Frederick citizen., 1895-01-25

:
"You misunderstood. 1 didn't OBJ
ject to the Sisterhood nor to the dress.
1t becomes Marian. She looked like a
darling little brown ghost of her
grandmother. But it is not costume
which suggests matrimony."
my dear Dick! You have been
away five years; you landed yesterday;
you meet my sister this morning, and
you expect to see her in a dress sug-
gesting matrimony! Why. nothing has
been said to her upon the subject, so
far as l know. If she is aware that the
family hope you will make a match, 1t
can only be through the instinct which
warns Il girl of such things"
well, Marian is warned somehow
saw ii in her manner. If, as you say,
the Sisterhood does not object to mar
riage in the abstract, she has already
decided that I am not good enough"
That may be so, admit. But if you
have really fallen in love, justify your
self. Take district; read to the old
paupers; preside at tea meetings, and
all HAT"
sxfIt ouidn't, and won't try-even for
Mauan! y gentleman may do any
thing in honor to win the girl he loves,
but he may not play the hypocrite"
well. then play your natural role as
. distinguished young soldier, and
trust to that. Mind you, I don't be-
believe my sister is different from
other good girls-a little better than
the average, perhaps, but the same at
liant bearing as much as any. When the
liant bearing as muc as any. When the
news of your Victoria Cross came,
your mother was scarcely more proud.
fear that's another thing Now,
Glenn, I'm quite convinced it would be
no use to pay regular attentions, when
nave only three months leave. The
matter stands thus: your sister knows
th&t everyone wishes US to marry
She likes mel am tolerably sure Of
that, because she used to do, and
nothing has occurred to change her
feelings. But It's equally certain to me
thatI have not the slightest chance of
CARRYING wife back to India"
did you expect to do SOP? Glenn
laughed.
No, but l ask fair field, since /
cannot hope for favor, and | count on
you to secure it for me without DELAY
we have not a moment to waste.
speak to Marian frankly tonight, as
brother can. Tell her Pm in love-
on. put that as strongly as you're
ableEthat the General and everybody
APPROVES, and, in short observe how
she takes it, Then I may be able to
FORM plan of campaign"
T fear you're putting too much con-
ndetce in my shrewdness. but I'll do
my best"
# is necessary to Introduce these
YOUNG people in the briefest form
DICK and his brother, with whom we
have little to do, represented the elder
pxanch of the Mathers family, which
nad fallen from it's proper place, while
ue younger, represented by General
Mathers. had prospered exceedingly.
re was rich. and his daughter, Marian,
WOULD inherit her mothers great
Wealth in coming of age. All the fam
~ inclined to think this was special
Wspensaton, providentially concerted
70 restore the elder branch to its due
fank in the world. The cousins must
airy When Dick grew into a hand
gome youth. as loveable as good-look-
k-one whom any girl might fancy
ana any parent must approve-the
scneme of Providence became visible to
~ the clan of Mathers
Marian was not essentially a devout
9Th But at an early age she began to
Ask why such wealth had been heaped
- her while millions of her fellow
creatures lacked bread? Her father,
ne General, discussed this problem
nauently, remembering that this same
enought had perplexed him when
Young; but he could offer no solution.
she was not checked, therefor but
rather encouraged, in her first effort to
snow herself worthy of the blessings
snoWered on her. When. those efforts
cuiminated in proposal to Join the
bl9terhood, 1t was a shock; but after
= conference with the Director, which
oeEan sternly, and ended with an in
y1{4tion to lunch, the General submit
tea. The Sisterhood did not set its face
e9anst marriage. And Dick was In
India.
#but the work assigned to Marian did
u0t satisfy her tender conscience. She
feit that the easiest tasks the least un
pieAsant duties, were assigned to her.
Heart-breaking wretchedness she daily
saw and dreadful possibilities were
nuGgested hourly; but the horrible
realities, as she perceived, were always
kept from her view.
1n1s irrioated the poor girl, though
me knew It was not only kind, but
prudent. They spared her because she
W Silly Eood-looklng. and soft, and
c0lIdish, whilst these luxurious char
4<<eristics also made part Of the debt
Xnich she ought to pay.
owe and marriage could not enter
head under such circumstances.
understood the wish of the family,
she never give 1t q thought-not
" when Dicks visit on leave was
punced. They had been the warm
friends as children, but of late her
pathies had turned to Fred, his
.*ther. Tor he was in trouble; but
pathy, In this case, had no kim
with love. Fred. also was In the
yice. and he made the Generals
Pc MIS- home in London. while quart