St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-07
TESTED AND TRIED.
Written for the Globe.1
CHAPTER I.

Guy Griffin was a good fellow at
heart, hut he had some serious faults.
When he and Marian Brown had Joined
their hands in wedlock, the wiseacres
had shaken their heads, and few old
gOsSips had even gone so far as to de-
clare that no good would come of it. He
was handsome, we'll educated, wealthy,
and of good family: Marian was plain
and'poor. She had come 10 RivertCn
few years before, and had sought EN-
plOYment as governess. Whence she
had come and what were her anteced-
entS no one knew. Her sweet and Win
ming ways had won her a place. and, as
she satisfied her employer, she held her
position.
Marian was plain little body, but
there We're times when she raised her
softly fringed eyelids and disclosed a
pair Of hazel eyes of great tenderness
and beauty. One gazing into their
limpid depths might discover an eX-
preston of pain that beJokened some
bitter experience in the past. What
trouble it was, however. that had thus
clouded her fair young life no one at
Riverton knew; no one had pried into
her secrets, and she had 10 cOntidants.
When Guy Griffin and the governess
had first met it was Oh a muddy cross
ing. Guys good right arm had led her
to a place Of safety. When she thanked
him, she did it in so sincere and honest
way that it went straight to Guys
heart, so different was it from the
CO, - I,
mere courteous nothngs. From this
chance meeting their acquaintance had
ripened into friendship. and finally into
love. When Guy had passionately
pressed his suit, Marian had heard
him with depth of happiness
to which her heart had long
been stranger. 1t was the
only balm in Gileaf Marian had known
in many years TO sootle the canker in
her heart. Guys pleading touched
responsive chord in Marian's own
breast. but when she reflected upon the
social distance between them, she had
at first felt it her duty to deny his suit.
Was it not an injustice to him, the gen
tleman, to allow him to form an alliance
wan iANAoNIAf IiiN POOi 3''hNl llSIl
again. the shadow of her past doomed
up OmimOusly before her, and seemed 10
forbid her marriage. Guy. on his part,
felt crushed at her refusal, but did not
despair. He knew she loved him, and
that was Il powerful auxiliary i'll his
favor. He was indOmitable and
SO persistentIy laid siege TO the citadel
of her affection that the little governesS
at length Internationally surrendered.
III captivating Marian had had hard
battle with herself. On the one hand
conscience urged her to reveal to her
husband all her past, but nameless
fear prevented her doing so. she dared
Pet do it, lest her cup of JOY should be
dashed from her. She feared she would
forfeit his love, which made her eX-
istence a happy one, and without which
she had hardly the courage to live.
In Justice 10 Marian 1t should be said
her former life hal been guiltleSS, but
her late was SO iMtermingied with that
of another, that TO shield him, her lips
had been sealed through all the dTeary
years. What little Marian had suffered,
her God alone knew. Like the gold re-
fined by fire, her sorrow had tried her
III INC lullldCG Vi Her lEIDuldIIOl. by IL
had the gOyerneSS been made purer and
nUbler, and it had made her the kindly,
gentle creature that she was.
CHAPTER II.
The three years That had elapsed since
Guy and Marian had wed, were years of
bliss. No ugly specter had found access
to their home life in all that time, and
Marian had almost forgotten her earlier
trials. UnubSerged and unSuSpected,
however, the demon was approaching
tins peaceful home, and the cloud of
her hidden past was about TO tall like
pail over their hearthStone. The time
was near at hand When Guys trust was
TO give place TO distruSt, and his love
was TO be submitted TO the crucial test
One day business called Guy from
home, and it WAS a late hour of night
ere he returned. Marian. in her gentle,
thoughtful way, had refraimed from
disturbing his slumberS next morning.
and when Guy suddenly awakened, it
was 10 find the forenoon already half
spent. Dear little Marian" he Sleep
lily solilOqHized, II suppose she would
let me sleep ali day." after saying
which he arose 10 dress.
During Guys absence Marian had re-
ceiVed a mysterious note, which had
greatly disturbed the serenity OF her
mind. She had carelessly tossed it on
her dresser, from which 1t had fallen to
the fto0. While Guy was looking for