The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-01
Written for The PROGRESSIVE Farmer.1
Her Rash Marriage.
BY IDA INGOLD-MAsTEN.

The sun was now hiding itself behind
the hills. The moo stood up red and
full lst waiting the disappearance of
the day king, so that she might shed
forth her glorious light and rest the
plants and trees. from the long, hot
glare Of a mid, summer day.
A gray stone house, with it's walls
draped with Ivy, stood we'll back from
q somewhat shaded street. At n of
its windows might be seen a girlish
figure reclining on the wide sill. Her
form was 1.-the and supple, her hair
golden, her complexion clear and white.
This young girl was Violet benson, and
this house was her fathers house.
She was dressed this evening in come
soft, creamy stuff, made baby fashion
over an orange tinted lining, The neck
a low and fri]led with yellow chiff IN.
Bows of wide, yellow ribbon fastened
at the back and front fell almost to the
floor. The dress was in perfect har-
mony with her yellow hair, which was
done in a large fluffy bunch at the back
of her shapely head. Violet possessed
beauty of feature ard form ID abun
dance, and she looked especially lovely
this evening, leaning m~otionless on the
window sill, looking out into the silent
night.
The round, full noon leaped the
heavens. The curtains Of night were
rolled back, the stars glittered forth
and everything lepsed into q silence
known only to a midsummer night,
The dew drops kissed the roses; the
dull flmy moonlight fell over the
earth in clouds Of silvery gray ness,
and chung to the trees and flower
friDged lawn like an immense bridal
veil, It softened every leaf, every bud,
every flower, and the whole world
seemed enchanted.
The girl at the window sat motion
less, leaning out into the fragrant
night. Her memory f3w to familiar
scenes IN a distant park, She saw a
red brick dwelling with a grassy lawn,
high elm trees and some hammocks
Inaide that dwelling her m3mOry went
from room to room, lingering on the
rich carpets and costly furnishings.
till, in the library it saw a stern face,
trirged with hair of an iron grey, and
heard stern commands. The poor girl
leaned her head over and tears came
in her blue eyes and trickled down her
soft cheeks and fell upon the white
roses she wore at her corsosye.
Almost a year ago Violet had been
wanted in marriage by a wealthy man
some thirty yers her senior. H5r par
ents were somewhat in favor OF the
marriage, on account Of the mans
wealth and standing, but had left the
decision TO be made by Violet. she
loatked the idea of marrying him
And, of course there was q younger
and haDdsomer man to be considered.
The hapdsomer man was Thurman
Weir, a mar or great musical talent,
and who was, az the present time,
Musical Director Of Client University
at Loire. She felt she could not marry
any enc, much less the stern old bach
elor in question, without Weir's con
ssnt. Weir held her life in his hands.
But one sad night about a year ago,
Weir had, in Z simple, thoughtless
JEST, provoked her quick temper to re-
sentiment. And Weir had misunder-
stood terribly, painfully, while Violet
had misunderstood lightly and willing
~. So there had been a misunder-
standing, a sad one on Weir's part, and
he betook himself from her.
As the days and weeks dragged by,
Violet waited in vain for her lover to
come, and to have the sweet pleasure
of lovers explanations and apologies.
He came not. At length she had
grown angry, and with an intense bitter
feeling Of indignation towards Tour
man Weir, she. had married the wealthy
old bachelor and gone with him to his
home some two hundred miles distant.
The old man was fond Of his young
wife in his way, and treated her al he
would have treated a daughter. VIC
let soon saw that to keep peace, she
was to be a very quiet and obedient
child. Her husband never c0nversed
with her as if she were not a woman
with a mind of her own, but just a
child, whose opinion had no weight
with him. This, Violet never could en-
dure. For, like most people, she dis
liked to be looked upon as an inferior
] hoinn Within o month Che grew sick