Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-13

lesson 6QdC IL KNOWS not WnaC IL may
ask, fears where it ought to hope, and
hopes where it ought to fear.
Two days before Christmas the halls
were Uttered with trunks and travelling
wraps, and John Monteith, with sor-
rowful face, was walking up and down
among them; yet it frightened, almost
painfully, as little figure in cashmere
and fur came slowly down the broad
stairs. Marion was going away; would
she never come back for him again ?
He had not faith to ask the question !;
and though she was in fearful, ten
der mood, all the more reason, he
thought, to refrain from pressing his
own claims at such time. He sits be-
side her in the double sleigh which car
ries 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
John has Marion all to himself; he
wraps the furs carefully around her,
draws her to his side, but a strange 81
lence falls upon both of them, and not
until they are parting does he find
words to say, "Miss Laurie-Marion!
will you try and remember me?" There
was no word in reply, only clasp of
the hand, and bright look of sympa-
thy, yet somehow John took it for
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 fol-
lowed her footsteps, the women initiated
her toilets. Her perfect physical health
stood all tests. In the middle of Febru-
airy she had not lost anything of her ex-
quisite beauty-nay, she had gained, for
a woman gains with her wardrobe, and
often puts on genius as well as conf
dence with a magnificent attire.
The middle of February, and she had
not seen John Monteith since they part
ed at the little way-side depot. But she
heard through Janet that he was putting
up great buildings which were to be
filed with wonderful new machinery
and appliances. Did he remember
her amid these business cares? Did
she remember him? How could she?
Her present occupations so filled every
hour that she could not find time to
reach back after the love and promise
of years ago. Lovers waited on her
footsteps; she was fed on incense and
fattery; and yet, and yet-only two
little words, but love has lived on less.
Well, it was the 14th of February, land
keen, bright, frosty day. There was
a sleighing party in prospect, and Mar
ion, full OF glee and anticipation, joined
a merry group at the breakfast table.
As usual, a little pile of letters was
waiting for her; and among them one
of strangely unfamiliar aspect. She
opened it curiously; it was an unmis-
taxable old-fashioned valentine. The
jests and laughter seriously annoyed
her. Of course it was John Monteith's
doing. None of her New York lovers
would have been guilty of such vulgar
ism. "Stupid! it was just like him.
People did such things, she supposed, in
Scotland. They had sent them there,
and of course they would go on sending
them long after the rest of the world
had forgotten the custom. But in New
York! On Madison Avenue! In the
year of grace 1874! What barbarian
the man must be!''
That valentine worried her all the
day; she laughed at it, said it was ridic-
ulous, but yet she did not destroy it.
Janet noticed that circumstance, and
laid it up in her heart for Johns COM
fort if need be. He needed it sooner
than she expected, for that very even
ing, just as Marion was dressing for
grand bridal reception, John Monteith
came for the answer to his valentine.
He did, of course, very unwise thing;
but men that are far-seeing enough in a
business speculation are often very fool
ish in a love affair.
There was in Marion's heart linger-
ing feeling of contempt and annoyance
at that ridiculous present of paper lace,
satin, and painted flowers. She was
vexed that he should have shown such
bad taste, first, in sending it at all, Sec
ond, in following it so soon. These and
similar thoughts irritated her. She
would not hurry her toilet for his wait
ing; she had never since they parted
been less in a mood to meet him pleas
antly.
Johns hopes, too,. gradually died out
in his lonely hours waiting in the empty
parlor; and when Marion descended in
all the pomp of silk and lace and jewels,
he felt sense of intrusion which no
true lover ought ever to be allowed to
feel. He was placed at an unmerciful
disadvantage, but he had come deter
mined to tell Marion that he loved her,
and with something of the dour obsti-
macy of his race he would not be abashed
and frightened out of his intention.
The meeting was not encouraging, but
he was now beyond noticing that. In a
few, manly, straightforward words, he
showed her the depth of his love, and
offered her the honest devotion of his
life. Then some perverse spirit took
possession of the girl. She knew that
she loved the tall, handsome fellow,
pleading so earnestly and yet SO man.
fully for her regard; but she would not
say the one truthful word that would
have made both of them happy. She
held him with the assent of her eyes,
while she tortured him with her unruly
tongue. She even acknowledged that
she was far from Indifferent to him, but
declared that it would be impossible for
her to give up New York and its delight
full society.
John was far too truthful to temporize;
he said " that his fortune was all invested
in his mills, and that he must of neces-
sitv live near them ,,