The morning call., 1891-08-26
MARIAN'S LOVE.


proud, brilliant blue eyes.
Very fair and very fascinating she then
looked, standing among the wilderness OF
bloom and incense, with the soft, mellow
lights of the conservatory falling over her
dainty, fair face and regally posed head of
yeilowish gold, and over the willowy, per-
feet figure robed in rich white lace and
shmmering pearls.
The man who stood before her, leaning
with folded arms against a broad-leafed
palm, made no reply to that petulant excia-
nation. but his dark eyes swept over her
beautiful face with look in them which
seemed to confirm rather than deny the
truth of it.
"Yet we were good friends once, Arden"
she went on, after moment of that almost
painful silence; 1--WE always have been
friends. Why can't we be SO STILL
"Friends?" echoed Arden Meredith. with
a scOrnIul bitterness. speak for yourself.
Marian, when you say that; yet even then
you would be distorting the plain truth.
More than frends-that is what we were
| until this unexpected fortune suddenly
erected barrier, m0untain-high, between
us ard transformed you into something as
different from the girl L loved as a cold.
proud, frozen lily is different from sweet.
wild rose. No. l don't want your friend
ship. Ii it is not to be your love"
"Of course it is not" Arden" she inter-
rupUed hastily. what might have been if
if this change in my circumstances had
| not occurred l cannot possibly tell. But
now"
Now" he finished for her, as she paused
with dropping eyes and crimsoning cheeks
and there was an intense scOrn in every ac-
cent that fell slowly from his pale lips,
nov wealth must mate with wealth. aud
you Will become the bride of old Philip
Leighton"
While he vas speaking, Miss Inglis' fair,
naughty face had lost the m6mentary flush
which had stained it so deeply, and was now
as white as the lace and pearls she wore.
Going straight to that part of the ball
room where she had seen Mr.. Phillip Leigh
ton watching, with apathetic face and man
ner. the gay young dancers as they circled
past him, she smiled b-witchingly upon him
and sank down gracefully into the vacant
seat beside him.
Il know YOU don't care for dancing, Mr..
Leighton" she remarked, giving him one of
her sweetest glanees, land thought you
must iud 1t duh watching the rest of US
whirIing about in that senSeless way. SO l
| came over to have quiet chat when l found
l could have few delightful moments by
| myself"
The delighted and flattered old million
aire murmured some tender reply as he
| drew her small gloved hand within his
arm, and so they walked slowly through
one after another of the brilliant rooms
until they came at last 10 the conservatory,
where they fingered for awhile amid the
softly glowing lights and fragrant flowers
in the very SPOT where Marian SO short
time before had parted from Arden Mere
dith.
When at last they re-entered the ball
room the young mans scornful prophecy
had been fulfilled, for Marian Iuglis had
promised to become old Philip Leighton's
bride.
Marian Iuglis is as happy as. a queen,"
said those who observed her, with admir-
| ing and often envinus eyes. And why
shouldn't she be, indeed? With such love-
| illness as hers, and sach fortune And she
isn't marrying an ogre, either, but very
| fine, nice-ioOoking old gentleman. It's
pity everybody can't be as luckyW
''P0or Meredith the blow must have been
a hard one, But he bears it well Perhaps,
after all. he didn't care SO much as people
thought"
One clear, cold winter evening. when the
snow lay on the ground white and glisten-
ing as frosty diamonds, and the air was
crisp and sharp as steel, Philip Leighton
took his betrothed bride out fol- tete-a- tete
sleigh-Iide in his elegant cutter, behind one
of the fastest horses in the city, and to the
merry chime of silver bells.
All went happily until they turned into
one of the suburbs of the city, when a fire.
engine came tearing along W tn snch a noise
and din that Mr.. LeightOn's horse took
tTlgnI ana gave q Suuutu luU8t, Win Inc
wild impulse, no doubt, of running away
from the scene at the top of his craziest
speed
But if so, he was checked in the very
nick of time, for a tall, dark figure suddenly
| sprung from the street-crOssing to the ami
| mails head, and strong hand seized the
rens, and with main force held him back
| until Mr.. Leighton could regain his lost
| control of him.
Then. when the danger was passed for
| the occupants OF the sleigh, they were
| Mortified to see their brave rcScuer fall,
| struck down by hoof of the still restless
| animal.
Quick as thought they were out of the
| cutter and bending over the brave stranger
| to drag him away from danger.
| But as they lifted his head, and the clear
cold starlight shone full upon the da rkly
handsome face, Marian uttered a cry of
passionate grief and horror.
"See, see.' she exclaimed, her face as
| white as the snow living all about her. "It
is he Oh. my GUdl it is Arden, and he is
killedp'
Then, utterly forgetful of Philip Leigh
| toms presence, she knelt down upon the
snow, passionately kissed the palid face
| which she believed the hand of death had
| already touched.
| ''Arden-Arden, you are deadp' she then
moaned, in voice that was scarcely more
| than a whisper. 'Now you will never
know-you will never knowr'
Suddenly hand touched her shoulder,
and Philip Leghton's voice, tremulous and
| husky, was asking gently:
marian. did you love him?"
Recalled by this question to the reality of
| her position, Marian rose to her feet and
looked into his questioning. sorrowful eyes.
'Yes," she answered quietly. II have
| always loved him, though | would not tell
| him so, because l was determined to marry
| for gold. l wronged him and myself, and
have wronged you, Mr.. Leighton, most of
| ALL
1.-The wrong you intended him and your
self must be confessed TO him. Marian !;
| shall 1t not?"
She bowed her head in answer, while her
| beautiful face was bathed in scarlet blushcs :;
| for Arden Meredith was recovered now and
stood beside her, the old proud indifference
| in his handsome dark eyes as he turned
| their glance upon her.
But not here, not now," she whispered
| to Philip Leighton, as she turned to enter
the sleigh again.
| Miss Ingis earnestly requests you to
to call upon her tomorrow, Mr. Meredith" +"
he said, IN low voice, as they bade each
other goodnight. There Is something you
| ought to know. Something l wish we had
both known long ago. But it is not yet too
late. She will tell you ALL"
And taking his place by Maran's side,
| Philip Leighton drove homeward to the
music Of the silver bells which now jingled
| so strangely out of tune with his altered
hopes. And yet he thanked God that the
knowledge had come to him when it was
| not too late.
And months after, when host of fash
lonable friends were gathered together on
| the occasion Of the wedding reception of
Arden Meredith and his lovely bride, his
Philip Leighton's-was the costlesr gift
which graced the tables laden with good
wishes, in the shape of gold and silver and
glittering jewels for the happy pair.--Phila-
delphia Item.
| MURDERED BY A TRAMP.
1 Row. Arrest I.ada IN uorr;,to nj.