The sun. (Fayetteville, N.C.) 1883-188?, 1883-09-26

to buy such good segars, as well as wife.
| Oh, how hard / feel toward everybody"
Cousin John ate his mullins and admired
Marian Rita discoursed placidly about va-
rious topics OF the day; Mrs. Lang, with an
occasional anxious glance at her eldest
daughter, endeavored to make herself agree
able to her guest. Her fattery was most
delicate and subtle, and her watchful tact
made even the commonplace remarks of
John Reading seem almost brilliant. Marian,
in spite of the tempest of trouble within,
could not but admire her. mothers clever.
ness.
"Yes," she thought, "mamma ekes out
the mans ideas as she does scanty old silk
dress, and makes them nearly bearable."
When, after most wearisome evening for
one at least, of the quartet that looked 50
cosy as they sat around the fire, John Read
ing had gone to his club and the two girls to
their rooms, Mrs. Lang sat thinking till the
embers faded to a sullen glow; her rehec-
tions were far from agreeable.
eff have overrated my influence with
Marian" she thought, eff she should refuse
John-she certainly had defiant air to-
night-what will become of US? The neigh
bors say he is hard man but that may be
from jealousy Of his attention to US. have
striyen all these Years to give the girls
chance to make a good marriage; and now,
when the hope seems near fulflment, to have
that chlt dare to defeat my plans! Oh, it is
too harassing! Was ever poor mother so
wretched as I ?" she ended, YEARLY, as she
went slowly to her room.
Rita was sleeping the sleep of all elastic
conscience and an easy, luxury y-loving ma
ture while Marian, with her head between
her hot hands, was maturing plans which
she soon set about carrying into execution.
She wrote q -blistered letter to her
mother, telling her how she had found notes
of John Readings by mistake she was
searching for bill-for indeed mamma must
know she had not meant to be dishonorable;
how she was wretched in her present life,
with its shams and attempts to keep up a
ladylike appearance before world of people
richer than themselves now she could not
u1GIIy cOuu IStbulu$, IL tShStl IS1, tis SiAS
knew was expected of him SO she would so
away to q school friend on whose help she
could rely, and try to get some employment.
She would save every farthing she earned,
and send it to John Reading to pay the dis
graceful debt
"And please, dear mamma" was the be-
seeching end of this midnight epistle, edo
not, by the love you bear for your children
which 1 know has urged you to this false
step-please do not borrow any more money!
1 am very sorry for some hard thoughts
have had of you, and already repent the un-
kind things said of you in my anger and
have left Rita all the things of mine of
which she can possibly make use-I know
she has always admired my sealskin jacket
When you read this, I shall be on my way to
Dales station. Don't write to urge me to
change my mind, for am fully determined
on my present course"
Kissing the letter, she put it carefully up
on her mothers dressing table, and then
stole back to her room. Between sobs and
tears she packed the remnant of her ward
IODo, tuu IL Ino u'"n " WY 6A0J eN'"AAA
day left her home.
Her courage rose as she sped along in the
train, and morning showed her the beauties
of the landscape. Nature brought its never
failing balm to the turbulent young soul;
and she was almost cheerful when, late that
evening, she arrived at her destination.
The station was dimly lighted, and the
few lamps fickered with the wind. Marian,
in her search for her trunk, stumbled over a
queer little bundle sitting on a satchel, and
a scared voice came out Of the bundle, say
ing
"Please you did not hurt me much. Pa
pa left me here so long ago, and am afraid
he is gone away !" and tho child began to
cry.
Marian lifted the little thing and co1aforted
it with soft cooling words. She kissed the
thin face, and held the child tenderly until
a gentleman came in search of it.
"Harry, where are you?" he called
'Here papa, with kind lady; was SO
afraid you had gone away"
"Gone and left my little boy! That Is
hardly likely. Thank the lady, Harry;
and madam, accept my gratitude also for
your goodness. was detained by some con-
fusion as to my baggage. Can be of any
service to your"
"No, thank you," replied Marian.
Then, as the gentleman disappeared in the
darkness, and Marian trudged along, fol-.
lowed by the boy who bore her trunk, she
rather regretted her refusal of assistance, for
the strangers face had interested her.
Marians school friend, Janet Lauriston,
had married soon after leaving Mount Edge
combe where the two girls had grown very
fond of each other, and had often written to
Marian asking her to come to her, to admire
her husband, her new house, and oil the de-
lights Of a young wife. Unfortunately, at
the time of Mnrians sudden departure from
| l.