let me tell you-once for aH-that
will not marry him That I hate him
That l will not marry any man, just be-
cause he is rich, and you and Aunt Ter.
ONE desire it. will not so lower my
self r And with this violent outbreak
Miss Eryine Grancy walked out of the
oem assigned to herself during her stay
atJerome Lakes, and out into the coolest,
shadiest. most fec1uded depths of the
great park that inclosed the noble. old
mansion.
ss It is shamels, she cried, throwing
herself back downward upon the yield
ing moss, and folding her white round
arms across her flushed face, that ]
should be flung at Morgan Ingraham as
Morgan Ingraham fings his bait at the
fishes In Aunt Jerome's lakes But
then after pause it is my own
fault. / had no business to come here
and let myself be placed in this hu-
initiating position. II ! had only gone
to work Immediately / would never have
seen Morgan .Ingrahams and be would
never have had chance to despise me.
Despise mel Yes, despise me, who am
Gten times more beautiful and more in.
I. y than yashti Short and Ade1Ia