The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-12
MARIAN ROSE.

''Kate Randall, / am really shock
cd at your absurd affection for that
woman. You must confess it is but
sorry compliment to my judg-
ment."
Pardon me, Aunt Mortimer, if |
say that your Judgment is really too
severe in such matters. 1t is par par
ticulaYly SO in this case. | have
seen so much Of Mrs. Rose. and am
compelled to admit that She is the
most perfect laby OF my acquaini-
ance. not even excepting your owa
irreproachable niece"
But. true" exclaimed the old Ia
dy, testify, though casting a sly look
of admiration across the breakfast
table at the niece in question, whose
honest independence of character
sometimes gave her aunts strictly
conventional prejudices a terrible
shock.
The subject under discussion this
morning, as it had been on many
another one, chanced to be young
widow who had come TO reside IN
the town few months previously,
and was known TO have been di-
vorced from her husband. There
fore she had incurred the unreason-
ing hostility of Mrs. Mortimer and
certain Others whom she Influenced,
before that lady had even set eyes
upon the slight, elegant figure, the
golden hair and dark wistful orbs OF
Mrs. Rose.
Her niece. Kate Randall, on the
contrary, early formed a very just
estimate of the young widows char
acter. and the first good opinion
had deepened, more and more until
the two were upon terms OF the
warmest friendship, much TO the an
noyance Of Aunt Mortimer
Possibly, however, her extreme
fastidiousness would not have stood
guard so vigorously had Kate not
possessed an only brother, a hand
some and attractive fellow, who was
the idol of Ann Mortimer's heart.
To see him sharing his sisters adml-
ration for Mrs. Rose. with many IN
dications that his feelings towards
her were not going to stop there had
for weeks past filed her with mex
pressible uneasiness.
She had so long INDUCED the hope
that Philip who had been more like
favorite SON than a nephew TO her,
would distinguish himself and his
family by a grand marriage, that
Ms. Rose with her modest income
which barely permitted her to live
genteelly. would have been objec-
tionable to her, even without the un-
fortunate taint of divorce.
Il am sure, auntie," continued
Kate. earnestly, there is no woman
in the world whom | would rather
have for sister than Marian Rose.
But there seems little chance OF my
wish being realized, since Phil has
already proposed"
Proposed :" shrieked Aunt Nor
timer. with such n look of helpless
horror that Kate laughed outright.
Yes, auntie, proposed" she re-
peated with mischievous emphasis,
"and-been rejected"
'Impossible y eiaculated Philips
aunt increduously.
Are YOU sorry that she refused |
him. auntie ?" asked Kate, innocent
lv. $50 am l."
Sorry You vixen, you know l
amnotl | am only sorry that he
gave her the chance TO do so. But |
can't believe il. Tou must be mis-
taken. don't believe there is a
woman in our set who would refuse
Philip Randall's wealth and posi- /
ton, to say nothing of his personal
attractions.
Thanks. dear aunt" said Kate,
flushing with pleasure. Il am quite
as proud of our Phil as you are, but /
in this case his superior attractions
have proved of no avail. Mrs. Rose
has positively refused him, and on
" because she realizes how bitterly /
YOU are prejudiced against her.
Sensible woman ~ exclaimed |
Aunt Mortimer, nodding her head /
with great satisfaction, as she slipped |
her chocolate. Il never gave her
credit for such wise penetration.
The fact has been clear enough,
am sure, returned her niece, some .
what bitterly. And you would !
find that she possesses many noble
qualities, If You were not willfully
blind to them. Marian Rose is not .
to be Judged bv the standard OF or
dinarv society women"
But Aunt Mortimer's satisfaction
at the widows decision had its drop
of bitterness in the fact that it had .
sent Philip away upon prolonged
European tour. He had confided
everything TO Kate, and left her
with the hopeless task upon her
hands ofbringing Aunt Mortimer To
their own appreciation of the lovely
young widows charms.
Time passed on and still Philip
lid not return. She who could have
summoned him to her side at any
moment by a single word remained
infiexible. and Aunt Mortimer was
alternately lost in wonder-though
she kept it to herself-at the delicate
pride which forbade her doing so,
and filled with indignation toward
her for being the cause OF Philips
exile from home.
1t was hard to understand, as
Kate said, how anybody could be
much in the society of Mrs. Rose
and not learn to love her. so lovely,
so gentle, so ever ready with kind
ly word or charitable deed. that II
must needs require stubborn viii
10 resist her sweet influence.
But Mrs. Mortimer,s worldly
heart had long been stranger TO the
power of tender sentiment. She
looked at everything from a terribly
practical standpoint, and society's
way of pronouneing Judgment upon
her own sex was her way. She saw
quite rs clearly as Kate did that
Marian Rose was beautiful in per-
son.cultivated in intellect. refined
and ladylike in manner but to her
those charms seemed but the wiles