Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-05-11
A BAD HALF-HOUR.

H 4 haven't known you very long, Mar
Il ion faltered, looking down on the sand
/ as she spoke.
Il Long! Oh, Marion, can you count it
\ by days? 1t has been a life time to me.
/ l have lived only since l have known
your
The sentiment was not new. And
John Gordon was only a fine looking
man, in a becoming summer suit, and
black silk shirt and sash-for this was
Rocky Beach. But to Marion Taylor
I do like-l-l-love you, Mr.. Gordon =
| she said, bravely. 1t hasn't been long,
but l have come to care for you. You
are the first man l have ever been will
ing to marry
And I'll be the last = John Gordon
CRIED and pressed her hand hard.
| They were close to Marion's hotel
now. If the imposing, not to say form
\ idable figure of Marion's Aunt Paulina
had not been apparent ON the piazza,
they might have fingered still.
John Gordon turned his eyes to her.
Sine doesn't like me, Marion, he said,
soft W
sW hat will she say?'
Mar 'OM Was sOft-faced and gentle
eyed OF Il, but she held her chin high at
that.
What me says can make no differ
ence! Co 7dby, John!'
'Good-bv.' the young man uttered,
rapturousiv. az he took his leave.
A moment at, er Marion was dropping
into a bamboo. porch chair-a small
one; Aunt Pau lin occupied large
one.
A glance at he st, "ong-featured, i'm
perturbable cou1 ltena nee was enough
for Marion. She said t herself, sober
ly, that something was the matter:
You remember ny say ng, Marion
Aunt Paulina bege N, that l was dis
satisfied with this placer
Marion's eyes ope ned. Aun Paulina
had once remarked that her bed was
little hard.
We'll, l have ratl Ter suddenly made
up my mind to leave. The DaWsons
are at Ripley, and ijhel1 write Inc that
miles along the Goa st, n Larion, and I've
told Sarah to get ur IL rings together,
SO we can start this after noon. think
we shall both be better fo I the change
Marion looked down. I Ter impulses
were many. She came nes + laughing,
but gasped lnste ad, not VIII, oily with as
tonlshment. 81 le was not unused to
her Aunt PAUL. na's methods and her
emoti on now was a sort OF ad-,
for he II boldness; fO1 the case
was clear one even to unS uSp1clOuS
Marion.
Marion A ant Paulina reco. mmenc-
ed, with su rprising burst of scandor,
It's that young msn! Marion, yCu well
know that L wholly disapproVe Oh hlm.
| lay awake last night thinking OF it:
must do something. The bla me viii
be on my he ad if l allow you to go on ?
q dnn T.
ion, What do you now about him p
Not very much, Aunt Paulina,' said
Marion, gently.
How long have you known hill u"
Aunt Paulina demanded.
Since we came Six weeks, you
know
Six weeks ? said Aunt Paulina. trag-t
ically, and you wall with him every
day, and boat and bathe, and dance in /
the evening. And you were introduc-
ed by the Lambs p her lips closing grim |
ly on the name. The Lambs People |
VINO take up everybody and anybody. |
Just that is enough for me. Do you
know where he is from
Boston, think, said Marion dubi- |
ously.
You, think And his businessY
Something about glass, l believe
O'ieooo AAiAN LIS PlOPOlu llO |
got any?'
L don't know said Marion, frown-
ing at last. He doesn't talk about him |
self all the time
For reasons, dou ptless,' said Aunt |
Paulina, looking ri gid. Marion, listen
to me, child l ca mot sit still and see |
"a young man of whom we know moth |
ing, and you, Marion, with your beau
ty and amiability and my money Sc
cured to you! Marion, you owe some
thing to me-sonle consideration; some
Aunt Paulina was growing flushed
and lncoherent, and since Marion knew
about what she was going to say, it ,
was as we'll that Sarah came ju st then |
TO make an inquiry, and th at Aunt
Paulina found it necessary to o back
with her.
Marion sat like pale, wide-ey ed stat
lie. What should she do? Th mild
ines OF her sweet mouth would have
made it clear to an observer wb at she |
you'd do. She would go with he rAunt |
Paullna, OF course; what else? S. he had
never yet thought of opposing he r. She
lWQH VI IL II