Democratic messenger., 1895-03-23

was once heard TO say that If a girl
was sufficiently beautiful and had the
proper people to introduce her, she
might 90 triumphantly through the
season, an acknowledged belle, though
she had not a penny Of her own and
but one evening gown to her back
and he cited in support OF his theory
several notable ladies, now million
airesses and members of titled English
families, who in their girlhood's days
could highten their charms with little
more than the one black lace dress of
genteel poverty.
Marion's rich, staiuesque beauty,
her freshness and her perfect simplici-
ty, made her favorite at once; and
although her appearance at the Horse
Show was scarcely greeted by that
storm of applause with which the pop
ular novelist is wont to announce the
appearance OF his heroine as reign
ing beauty, she did not pass unnoticed.
As the winter festivities advanced,
Marion felt that she was living in Il
perfect whirl of gayety, and the recto-
ry at home was kept on the qui vive
Of excitement over long letters con-
cerning her wonderful doings. Yet
to many New York girl Mary and
Marion would have scarcely been 90
ing out at all; for Mrs. Harkness was
iudicious woman, and would not
allow them to undertake six or seven
engagements, as 50 many girls do all
through the winter. Then there Sere
distinct visiting and sewing classes
and other things to be done during
the morning, so that Marion in many
ways was quite as busy with doing for
others a. though she were still nj
home.
When her visit was about half over,
Mrs. IIarkness's only son Jack came
back from a trip abroad. Although
never much Of society man. he did
not even seem aver-e 10 sharing the
girI's pleasures. The night Of the
first Patriarch. ball came. % both Of
the girls an important event as being
their fret ball. Mrs. Ilarkncss. with
ready kindness. was anxious 10 pro.
vide Marion with beautiful new
toilet ~ handsome - her own daUgb'
ter's but il had been Mrs. I>eslic's
one stipulation that Marion should nc.
ccpt nothing more than the love and
Kindness that made her visit - Dc,
ligbifuL
There was a paDg. such a paDg 10
Mari0n's heart when she saw Mary's
beautiful tulle dress; her own siIk
seemed old aud shabby, and the little
pink shoes she had been - proud oi
At home seemed sbapeless and ugly
beside the tiny white ones that her
friend wore. She stihed her coyeiom-
louginss very quickly. however. and
took herself well 10 task for finding
one thing amiss when she had 50
much; and by the time they reached
Sberrey's she had quite forgotten all
her bad feelings, aud her face was
bright with anticipation Of the pleas
ure before her.
When the Harkness party entered
the ballroom Marion was observed
from every side; there were plenty Of
tulle dresses and plenty Of pretty girls
there. but Marion's beauty was of such
u remarkable style and was so height
ened by the rich simplicity Of her
gown that she soon found herself sur
rounded by u court Of admirers, and,
indeed, had the greatest difficulty in
saving the two dances which she had
promised Jack Harkness.
How late il was in the morning be-
fore they returned home | will not say
city people keep very strange
hours; aud Marion was terribly shock
ed to find how late-or shall ! saw,
how early-it was II took her some
time to get over her excitement sufii-
ciently to 20 to sleep, and it seemed
as though she had scarcely closed her
eyes when she awoke To find the sun
shine streaming into her room and
Mrs. Harkness standing beside her
bed. She folded Marion tenderly in
HeT HlotHcIlN dTHlS. tHcIt WIS sOIllc-
thing 50 gentle in her Voice that the
girl felt at once that something was
wrong.
We will draw veil over the next
few minutes the sadest and most
terrible of the girls life. A telegram
had come the evening before while
they were ut the ball, and had lain
unnoticed on the table until the morn
ing MIR. Leslie had had a shock Of
paralysis. Everything that kindness
could do was done to hasten Marion's
departure for home, and to save her
every anxiety and strain. She scarce
ly remembered her parting with her
kind friends home, home, home, was
her one thought, that she might
reach there in time to be with her
mother before the end came, il such
should be the termination Of her