Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-03-13


a mark that had evidently been pricked
into her skin with some indelible sub
stance.
After a few weeks the wonder and
curiosity which this sole survivor OF
the wreck had excited died away, and
Mrs. Trenholme, yielding to the earn
est solicitations Of Ralph, decided to
adopt her. and rear her as her own.
The child was christened Marina, which
means from the sea, and turned over to
the care Of Kate Lane, the nurse, who
still had the charge of Agnes, Mrs.
Trenholme's little six years old daugh-
ter.
Marina was beautiful child-you
would seldom see beauty so faultless
as hers. Every day developed some
new charm. Her golden hair grew
more golden, her eyes bluer and deeper,
and her smile rarer and sweeter. Oc-
casionally, she would break out into
snatches of song - old melodies -
strange to all who listened, something
she must have learned in other lands,
and beneath SUMMER skies.
The waif had found good home, all
the neighborhood said. So she had.
High Rock was the manor house of the
vicinity, the Trenholmes the wealthiest
old family in that part Of the state.
The lands belonging to the estate were
wide and fertile, the old house was a
romance in itself, albeit most stately
one. 1t was built far out on great
peak, closely overhanging the sea-a
massive structure of gray stone, with
towers and gable windows, and wide
piazzas.
Mr.. Trenholme had held many Offices
of public trust, and as man and
scholar had stood very high. He had
died suddenly, two years before the
opening Of our story. Mrs. Trenholme
had truly and tenderly loved her hus-
band, and natures Ike hers never for
get. Her best consolation she found in
the affection she bore her children; and
Ralph and Agnes were worthy of all
the love she gave them. With very
little of their mothers naughty pride,
they had inherited all her beauty and
gentleness, while to Ralph, along with
his fathers fine intellect, had descended
his earnest heart, his strong affections,
and his almost chivalrous sense of hon
or. Ralph was eight years older than
Agnes. At fourteen he was tall, hand
some boy, with a dark, clear COM
plexion, brown eyes, and curling chest
nut hair. Agnes was of the less intense
type, with delicately cut features, dark
hazel eyes, pale complexion. and a
flush of scarlet on her sweet lips.
These were the children with whom
little Marina was thrown. They grew
up together. The girls loved each other
like sisters: indeed, there was little
chance for them to know the difference.
The children had but few playmates.,
the neighborhood was not very select,
and Mrs. Trenkolme was very particular.
Lynde Graham, the only child Of poor
fisherman that dwelt at the foot of the
Rock, was with them most frequenNy.
The proudest mother in the land would
have no objection to Lynde Graham as
a playmate for her children. He was
about Ralph's age, darling, noble
souled boy.
And sometimes from Ireton Lodge
the stately residence of Judge Ireton-
came Imogene, his daughter, to pay
little visits to the Trenholmes. Some
day Imogene Ireton would make hearts
ache; some day she would be absolutely
magnificent in her beauty. Even now
she was queenly. Her complexion was
like the creamy petals of lily; her
hair and eyes were black as night, and
ct times her cheeks flushed like car
nations, and her voice rang out like
the music of silver bells. Her whole
bearing was like that of one who knows
she was born for conquest. She was
naughty, arrogant and selfish.
At sixteen, Ralph Trenholme left
home for college. He remained there
four years, returning home only for
week or two at vacation time, and then
not always seeing Marina and Agnes,
who were at boarding school for
young misses. After his graduation, he
made the European tour, and four years
elapsed before, bronzed and bearded, he
again set foot upon his native land.
Meanwhile, Lynde Graham had
fought a hard battle and come off
conqueror. Men with eyes like his
seldom fail to accomplish what they
undertake with their whole souls. He
had fitted himself for college, taught
to gain the money requisite to defray
his expenses, and just as Ralph arrived
home, Lynde Graham had come back
to the fishers cottage,.with the diploma
from Harvard in his pocket. He had
graduated with the very highest hon
ors, and at once began studying medi-
cine with DR.. Hudson. of Portlea.