The Washington times., 1894-11-18

Z
you and myself, are devoted TO the same pur-
suits and directed toward the same aims,
should join forces. and, as husband and vile,
naturally help and encourage each other2 L
admit the disparity in cur ages-but feel
! sure that you are too sensible to consider that
any obstacle. believe that | could do much
toward enlarging and developing your phe-
nomenally receptive mind, and your com
panionship would aid, instead OF hinder, my
work. hope that Athena may inspire your
answer, as well as my question" And,
vaguely conscious of a certain ponderoslty IN
the style of his proposal, the doctor made
an effort TO lend it greater charm by taking
off lis glasses and smiling seriously down
upon Marion, who was twisting and untwist-
ing her handkerchief in an agony of discom-
fort and confusion.
1t had never occurred to her that this mid
dle-aged widower, engrossed as he had always
seemed to her in his antiquarian researches,
could contemplate matrimony, and, least, oil
all, that his choice could fall upon anything
so modern as herself. 1t seemed inconsistent
Of him 10 set his affections upon something not
/ in state OF interesting dilapida ion HIS
suggestion, therefore, took her utterly by
surprise. and had the effect of making her
feel thoroughly uncomfortable.
Il am very sorry, she answered. .nervously,
her eyes cast down, her cheeks crimson. II
never dreamt of such thing. And really.
DR.. Moleson, you have made a great mistake
in your estimate of me. / could never be any
help to you. l am not at all what you think.
Indeed. was just thinking before you joined
me how entirely unsuited l was for higher
education
.'You must let others Judge of that my dear
child he said, soothingly. "Your natural
modesty stands in the way Of your estimate
OF yourself. You have great intellectual capa-
city: Won have proved il TO me this winter
cOnciusiyely."
But. even if l have, it does not satisfy
me. she urged Il thought it would. |
came here i've months ago dreaming that
these studies would fill my life TO overflow
ing. but l have been drea1fulIy disappointed
in myself / have done my best, and my life
is not full l feel as if it needed something
mOre-more pleasure, perhaps-or more
beauty" She hesitated, and looked away
from the doctor out over the sea to where the
Island of Egina doated like violet cloud
upon the horizon.
DR.. Moleson was not too old or too learned
to feel a little moved by certain pathos IN
her yoice-a pathos which he did not under
stand. although he was conscious of il.
DO you not think there might be some
pleasure and beauty to be CLEANED in such
life rs / offer your Believe me, should not
forget your youth, or urge YOU forward so
streGuously that you might not pick :he flow
ers along the road" He almost blushed,
feeling himself guilty of something not unlike
sentiment.
Thank you, YOU are very good" Marion
felt as ii she were bird, struggling help
lessly in a net formed OF the doctors per-
sistent obtuseness. Don't you see" she
said, desperately, that it is not ouly pleasure
and beauty that l need? / know it must
sound very foolish TO you, but L am afraid
need love, too"
yoice-"NIy dear child, do not think that
My dear child'-there was hurt note in his
exaggerate when l say that the regard which
l have for you might be called by that name
Through what Achilles heel of his unemo-
tioHal organization the charm of Marions
bright young personality had pierced 10 his
consciousness was a wonder TO the doctor
himself. and TO wonder at anything in his
own Well-Ordered mind was q sensation so
unusual that be can hardly be blamed for
adopting the theory that it must be love.
at is not onlythat-i am sorry iii wounds
you, but cannot make you understand un-
less I say il plainly ] could not marry un-
less loved. and although / admire and re-
spect YOU, l could never love you"
Marion was nearly crying from vexation
and nervousness. and. having pronounced
her ultimatum. sue tried to get up and escape.
But her persevering suitOr had not SAID his
last word vet. He laid a OBTAINING hand
upon her arm, and began again in voice
which he could not quite dlyest of its didac-
tic habit
lone moment more. Miss Goodwin. The
legend runs that Poseidon, the god of the un-
stable sea, and Aphrodite. the goddess of the
unstable human heart, fought with Athena
for the possession of Attica. Athena. the god
dess of wisdom, won the victory, and the
story of her triumph was carved upon the
pediment Of the temple which the Athenians
erected upon this very spot in her honor |
believe that they never had cause 20 regret
it. The foolish iancies of sentiment make a
poor substitute for the nobler guidance Of a
calm and,wel-poised intellect. wish YOU to
think for a moment whether your decision is
a wise one. Miss Linsley has told me that
you are quite alone in the world. and that. on
Your return 10 America you Will need TO in
crease your very modest income by finding a
position in some school Do you think that
such an existence will satisfy your vague
longinEs any better than the life of comfort.
of travel, Of varied interests. which | can
offer you? A younger man would have been
anEered by your last speech. and would have
left you. /, on tbs contrary, ask you to re-
consider it."
Marion longed to tell him how much she
would have preferred the younger mans way.
but she controlled herself and answered
wearily:
IT may be very foolish, and may live to
regret it, hut now, while l am young, and
while I am still stirred by the vague long
1u-S WHICH YOU uDlA III Susu contempt, L can
not but prefer my freedom-rhe freedom to
dream, if nothing else. After all, you have
asked me TO let myself be influenced by the
memories of this spot. and was not the Athena
who was here worshiped called Athena Par /
thenos. the YirginY Think she would coun-
sci me to pursue the path of wisdom alona - |
The poor doctor felt himself defeated The
last shot was, perhaps, the strongest she |
could have used. He rose reluctantly. and /
held out his hand. Marion sprang to her feet.
with intense relief.
1T is needless to say that am much dis |
appointed, said DR.. Moleson, gravely. II |
think you are making mistake: but | hope /
that this conversation need make no differ /
ence in our pleasant relations as pupil and /
teacher"
The friendliness in his tone surprised ana |
touched her. She did not understand how it
was possible to take refusal so calmly. Put
ting her hand in his, she said, gratefully:
Thank you very much. / am sorry you
made the mistake. have no doubt 1 should |
be happier if | were what you thought me-"
DR.. Moleson nodded his head slowly as if |
quite agreeing with her, and then. with a
kind "Good afternoon" he turned and picked
his way carefully through the wilderness of
marble shafts and capitals.
Marion, too waiting only until she saw the
top OF his battered gray wide-awake disap-
pear slowly below the massive entrance stems
hurried TO leave the spot whose charm had
been destroyed for her by the mauvais quart
d 'heure which she had teen forced 10 spend
there. Not wishing to follow too closely in
Dr. Molesons wake, she kept to the edge of
the Acropolis until she reached the delicate
temple of Nike Apteros, which oyerhangs it's
western precipice.
Just before passing through the classic
chaos which led to it. she found a small note
book lying half hidden under a marble frag-
ment. She opened it at random to discover
the name Of its owner, and came upon lit
tie list of memoranda in DR.. Moleson's neat
hand vrri+iprr.