Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-10-11
Continued.

CyrifS Swallowed face. Il know that
could never scorn you," she inter
rupted. with tender emphasis.
Cyril bent his head over her hands
in silence for a few seconds; and then,
looking up again, said, in more col
lected manner Marion, will you take
me, worthless as l am, and bear with
ME and cleave to me through good and
evil report, and help me, in spite of
the past to be better MANI
Dear" she replied, gently. Il have
taken you for better and for worse
| don't expect you to be faultleSS,
though l DO admire and h nor you
above all men. | should be sorry if
you were faultleSS. because. you know,
l am not faultleSS myself; | am not
like Lillian. even. We shall help each
other to be wiser and better, hope"
Cyril averted his face from the limo
cent, loving gaze he could not endure,
but he turned once more AMI looked
into Marion'S charming face, which
was radiant in sudden burst of fire
light, while his own remained in
udLhSI SuuuoN bldll ever. EOlHlSt
once more" he said, in Il low. inn
paSsioned tone, that YOU will never
leave me-"
Marion suffered herself to glide into
the embrace before her. and repeated
the promise half laughing to herself
at the foolish Importance assigned to
tritleS by lovers, and half believing in
the intensity of the oft-repeated as
sWances, and was very happy until a
discreet clatter of silver and china
was heard outside, followed by a knock
at the door, and, after an interval. the
entrance of Eliza, who was edited to
find Marion ut one end of the room.
adjusting some china on a bracket,
and Cyril at the other. gazing out of
the window with great interest at the
frosty stars.
When the candles were lighted, the
curtains drawn and the tea poured out,
all traces of his passionate agitation
had left CyrirS beautiful, severely cut
features. and he sat by MaronS side,
tea-cup in hand, quiet and content,
the very picture of the ideal curate Of
commonplace just dropped into tea.
Marion now saw him clearly. and
was distressed at his wan and worn
appearance, and also at a certain look
he never had before the fatal winter
she passed in the Mediterranean with
her brother. Since then she had met
him face to face but once. OH the day
when he came to ask forgiveness and
renew the engagement, and then, nat
urally, he did not look ike his old self
Was it only toll which had robbed Cy-
ril Of the bloom of his youth? she
wondered; and she sighed. 1T was
time You had holiday, | think" she
said. softly. You must not be such
an astctio any more; you do not belong
to a celibate priesthood, remember"
This is not exactly the cell of an
auchoritc,' replied Cyril, with the
smile which Won so many hearts. as
he rested his head comfortably on the
back of his low chair, and gazed upon
Marion's slender grace. "Maynt
have another lump of sugar. Marion?
Lillian and | have expended much
thought on the decoration of this
room"
And taste" said Marion, looking
round upon the pictures and brica-
brac and various evidences of cultured
taste though it is not to be supposed
that the two lovers We're there to dis
cuss nothing but the decoration Of
Lilian'S room.
Cyril had spoken hOtly of his dis
like to Marion'S Mediterranean tour;
and Marion's pride had been touched
till she reminded him that she was en-
tirely her own mistress, and might
probably continue so to the end of the
chapter. Then ensued a quarrel, only
half serious on either side, a quarrel
that a word or look would have
rIghted in moment. But, unfortu.
nately. Marion had to join her friends
the Wilmots, sooner than she antici-
pated, and thus hurried off before she
could say goodbye to Cyril and make
things straight with one little smile.
The game of quarreling, when
carried on between two young, ardent
lovers is a very pretty diversion, but
can not possibly bS pay ed at IL Ills
lance as these two found TO their
cost. Deprived Of the fairy artillery
OF glances. sigh, voices, and gestures,
and confined TO the heavy ordinance
Of letters they could not bring things
TO a happy conclusion. Letters We're
first hot, then cold, then rare, then
on-existent, until one day Cyril wrote,
after long silence, to ask Marion how
long she meant 20 play with his affec-
tons. Marion replied that If Cyril
considered their engagements as
mere pastime, the sooner it was
broken off the better. Cyril wrote back
to release her from an engagement
which he said he perceived had be-
come distasteful TO her.
This was in March. At W'hitsuntidc
Everard spent some time at NAL
bourne. whence Cyril went to Belmin-
ster for ordination at Trinity. He
thought Cyril unhappy, and after the
ordination he asked him, subsequently
to some conversation with Lillian on
-. ,-,h;a.+ tf ba CELL narad fn- Mar