The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-25


Poor little Marion Morley! / had often no.
tired her sad face, and longed tobe Of Use to
her. and had even tried to make her think I
would befriend her If she neededit had often
preached at her the hard lesson, In whatsoever
State she was, Herewith to be eontent.N But
had never dreamed of love-l had never tried
| to win her affection. As l told her, marriage
I Law very far in-the dim future with meas far.
in fact, as the living that l hoped wonld nlti--
tnateR fan to my. lot, 1t. pevercrossed nv
I Wfldest fancy that She would have taken more
than friendly interest in me; therefore my
utter astonishment can he 1mag1ned when /
received her poor little INNOCENT letter promis-
ing to be tiiewifed had not desired. How hard
/, it was to tell her that had never. penned the
1letter She had received.
II i returned home humble and grieved-
| grieyed to have wounded her sensitive feel
| ings, grieved that she should have given me
| herlove unsought, Z ] prayed that night that
she might forget me. felt very guilty; and
yet could find nothing OF which to accuse
myself. Mychief feeling, however, was indig-
] nation, agains st the person, whoever he or she
might be, whose wicked Jest had caused all
bthis. j had my suspicious Caroline Thorn
! son was never a, favorite Of mine; thought
her forward sly girl, precocious and assum-
| ing; and 1 imagined her quite capable OF play
/ ing such a trick. 4. -. d. t,fti5t.
4 One day-I met Miss Tompson walking in The
| village and joined her. Purposely | led the
conversation around to practical jokes.
| 81 do not know anything more cowardly
than to play practical joke" said, ''on a
person whom circumstances place to certain
extent in ones power. A practical joke Of
any magnitude is insulting, cruel, stupid and
a disgrace to one person only-the perpera-
| tor" 'f@ '-t
4 The girls face got very red, and she titteed
| nervously.
'Have you ever played such jole?'sf
went on, 81 am pretty sure you have, and On
Miss Morley; have you not" l demanded,
sternly.
''What do you meant" she stammered
"Please answer me straightforwardly, Miss
| Thomson" | said, "or Unjust, as your clergy-
man, apply to your mother. You will how
what mean if your conscience accusesyou.
Did you not lately play practical joke upon
Miss Morleyg' ..
The girl burst into tears, and gradually told
me all-how she and Amy had written ne let
ter in fun and never meant any harm; how,
when she imagined that Miss Morley lad an
swered it, she was too frightened to onfess;
how she was so very sorry, and SO on. 80.
''You have done an unmaidenly cuel ac-
| tion," / said-"an action which, but or Mics
| Morley's good sense and ladylille mird, might
have caused great mischief. | hopethat this
will be lesson to you, and that III ne future
| YOU will be more considerable for oilers feel
| ings.n
now hoped that all trouble airing from
this Unfortunate letter would be ened but it
grieved me to see how Miss Morley dropped.
She seemed almost afraid to look at pc, though
| | strove hard TO put her at her ease,
Some months passed by and fond myself
| taking more and more interest in mr. though
/ we rarely exchange words now. One day |
| was much concerned to hear from Mrs. Thorn
son that she was leaving them.
''Miss Morley leaving!" Iexclainrd. "You
surprise me! Why is she going?"
afd FIhOpnco,,
''She has no complaints to make. / hve always
been kind to her; but she says she must go;
and she does seem to be falling intobad health
here. It's great pity; but cant persuade
| her to remain" ..
| could not help feeling that vas driving
her away The thought caused mepain, and
began to wish that had never tok her had
not written that letter but had accepted the
love which now began to prize tne thing
determined; she must not leave he situation.
| could far easier find another curay than she
another home. If went at once,sh would
doubtless remain all | need do wa to speak
| to her and tell her, as if casually, hat l was
going.' l watched for an opportunity.
One afternoon met her coming ,ut of the
! church; she had been trying the organ.
hurried tojoin her at the gate.
How do you do, Miss Morlevl'' I said
You have been practicing, l see."
Yes,o she replied.
| I" 1t is queer old organ, is it notgn ] son-
tinued. Z" wish the parish could afford a Kew
| one"
81 suppose they cannot,'' she said. Good
! bye, Mr.. Clitheroe."
% Are you not going home?" l asked
"No," she replied; must go round by
the village"
$50 must I and we will go together l
said. g want to tell you that | am going
away
Going away she repeated. Whyl"
"To better myself as the people say l
replied, smilingly. GIVE only Just made the
arrangement-in fact, it was only this NOM
ing that l told Mr.. Ponsonby, and mean to
| leave in less than month"
| You will be missed here, Mr.. Cltheroe,n
| she said. ... ...
"Do you think so!'' asked, "Ah, | fear
| very little But it is pleasant to think one
leaves a kindly. memory behind. When are
! you going"
g don't quite know" she replied. Mrs.
| Thomson urges me to stayand not go at ALL"
81 know she does,' said and / hope
you will.n .'t
" Perhaps I may" she replied; but my
plans are not settled yet"
| saw l was right Poor child, she had no
wish to go now Twas leaving! We walked on
for some time in silence. [ could not part
| from her thus. At last l said suddenly:
'Mss Morley 1 love you'll cannot tell YOU
4
letter, did not; but since then you have crept
into my inmost soul. Have any chance
left?" r." 4" -
'Mr. Clitheroe, I thank YOU" she answered.
calmly; but must beg you to drop the sub
iect."
"Why9, / exclaimed. . ....
"WhyH' she repeated. because YOU are saw.
ing all this from pity. You think have been
unhappy, and won't be pitied!"
''lndeed you wrong me-" l pleaded: but she
was obdura tie.
| saw her once more before left. I was
lunching at Thomsons. hada rose bud in nv
hand, and presented it TO her.
SIS it not lovely bud!' asked.
Yes; it is a beauly," she said
'1f you have not forgotten our conversation
the other day." pleaded, twill you wear this
rose as sign to me that you relent and win be
mine!n s7sf rrfa .''.. ffil 'I71', = -
She hesitated and turned very pale. watched
her closely She seemed in doubt. Could
have spokento her again, | fancy could have
won my cause; but others came into the room
She took UP the bud and placed it in a vase full
of flowers, and then left theapartment
j went away, andsoon after obtained another
curacy. Sometimes heard from the village
Marion Morleywas still governess at the Thorn
sons; and, as did not like to inquire, afte,
her in particular, heard nothing of her for
many months rH. ..H.t 80 'f4-lFI
The greatevent had been hoping for so lone
arrived abouta year after had left Stonehouse
| A small Ii wing was presented to me. q 'ft.."
with every longed-for joy thorn comes, =
l Thought as took up my bachelor quarters al
d.