The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-04-20
HOW IT HAPPENED.

Ihcre Is one great Tragedy IN Jhe
life of every girl.
Marion thought of this long after
that night when she sat warming her
bluc-slippcrcd feet on the brass fender
in ncr little blue bedroom.
That was the night OF the tragedy
and its climax. She was sitting there
with a great gloomy look in her blue
eyes when some one knocked at the
door. She knew it was her mother.
"Come in," she answered absently,
and in came figure diaphonous and
blue and lacey as to garments; sere
and worldly and wicked as to countcn-
ance.
why, my dear" said Mrs. Oldhart,
in vexcd astonishment, ''in your dress
ing robe still, and it's nearly time for
the cotillion. Dear me, What have
you been musing about 2"
The girl shrugged her shoulders
contcmptuously and lifted her fine
archcd brows. 'I've not been musing
at all, mamma; I've just come to my
senses tonight. I've been out of
them for two years."
The older woman regarded her in
silent astonishment.
"Sit down. said the girl, coldly'
motioning TO the big chair opposite
her.
Mrs. Oldhart quietly obeyed
Now, mamma said the girl, I'm
going to be undutiful for the first
time in my life. I'm not going to
this cotillion, nor to any Others. I'm
sick of them and of everything I've
done or said and everything that cv-
erybody else has done or said since l
danced at my debut in this house two
winters ago. don't Think really
don't think-now mamma" this with
IL slight allectiOnate quiyer in her
voice, "that it's the parties and the
people who have made me sick, but
For heavens sake, go on and finish
this nonsense"
"Well, then, If | must say 1t, it's
the way you have taught me to regard
things. Now, l know other girls who
came out when l did who are quite
happy now, but |, well, I'm not, for
many reasons. In the first place you
have taught me to consider myself
and nothing but myself. Now, you
know this is true: we never have done
unseltish little social things for our
friends, and dear me as for the men
who've paid me attention, I've ex-
acted and accepted everything they
could give me without u thank you,
sir.".
"Why, you speak as II"
Don't interrupt me, dear mamma.
l speak as If were common sponge,
well, am. l am worse than that.
Do you remember the picture of that
Ispcndthrift that came out In Truth
some time ago."
The woman raised her hands in lior-
rUr.
swell, I'm just one type OF the
woman riding on the back OF that
young idiot to the devil" She gave a
queer sardonic little laugh.
"Of course I'm not low and vile In a
moral sense" she said," but l prey
upon mems generosity in a more re-
spectacle way, I've been grinning and
flattering and incoming my eyes for
two years at the man whose legs
pray don't faint-whose legs l say !
could pull for the finest bouquets, the
most candy, supper, drives, etc. My
men have all been Judged from this
standard. / am sick of it all. OF theil
, roses, their candy, their carriages and
their unintercsting selves"
The woman before her arose indig'
nantly. "It seems to me, Marion
that you have lost your Wits"
"No, mamma, l tell you have just
found them, and, dear" taking heI
hand tenderly, ''don't be angry will
+, me. know you adore me. l know
that you have done everything yot
could to make me happy, but In think
ing Of me you've forgotten everybody
else That's why you are not thought
ful Of friends, and that's why you pull
I the lie
II will not listen to such vulgar ex