Daily Republican., 1885-05-22
A QUESTION OF PRIDE,
BY CLYDE RAY MoND.

We'll, what does your uncle say,
Marion %
The stately old lady In mauve silk,
softened by delicate cascades OF expen-
sive lace, spoke trifie impatiently, for
her beautiful daughter had been knit
ting her fair brows over that letter
quite long enough, she thought, with.
out imparting It's contents to her.
up, still with that disturbed, annoyed
expression on her lovely dark face,
that Harold Ashley will present him
and that / must receive him favorably,
and, also, that the engagement must be
announced by the beginning of the sea
son. If not"
She paused and beat her small, slip
per foot impatiently upon the carpet,
while shadow of deepest discomfort
gathered in her dusky eyes.
Well, If not?" said Mrs. Kesterton,
iDquiringly.
"Oh, you know the hateful condi.
lions as well ~ 90, rourued Marion
not disrespctfu but wi'h a weary
sort of bitterness IT, y rou nat he sup
pressed. II ot, ghy, h's attn Al
goes to the forty SECOND cousin whom
he continua,,y holds up before me rs "A
threat, whoever she may TO. But there
read for yourself y
And tossing the letter into her
mothers lap, Marion Kesterton rose
and went to the open window, where
she stood leaning against It's deep
frame work, and toying nervousl y with
a bunch of rich Marechal Mel roses
received only that morning from one OF
her many admirers.
She wore u negligee of white lawn
and lace, with few ornaments of
heavy Roman gold that well became
her dark, proud style of beauty. And
the pale yellow tint of the roses in her
white hands harmonized perfectly with
her simple but effective toilet.
"Well" calculated Mrs. kesterton,
presently, in tone OF undoubted ap'
proyal. ~ see nothing in your uncle's
arran gements to call Tor such sombeI
looks. / suppose you intend to marry
some time, for you can't Expect to hold
your position as courted belle anc
beauty much longer If you don't
Already scores of fresh, pretty, young
debutantes are springing up arount
you, aud by and by your chances fol
making splendid marriage will b.
lost. Now, this Harold Ashley Is II
every way a. desirable parti. Young
/, hand some and highly born, your uncl
writes, besides being the son OF hi
dearest friend, and his own particula
favori:e. Why, Marion, you couldn'
do better to save your soul !"
Marion's perfect lip curled wit!
something very like contempt.
d" | could choose for my self" sh
, remarked, somewhat bitterly, whic
would be doing rather better, wouldn'
it?"
I" Not unless you choose wealth
,, retorted her mother, quickly. Pleas
remember, Marion" she continued
half authoritatively, half pleadingly
Z" that ours will not hold on
much longer, and we cannt
keep up our present position
society unless our family purse is r.
plenished from some source. 8
I what will you gain by baking th
sensible and well meant plans of you
uncle? If you forfeit his money b
, refusing this young Ashley. you wi
be compelled to marry some rich ma
who may prove far less acceptable.
cant zee, "-irascihiy-" how you ca
hesitate single minute"
!, IL strikes me mat IL would be
Il l pleasant experience 10 co ailOWeu
Il choose ones own husband" sal
Marion. resentfuliy. And AZ TO heir
Il compelled to marry arich man wheth
o love him or not, dom quite see tina
( ma mere. You will, always be we
taken care of by uncle, thank Heaven
no matter how he may choose to punii
me.
1--WE have money enough to ser
Il Eugene to college, after which, ii he d
serves the favors of Fortune, he can "
q tfem for himself. And as for me"
}, Marion paused a little, tapping Il
l. floor with her bronze slipper as she pt
u led the yellow leaves from her bouqut
l. letting them fail in q shower arouI
a her" believe 1 am not utterly de-
d cient in education and accomplis
/. ments, 30 IL l should choose love In
T. cottage instead Of"
is Marion |" gasped Mrs. Kesterto
he in stern and Mortified tones.
10 Marion laughed, but the next insta
er drew deep, tense breath.
"Oh, WE'LL" she rejoined with tn
It. half-reckless air which she had wo
as during the whole conversation. 1t
* not at all likely that shall, 80 y
to need not look 80 shocked, mother mil
ly | presume shall tamely accept I
er uncle's terms, Mr.. Harold Ashley q
or all, however distastetul," she add,
An bitterly enough, as she leaned out
ne the window and scattered the ruin
10 roses, aim ost savagely. upon the grou
ny Iu st beneath it. was only snRge
as ing to you what might happen, 20
rs. sometimes feel that l am really
70. human being with heart of my o
at and a strong inclination to let it ia
ne its own course in such matters. s
in ~
he She gave an abrupt start and fro WI
To slightly, for at that instant handso
IA Harry Clements, the private tutor "
n. was preparing her brother Eugene
NO college, emerged from some nook nj
ed at hand and passed the window,
Ia close that she might easily have tou
I'd ed him.
ne He lifted his hat, with glal
CT, which, somehow, gave her the feel
req that he had overheard those word
he words which had revealed a glimpse
ii" the real depths beneath the cool, pre-
ad surface of her nature, and the thou
RE did not please her
Of The next Instant he adde1 to his
lad lenses by lifting one of the d,scart
not roses from the ground and touching
he lightly to his lips, with another gla
In that 81 MT the hot blood tingling to
ore poor girls dusky cheeks
ok. "Presumptuous fellow How dare
or do 1t ?" she muttered, drawing haug
he ~ back from the window and bit