The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-02
SELECT STORY.
"A WOMAN's LOVE"
BY FLORENCE REVERE rENDAR.

| cant imagine, Estelie, how you |
came to be so decidedly plain; beauty |
is rather characteristic Of our family"
Here Marc Darcy glanced with a salts.
fled air at his handsome face reflected |
in an opposite mirror, while slight
flush arose to the dark, almost swarthy
cheek of the young girl seated visa Wis
TO him, and tie delicately shaped hands
trembled slightly as they sought to con.
tinue the work they were occupied
with.
81 believe you favor your father"
continued the gentleman.
"Yes, am like my father. He was
not handsome, but SO noble, so good.
| was so proud of him. never thought
about his looks. / am sorry, more for
your sake than mine, that | am not
beautiful. Your wife should be, but
Marc - with a quick, impulsive
movement the young girl knelt down
beside her betrothed and laid her lips
caressingly to his hama, adding:
you will not love me the less ?
You who are so handsome, who could
have chosen from SO many, yet asked
me to be your wife. You are all the
world to me, Marc. No one could love
you more than l."
With rather an uneasy laugh Marc
Darcy, placing his arm about his COM
panion, replied
Tears, Estelle Why, what has
come over you! 1t Just happened to
strike me that it was rather strange
you were not as beautiful rs the rest of
the women in our family; but then you
have some redeeming points. Pretty
eyes and good teeth-no small item
toward good looks, I can assure you,
my dear
A pleased look crossed Estelle's face
at the last words of her intended, and,
twining both her arms about his neck,
she said
"And You don't mind it so much if
am plain? You will always love me y
"Of course shall, came the reply
as Marc kissed her lightly on the fore
head, adding, half laughing;
"Perhaps, Estellc, | shall put your
love to the test some day. Will it fail
me | wonder ?"
Raising her head from its resting
place upon Mares shoulder, Estelle's
eyes sought his.
There was strange intensity in
their dark depths as she answered slow
ly, as if weighing each word.
If do not think you quite understand
me, or my love for you, Mare. 1t is as
the brt ath of my life: yet if / ever came
to believe that it was for your happi-
ness for me to give you up, l would do
so at any cost TO myself"
Before Marc could reply Estelle had
passed quickly from the room.
With a shrug of his shoulders, he
selected cigarette from handsomely
embroidered case, thinking.
"What strange girl Estelle is.
She is right. l don't believe do un.
derstand her; poor little thing, how
earnest she is. should not have spok.
en- about her plainness, bat there it is
there is no denying it. However, as
she is to be my wife, suppose | shall
have to make the best of it. I'll buy
her the handsomest bracelet can tind
for peace Offering
Marc Darcy wac an only son. Hand
some as an Adonis, with a fascinating
manner, which, when he chose to ex
ercise it, few could resist. Mrs. Darcy
had been left a widow with considers
BILE property, but her sons cxtravagan
drains upon her purse had greatly re
duced her income.
Marc was not by any means ba'
, fellow, simply setishly indulgent tow
! ard himself. Estelle Merton was tn
daughter of a cousin of Mrs. Darcy's
On the death of her father, which oc
cured about eighteen months befor
my story opened, Estelle had taken u
her abode at Sunnysde, the home o
Mrs. Darcy. Aunt Margaret, as E:
tclle always called her, was her onl
relative, and had made the orphan gin
welcome, being kind hearted woman
). although somewhat narrow mindec
with but one engrossing idea-her sol
Of Estelle had been an inmate of Mr'
- Darcy's home only few weeks befor
the thought came TO the widow. ho'
nice it would be if Marc and Es:ell
should fall in love with each othe
Mares debts were pressing heavily upo
her Estelle could 80 easily pay ther
off out of her large fortune, for sh
. was an heiress As Estelles HUSBAND
- Mares future would be provided TO
q. and when her time came she would d
feeling she had done we'll by her boy.
Estelle was passionate admirer {
beauty, and, almost ere she was col
scous of it, she loved Marc with h,
whole soul, and Marc at his mother
. instigations had carelessly drifted in,
the situation of Estelle's lover.
OF too noble nature to see aug|
but the good in others, Estelle new,
dreamed that it might be her none
and not herself, that had induced Ma
D., to choose her for his wife. Some fe
~ weeks after the opening of our stol
10 found Mrs Darcy and Estelle seated
go breakfast. Marc had run up to tow
no for a day or two. AS Estele return,
80 a letter she had just been reading
80 It's envelope Mrs. Darcy remarke
''o "From your friend, is it not, dea
en- does she say when we may expect her
" "Yes, she writes we may look (
- her tomorrow by the 2:40 train. o
Aunt! think how sad it is for h,
lett alone so young; only G and obi
=, ed to earn her own living. l am
Id glad you are willing | should ask h
here for few weeks. She is so brig
and pretty. cannot imagine Inez
ing sorrowful. We will try and ma
it very pleasant for her, wont v
Auntf"
"Of course, my DEAR answered NJ
Darcy. 81 always wish to make !
guests happy and comfortable" a
thus the subject was dismissed for thu
The following week Marc arriv
one afternoon at home. In his ca
PA less manner he had omitted to se
ors word of his return, consequently NJ
: Darcy and Estelle were out, retnrni
calls.
Learning this from one of the 8
In, wants, Marc made his way to the W
drawing room, the cosicst room In