The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-19
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/ ANY IHOIfltIG OA H. W tlSOn Oh
| your engagement.
Marion laughed sweetly. Il know
/ you better, Lessie; you are not capable
! of acting so meanly.
| Lessie made no reply, and Marion left
| the room, not without faint sense of
compunction. Nevertheless, when DIR.
| Watson made his appearance that even
| ing, she monopolized him in just her
usual gracefully selfish way, and the
| proud, pale Signorina stole out into the
garden to suffer in lonely silence. Ma
| rion's wonderful voice was borne out to
| her on the quiet. fragrant evening air,
| and she pictured the group inside-Ma-
| rion at the piano, Dr. Watson at her
side, and Mrs. Ingram in an easy chair
by the window listening contentedly
''Signorina!'
She looked up with start of surprise
| at De-. Watson, who had come out to
her in the middle of Marion song. He
sat down beside her and tried to talk,
but Lessie was i'll at ease, and only
saved herself from betraying disquiet by
responding with curt, chilly dignity.
Mark arose at last, gave sort of sigh,
and returned to Marion.
Next day Lessie was in the plantation
by the water-side, when the soft splash
ing of oars fell upon her ear. and boat
containing only DIR. Watson and Marion
passed up the backwater. The young
man was just dipping his SOULS lazily
into the water, evidently absorbed in
Whist he was saying to Marion, who
listened with down-bcnt head.
Lessie leaned against tree, and
watched them with a sore heart. As
soon as the boat had passed, and she
she hurried to her room. No tears fell
from her hot eyes, no sob eased the ach-
ing of her breast, for the girl was on her
mettle and resolved to maintain self
control.
Il viii not give way-I will not give
way she repeated over and over again,
clasping her hands and moving restless
ly about. Strength came, and presently,
after bathing her feverish face, she went
and helped her aunt, who was arranging
some flowers.
Marion has gone up the backwater
to get some water-lilies. observed Mrs.
Ingram.
HAS she2 think it is pity to pick
them: they never look we'll off the wa
ter, said Lessie.
marion is sure 20 manage so that
they do, though returned Mrs. In
gram, whose faith in her favorite power
was unbounded. There is pleasant
surprise for her when she comes ina
letter from Mr. Longworth; [ wonder
what is in it. .
Soon Marion appeared, and Mrs. In
gram gave her the letter Il must just
run upstairs and wash my hands, said
the girl, taking it eagerly. I'm be
down and arrange those lilies in mo-
ment.'
Mrs. Ingram laughed. go along,
darling, and read your precious letter in
private
A few minutes later Marion called
softly from her room, Mrs. Ingram"
summons Immediately responded to;
and soon after she came down, and with
a flush of triumph on her beautiful face,
asked Lessie to congratulate her.
''Austin's parents are relenting, and
I'm to go and stay with them-on trial
for a month, like a sewing machine"
Jessie looked up quietly. What will
DR.. Watson say?"
DIR Watsont' exclaimed Marion,
breaking out into her most charming
laugh. '.Why, you dear, foolish little
thing! he has known of my engagement
all along"
Il don't believe vou.''
Marion shrugged her shoulders. ASK
him yourself, then.
AT this point Mrs. Ingram entered the
room, and the subject of DIR. Watson
was dropped. Lessie remained con-
WINGED that he would be broken-hearted
and she resolved proudly not to pity
him in the least, OF take any notice of
him. Nothing would induce her to con-
sole IA man for the loss of another wo-
man.
Nevertheless, before a fortnight was
over her resolution was hOpelessly
broken, and eight or nine months later
n double wedding took place from Null
grave Lodge.
Mrs. Austin Longworth was very
much more important member of soci-
ETY. than Mrs. Mark Watson; but LESSEE
made far the sweeter, truer wife. Ma
rion lived in the constant whirl of
activity for which she was so eminently
fitted by nature, while Mark and Lessie
rarely left the quiet village where they
first met.
''What were you saying to Marion in
the backwater that day." asked Leslie.
one evening, as she and her husband
wandered by the riverside.
Ibid YOU see us, Signorina? / was
telling her that, fortunately for me, l
knew. through a friend in Dresden, of
her engagement
''She didn't tell YOU about it herself,
then?"
''Oh, no." said Mark, with peculiar
smile; lit wouldn't do to let the second
string know there is first
And you are quite, quite sure you
never did care for her at ALP
Listen, LESSEE, said Mark, standing
still and speaking earnestly; you see
this broad, swift stream-do you think
it could ever flow backwards? No more
could the current of my love, once set
towards you, ever recede-ever alter its
course for a moment.
What the Diver Sees.