Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-28
MARIAN'S CHOICE.

! uOF ttS anu IIIuiIp uo. diiu CGu yum
| ladies, supposed to be armed and equipped
for tbe battle Of life, were graduated from
| Madame Heriot's Seminary. Commence
ment exercises were over, and all had as
! sembled IL the spacious parlor5 OF the in
| stimfjOn 70 receive the congratulations OF
| admirlng friends.
| Marian Chester. the youngest of the
! class, had won golden opinions from both
| teachers and classmates; from the former
! by her diligence, and from the latter by
| her gayety and sweetness. Fair and slight,
with a delicate bloom on her cheeks, she
seemed fresh from some rosebud garden
Of Girls" hut 10 night there was slight
! shadow on her face, and a troubled look in
| hcI blue eyes
Maiden, why so dovncast?' said a
! gay voice in her ear. and turning she
| greeted her chosen friend, Helen Lam
sing.
forget that this is the last time, and | see
nothing before me but the pine woods Of
Be:2,ir
Don t despair dearie; you shall never
! bury yourself III those forests. have news
for you that will bring back all the sun
shine; | am sure Professor Weiss intends
to return to Germany this fall, and papa
authorizes me to offer you the position OF
OrgdnI>t at the Elm ftreet church, and you
can il you wish secure the Professor s
| pupils also.
Helen, you are my good angel
Thank you! When | can please you
and myself too, feel quite angelic.
Then ! suppose may tell papa that you
acceOt?''
Not just yet; must see my father and
mother first and get their consent, You
tnow Poor mother, it will be hard for
her to let me go again.
''Of course; but these blessed mothers Of
our are always ready to sacrifice them
selves"
Just then Marian was called to the pianJ
and Helen joined a group near the door.
cousin John, she said to gentleman
who had just entered, Il did not expect 70
see you here this evening after your caustit
remarks at the dinner table"
My criticisms were not intended for
sweet sirl graduates. he replied; they are
always charming; 1t Is only after they have
admire them. But listen" be exclaimed
where did you find such voice as that
mo, indeed it is my dearest friend,
Marian Chester, and we hope she is to be
our Organist when Professor Weiss leaves. "
Marian song was followed by a diff
cultnOcturne, and as she rose from the
piano Helen made her way through the
crowd that surrounded her and presented
her cousin.
john McKenna. the fastidious scholar
and traveller, found d face and manner as
charming as the voice which startled him,
bat past experience caused him to say to
himself, "A year of society will spoil her;
she will stand the ordeal no better than
| the rest.
A week later Marion found herself in
her accustomed seat at the head Of her
mothers sofa, where, as the weary woman
retired in the twilight, the daughter had
been i'll The habit of whispering her
hopes and fears, sure of loving sympathy
and wise counsel. Only that morning
had she Informed her mother Of the open
! ing made for her at Reddeld, and it had
| panied her to see the shadow that had
| rested on that pale, patient face at the
| suggestion. Now, as Marian alluded to
| 1t again, Let it rest, dear" she said,
until your father returns, we will not
spoil Our first week together with the
thought Of another separation. 81 they
| turned to other topics ami a delightful
| half hour followed; but their tete-a-tete
was finally broken Up by the entrance of
tNo sturdy boys of nine and eleven.
Lights were brought ard Marian rose
from ner seat and wandered into an
other part of the house.
Mr.. Chester residence was known as
| the white House," it being the only
building in the vicinity that had ever re-
ceived a touch from paint brush. and
| the door at which Marian raped led INTO
what was known as the least room." This
was known rs Grandmother Chester's sit
ting room and the stately old lady gave
her a kindly greeting as she entered.
How good it seems to have young
lady in the house," she said; that was
circle. Your society and your music begin
to tell upon your mother already. She has
been looking very poorly of late
Yes, | find her greatly changed, but |
hope to see an improvement before leave
her again. You know, grandmamma,
there is a prospect of my doing so.
Your mother told me, but it is not
| quite decided yet, is ftp
No, am waiting for papa's consent.
| Weigh the matter well, child; it seems
to me very important"
| "Grandmamma, cannot help thinking
this providential call. In the first place,
| God gave me this one talent, then the OPP
portunity to cultivate ii, and now the way
! is open to use it.
/ You will be right in so considering it.
/ unless there are stror ger claims elsewhere
/ d I 81 E,--t e
mother and of the lonely and weary life
Marian, doubt if she can endure another
year like the last
"Oh. why must we all be tied down
| here?"
Your father thinks the railroad will be
completed to the head of the river next
lear. which will enable him to get this
lumber to market and reap the harvest
! that he has waited for so long, and then
we can return to, the Old home on the
| Hudson"
That hope has been so long defer
red that 1t makes my heart ache to think
of it,"
Il am aware that it is asking a great
deal Of You, Marian. to turn your back up
on the prospect that looks SO bright and
bury yourself here, but to sef-sacrifce be-
longs many promise and a bles ed re-
ward. When a ckitd my father gave ME
a maxim which has saved me from many
II pitfail. 1t was this: to do the duty near
est, 40 matter how insignificant il
might seem"
With tear filled eyes, Marian sought
her own room. Who can wonder that she
shrunk from the battle between duty an6
inciinationP Neither from the first nol