Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-10-28

Il can't imagine, Estelle, how you
came 30 be so decidedly plain; beauty
is rather characteristic of our fami-
ly;;' here Marc Darcy glanced with a
satisfied air at his handsome face re-
fiected in an opposite mirror, while a.
Slight flush arose to the dark, almost
swarthy cheek of the young girl seated
vis-a-vis to him, and the delicately-
shaped hands trembled slightly as they
sought to continue the work they were
occupied with.
Il believe you favor your father ?"
continued the gentleman.
Yes, I'm like my father. He was
not handsome, but so noble, so good.
Twas so proud Of him. Inever 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 held her lips
caressingly to his hand, adding:
you will not love me theless? 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
panlon, 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 as 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, can assure
you, my DEAR"
A pleased look crossed Estelle's face
at the last words of her intended, and,
twlning both arms around his neck,
she said:
and you don't mind it SO much if
am plain? You will always love me ?"
''Of course SHALL" came the reply
as Marc kissed her lightly on the fore
head, adding, half laughingly:
Perhaps, Estelle, shall put your
love to the test some day. Will it fail
me, I wonder ?"
Raising her head from it's resting
place upon Mares shoulder, EstelIe's
eyes sought his.
dark depths, as she answered SLOWLY.
as If weighing each word:
Il DO not think you quite under
stand me, or my love for you, Marc.
1t is as the breath ofmy life; yet fever
came to believe that it was for your
happiness for me to give you up,
would do SO at any cost to myself"
Before Marc could reply, Estelle had
passed quickly from the room.
With shrug of his shoulders, he Sc
lected q cigarette from handsomely
embroidered case, thinking:
"Wbat a strange girl Estelle is. She
is right. [ don't believe [ do under
and'her; poor little thing, how earn
est she is. should not have spoken
about her plainness; but there it is;
there is no denying it. However, as
she is ms wife, suppose l shall have
to make the best of it. I'll buy her
the handsomest bracelet [ can find for
a peace Offering"
Marc Darcy was An only son. Hand
some as an Adonis, with a fascinat-
ing manner, which, when ne chose to
exercise it, few could resist. Mrs. OAR
cy had been left q widow with consid-
cradle property, but her sons extrav-
agant drains upon Der purse had
greatly reduced her income.
Marc was not by any means bad
fellow, simply selfshly indulgent to-
ward himself. Estelle Merton was the
daughter of a cousin Of Mrs. Darcy's
On the death of her father, which oc-
CURED about eighteen months before
my story opened, Estelle had taken
up her abode at Sunnyside, the home
OF Mrs. Darcy. Aunt Margaret, as
Estelle always called her, was her only
relative, and made the orphan girl
very welcome, being a kind-hearted
woman, although somewhat narrow
minded, with but one engrossing idea
her son.
Estelle had been an inmate of Mrs.
Darcy's home only few weeks before
the thought came to the widow, how
nice it would be if Marc and Estelle
should fail In love with each other.
Mares debts were pressing heavily up
on her. Estelle could so easily paw
hem off out of her large fortune, for
he was an heiress. As Estelle's hus-
band Mares future would be provided