The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-12-10
NO LONGER SAD.

miss"
Miss Marion Audley walked into her
aunt's artistic drawing-room with. a
slight Fastening of the artilicialiy lam
guild step that had lately become habit
ual with her.
A gentleman, at this particular time,
this particular afternoon, meant some
one she was conscious of rather wish
ing to see than otherwise.
She gave in passing a sidelong and
surreptitious glance at mirror, which
reflected a satisfactory vision in severe
ly elegant visiting dress, aud with
most unexceptionable spring bonnet
upon a well-poised little head, and
raised her eyes to encounter straight
forward masculine gaze which caused
her to start back with a dark flush
suddenly overspreading her cheeks.
Owen Hilyar"
"Yes. You don't seem very much
pleased to see me"
She did not; there was no doubt of
that. The young man came forward
and took her hand.
Marion, come. Haven't you 4 word
of welcome TO say TO me? have looked
forward to this moment so long and so
ardcntly."
He was very handsome and eager,
bending down to her, but to Marion he
only seemed, compared with the men
she had of late been thrown in contact
with, uncouth and rough;a ;and his clothes
had not the right appearance ut all.
''Of course am glad to see you,"
she said. drawing herself away with
badly concealed impatience, .'but you
took me so by surprise. didn't expect
you"
She turned from him and began re-
moving her bonnet.
He looked moment at her slight,
round young form, thrown into deli
cious relief with the two raised arms,
and then said in changed tone:
Il thought the surprise might be as
pleasant to you rs ii would have been
TO me. "
She made no reply. Good gracious!
why need he be 80 intense? And why
need he come dropping in upon her
like this, without.a word of warning?
You expect someoue, evidently"
he hurried on. ''WhoP Some man?
Tell me, Marion! Why have you writ
ten so little of late, and such cold let
tersp Have you changed towards US
all? Have you forgotten usP"
He had approached her again, and
suddenly, with burst Of uncontrolla-
BILE passion, stopped and seized her in
his arms.
She gave low cry, pushed him from
her, and stood before hun with flaming
eyes.
How dare you'll she said, trembling
with anger. 'How dare you presume!
] have forgotten you i'll the sense that
you mean, if you must know all. l do
not wish 10 be reminded ut all OF those
days before l left nome. The whole
! thing is hidrous 10 me-the life,. and
the place. an | al. Aunt Hartman has
| made another sort of existence for me,
and | mean 20 follow it / have moth
ing more to say, and hope you under
| stand, once for all. "
HiIyar had looked at her very stead
| iiv while she spoke. He interrupted
| bv not so much as the movement OF Il
| muscle. When she had quite finished,
he slowly took up his hat and walked
towards the door.
THANK you for opening my eyes.
| You have been very frank, he said
She made, uuconsciously, faint
movement to detain him, but the door
| had already closed behind him.
Five minutes later, the person she
had expected to find on coming in from
her drive, and whose name was Frank
Dutton, made his appearance.
He noticed that she looked n tritie
j pale. He did not know that she was
quite as pretty for it. And Mr.. Frank
Dutton was in matters of feminine love-
illness quite n connoisseur, or so he con-
sidered himself
|
One bright spring afternoon two
years later, Mrs. Hartman was driv-
ing up the Champs Elysees, in Paris,
with her two nieces. Marion. and Vir-
ginia Audley. The latter had only re-
Gently enjoyed her favors and tho ad-
vantage of her position and her for
tune, but, though not to be compared
in point of looks 10 her stately elder
sister, had already impressed her aunt
with the idea that, after all, she might
''do better" than Marion.
To speak truth, Mrs Hartman was
very much disappointed in that young
lady. Had she not done everything
for her, taking her from her plain home
in an obscure little town. and giving heI
two seasons in London and one now in
Paris, and all under the very best
auspicesp And what had come of it alli
She had had a great deal of success al
first, to be sure, and had seemed very
sensible of her privileges and alive tC
the duty incumbent on her of making
the most of them. But then gradually
she had lost interest, grown more and
more listless, and actually let pas:
three most exceptiohablc opportuni
ties-such as any girl in her right mine
would have jumped at-of settling her
self in life. Aud now this last mex
plicable freak about the Comte de
"Why, Marion. There is Owen Hill
war;" suddenly cried Virginia, inter
rupting her aunt's irate monOlogue.
The carriage. rolling slowly on il
the press of vehicles, passed close by ;
tall broad-shouldered pedestrian, whC
was waiting for momentary break il
the stream of horses and wheels Il
make his way over.
He heard the exclamation and raised
his eyes. Virginia leaned forward ant
smiled all over her pretty face. Hilya
l raised his hat, and already the Grove
had separated them.
"Oh, hasn't he got to be awful hand
someI" cried Virginia He alway
n was, of course. But Paris and civilisa
J ton have agreed with him wonder
fully"
WHO is the young man?" enquire'
Mrs. Hartman.
\ Why, a friend of our earliest child
hood, ISN'T he. Marion? Good gracious
What's tue matter, MariUu"
Marion was leaning back in her seat
pale rs The white lilac Ill her dress.
Nothing. These first spring day
are so oppressive"
Mrs. Hartman produced her GOLD
J.. mounted cut-glass punScnt, and haN
ing insisted upon her niece making us
Il of that restorative, concluded that sh
had recovered sufficiently to listen
her warnings.
Il should like you to tell me whethc
you really mean to let all your chance
slip. Marionp With the exception