Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-01-28

you-oh. no! | am too poor to be bur,lened
with wife equally poverty stricken, and an
ignorant little country girl, at, that. To make
Il long story short am to be married next
week to lady more to my taste than my
sweet little clover blossom
LAWRENCE EARLE"
Marcia read the letter twice and it
seemed that the cruel words were
burnt into her brain with fire. With
low moan she shipped down upon the
ground. Twilight came on, but still
she lay there with all the life and love
crushed out of her heart. The clover
waved above her, and the sweet
blossoms touched the mute. white face
as though in gentle sympathy. The
fall.
Then Marcia staggered to her feet
She picked up the letter and started
toward the house.
"Mar-she-ah Name o sense, where
can the girl be p
Marcia mechanically quickened her
steps as her aunt's shrill voice sound
ed upon her ears. She met Mrs.
Stewa at the garden gate.
"Where in creation have you been
I've called and called till my lungs are
give plumb out. Hurry up, Colonel
Gordon wants to see you. Oh, Marcia,
what do you think? The railroads
comm through for sure and they want
that old place Of your mothers for
fine summer hotel! They offer seventy
five thousand dollars for it-for that
old pile Of rocks! Why, child, you'll
be rich :"
Mrs. Stewart was kind at heart, in
spite OF her sharp tongue and rough
exterior.
She led Marcia into the parlor where
Mr.. Stewart sat talking to a pompous-
looking gentleman, who shook hands
with her kindly.
Marcia sat down quietly while the
colonel went into details. He was the
lawyer of the family to which Marcia's
mother belonged.
True, the old place was not worth
much for farming. But it was large
and surrounded by beautiful scenery
just the place for Il summer hotel.
And now. as Mrs. Stewart said, a
railroad was to be built and the
company offered large sum for the
old dplace.
AS soon as Col. Gordon left, Marcia
went upstairs to her room and threw
herself upon the bed i'll a passion of
tears.
"Oh, If had only known this sooner,
and now it is too late !" she sobbed.
All Marcia was only eighteen, and
in her innocent heart she did not know
that the man who would love her for
her money alone was not worth even
her contempt.
She sold her property and then went
to a good school where, after four
years of hard study, she was pro-
nounccd "tinishcl.'
She placed her fortune in the hands
of Col. Gordon, who, by good invest
mentS, more than doubled it.
Three years more We're passed in
travel, and, after seven years, We find
her back in the old home.
Surely no one could call her IAN
ignorant little country girl now, The
years have added dignity and charm
to her face and form, and study and
travel have given grace and elegance
to her manner.
She hears occasionally Of Lawrence
Earle through friends, but she has
never met him. His career has been
such as Il man who sacrifices his honor,
self-respect and manhood for money
would accomplish. His wife possess
ed an ungovernable temper and their
quarrels were frequent and bitter.
have money she held her purse-stiings
tight, and meyer lost an opportunity
to taunt him with the Illuminating fact
Of her superiority over him in that
respect. AT last, after FIVE years of
misery to both, she died, leaving her
entire fortune to their one child, and
so arranging it that Lawrence could not
touch penny.
Marcia walked through the old
orchard. When she reached the apple
tree she sat down. Memory carried
her back to the days when she was SO
happy in her love dream. The
awakening had been cruel, but the
surgeons knife is sharp and merciless,
yet it is effective, and Marcia had
profted by her experience.
Suddenly a sound of sobbing fell
upon her ear and she saw child be-
side her crying bitterly.
"Why, dear, what is the matter ?"
she asked.
us losted, and | tan't walk, my
foot hurts So" sobbod the little one.
Marcia took the child in her arms
and tried to soothe her.
Just then the nurse came up. She
looked cross and began to scold the
little girl.