The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-10-27
MARJORIE REED.

Marjorie Reed was neither belle moi
beauty, nor could she boast of lands OF
lordly wealth. She was but simple
waysidc flower the daughter of hones
folk, but at the time our story opens al
orphan.
Her father, fisherman, had been losI
at sea three years before, and her moth.
er had not long survived the awful
shock.
Marjorie was but seventeen then, but
already there was an honest lad enough
who thought her none toe voung TO
make a good and true wife to him.
1t was no sud len thing, this love of
John Ilarwood's. 1t had nestled down
in his heart ever since she was tiny
girl, and he great awkward boy, had
held the hand which seemed so small as
it lay in his brown palm, while they
walked, or he carried her across the
rough places which they chanced to
meet.
Long years back he had determined
that so he would like to lead and carry
her through life; and so, when she was
left dcsolate and alone, he spoke.
She listened in strange, bewildred
way TO his words. lie had seemed to
her always to hold the same position
which other girls more blessed than
she, would find in their brothers, and
she shrank from this new way of look
ing at him-shrank as would have told
y wiser, more experienced man betok-
epe5 little hone of his hearts awaken
and at the feet of this little, untutored
girl he had poured the whole passionate
love of his life.
"Wait while, please, john" she
had said, when he had pleaded for his
answer. "Its all true you say. am
alone in he world now, and very lone
ly, but | am not old enough to know
how to make good wife, and and,
John, | don't think love you quite
that way"
But the latter statement he refused to
credit He would wait as long as he
might ordain, but at the end she must
give him his reward.
So one, two, and nearly three years
had passed, and he was waiting still,
strong in courage, in patience and in
hope but jnst whom he thought The end
nearng-iust when his hand Va.
ergerly extending itself TO eEnaapPc ,n1
beyond his reach, aud lost TO him for.
ever.
There was no circumstance missing
to make the reality wholly hard and
bitter. Alex Winston had one day,
wholly by chance, moorcd his trading
vessel on the sands on which the little
town was built.
Wholly by chance he and Marjorie
had met; wholly by chance he and Mar
jorie had loved; for so it was. Plentiful
AS was the pretty girls along the coast,
not one of them had won, with all their
arts, what had fallen to little Marjorie's
unthinking hands like dew from heaven
Brave, handsome Alex loved her.
In the evening of the day she plighted
her troth to him, John came up to the
cottage, as he always came at nightfall
and before siiv UO~ia toll him. he re-
preached her for coquetting with q
stranger.
"It is no coquetry, john" she an
swered him. 81 love him, and am to
| be his wife,"
For the first time in her presence,
great oath escaped his lips, and, white
as marble, he sprang mp from his chair
81 will kill you first, and him!" h
Missed between his teeth; and, with N
further word, strobe out from tn
house.
But she forgave him the bitter words
because by her own new born love sh
could measure the suilerings whic
through his had come to him. INT
that moment she had not realized thu
she had dono the man cruel wrong.
She meant TO tell Alex when he cam
but fear lest il should make him angr,
and breed yet greater bitterness betwe'
the two, kept her silent, Alex was t
l Joyous and happy to notice the slig
] frown upon her brow. Besides, he W
n n full of new purpose. lie wished
N make Marjorie his bride at once, he sai
g lie and his good ship were off for lol
l., cruise, and he must leave his little vi
. behind him.
7 Marjorie's demurral was very feeb
+, She felt his name would be protecti
a 10 her when he was gone. Heretofl