The Oskaloosa herald., 1894-05-31
PROVED HIS COURAGE

PROVED HIS COURAGE
Then this is your final decision, Ma
rion?" said Hugh Curtis, pausing sud-
denly in his rapid walk up and down the
room. ~
1T most certainly is" replied the
naughty girl, flashing a disdainful look
at the white, agitated face before her.
"You do really wish me to go away
from you forever
That is what said. Is it not enoughT7
Yes" he answered bitterly, II un-
derstand." And yet he looked at her
longingly, his dark eyes pleading elo-
quently for OBTAINING word.
Marion WINGED under his critical gaze,
her cheeks flushed deeply, and her eyes
grew bright with anger. FWhy don't
you go?' she demanded passionately. a
g 81 am going, Marion, but before
leave let me warn you against admitting
that scoundrel, Thane Lenox, into your
heart and home" exclaimed Hugh, try
ing te steady his voice.
Save yourself the trouble, sir. Scoun-
drel or not, Thane Lenox is no coward.
He said all the taunting, mean things he
could think of right to your face, but
even when he struck you you refused to
resent the insult"
not suffer my name TO be mixed up in
such aabrawl."
You were too cowardly to, defend
yourself and afterward sent back the
challenge he was brave enough to make.
Had been insulted in public as you
were nothing but, blood would have sat
isfed me-" 49,
= Il am not tired of1iving, Marion; nei-
ther do wish to go through life with
the brand of Cain upon my brow" an
swered Hugh. A
Then you do not intend to reconsider
your decision? You will not fight himy'
."Most certainly will not, Marion"
Not even if demand it?r
Not even if you demand it," was the
firm reply. v
Hugh Curtis, you are too cowardly
to merit the regard of high spirited
woman. The whole village is sneering
at you. Hugh Curtis, coward That
is what you have won by your lack of
bravery"
a.You do, not understand everything,
Marion. may be coward, but have
always been true 10 you" a
Stop that silly sentiment. Go, / say,
before Won drive me lnadr"
Without another word Hugh turned
away, and from the window she saw
him going with rapid strides down the
path that led to the public highway.
Once she rose to her feet, determined to
call him back, but he neither turned his
head to the right nor left, and she sat
down again muttering: "Let him go.
he will be back soon.y l can stand it as
long as he can"
In spite of her determination to be
brave, the warm fears crept up to her
eyes, diinming her vision and thus shut
ting out the loved one frem view
The two had been lifelong friends, and
though their lips had never exchanged
formal vows she had worn his ring for
many happy months, and all the neigh
bors understood that some day Hugh
Curtis would make Marion Jewell his
wife.
At his mothers knee Hugh had i'm
bibed his peculiar ideas of Keeping the
peace, and in his boyhood he had often
been numerically twitted for allowing
his companions to impose upon him.
This was not the first time that he had
been called a coward, and as he walked
slowly along the dusty road that bright
May morning he began to wonder if,
after all, his conscientious scruples might
not be merely convenient cloak under
which to hide his cowardly nature.
1t was the first time that Marion had
ever accused him Of being coward, and
she would not have done it now had she
not loved him too well TO hear his name
banded about by the man who had pro-
yoked the trouble. Thane Lenox's fault
less attire and fine city airs were cal
culated TO dazzle the little country maid,
and il is no doubt quite true that she felt
hattered by the attention he lavished up
on her. Still her heart was loyal to
Hugh, although she could not help wish
ing that his manners were more polished
and that he had enough grit to stand up
Tor his rights when trampled upon by
the city dandy. That night she robed
herself in theslress hemost admired and
with repentant words on her lips waited
for bis coming, but her waiting was in
vain.
81 VIII write him note IN the morn
ing" she said TO herself as she lay togs-
ing to and fro upon her sleepless co ch,
but when the morning came she ] sard