Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1895-08-30
1T was a proud, happy day


have a lover, for I doubt if there
was any girl in the village who
had more admirers than Miss
Altemus.
Aleck was a handsome fellow
of about twenty-five, and when
one of Marion's friends introduc,.
ed her to him that eventful sum-
mer, he mentally thought he had
never seen more beautiful girl.
And, truth to tell, Marion Alte
mus was pretty. Her worst
enemy, if the girl had one, must
have acknowledged that. The
golden hair fixed in dainty bralds
and curls on the small head, dark
violet eyes that could look so be-
witchingly into yours when they
chose, a small, delicate finger,
yet withal a very dignifed one.
This was Marion Altemus, who,
although an orphan, would never
feel the need of a mothers care
with such an aunt as Miss Linton
to watch over her. Marion and
Miss Linton both lived in the
large stone house on the hill
which was still called "the
squire's house." though the mas
ter of it had been dead nearly
twenty years. His gentle wife
soon followed him to the grave,
but before doing so placed little
Marion, then a bright, pretty
child of two years in her sisters
care a charge which Mary Linton
faithfully kept, so faithfully that
people said Miss Marion was
really spoiled; but, spoiled or not,
she was a general favorite with
all who knew her, especially the
male sex, and they were all a
little jealous when she allowed
Aleck Prescott to pay her such
marked attentions. One more
than any 1 am afraid, for Felix
Darcy had proposed a month
before and been refused by her.
Something which upset his pride
wonderfully and maybe did him
a little good, for the next time
he met Marion he was certainly
more respectful to her. Well,
Aleck was a lucky fellow the
people said, all except Felix, in
whose heart a growing hate for
his good-looking rival came, that
grew stronger and took frner
hold every day, although he pre-
tended to be Alexis warmest
friend.
But now something had hap
pened that made pretty Marion
shudder to think of. She was
riding home from Mrs. Greyson's
party when she heard a voice
that was dearer to her than all
others, in loud dispute. She
leaned forward and told the
coachman to drive slower, it was
such a lovely night that she was
in no hurry to get home. The
man obeyed, and Marion put her
frightened head out of the car
rage window and looked at the
two men, one steadying the other,
who was evidently intoxicated.
The sober one was Felix Darcy,
the other-Good Heavens, not
Aleck Prescott? AS the sicken-
ing truth forced itself upon Ma
rion, she leaned back on the
cushions almost fainting, though
Felix's loud, coarse words Come,
Prescott, don't be such a fool,
hurry and get home. Suppose
your angelic Marion was to See
you in such plight, what would
you dor" did not escape her SELL
sitive ear. Then they came to
their boarding house and both
went in.
Poor little Marion, who had
never known a care. 1t was hard
to love an idol and find it clay.
Marion did not often return
home from parties alone, but
Aleck had told her he had some
urgent business to attend to and
would not be able to see her
home. So she had refused all the
many offers, preferring to be by
herself tonight. She needed no
company, and was only happy in
the thought that Aleck loved her.
But now all was changed. She
was angry that she had not found
out his fault before. Of course
she would never marry him now.
Her reverie was interrupted by
the coachman opening the car
rage door and saying respectful
ly, You are home, Miss Marion"
She recalled her scattering senses
like one in a dream. She went
hurriedly by the coy sitting
room, where Miss Linton always
waited up for her and where
Marion was wont to come in and
rehearse all the evenings pro-
ceedings, into her own room and
threw herself on the bed, giving
vent to hard, dry sobs. But she
was not left to her own rehec-