Middletown transcript., 1896-05-16

J are dozen reasons for my decision
but there is no use in going over them
This is final, 30 please don't come t.
see me. After you stop caring, ani
we can be just good friends again, ther
come. Believe me that / am your
friend when I refuse to let you be any
thing more to. Don't come to me-
| remember
MARION.
| She put on hf hat and jacket. II
was late, but 81 would slip out and
post one of letters. Which one
she would not know till tomorrow even.
| ing at nine. If Roy came she would
keep her word and marry him; If not.
she would go on with her old life. Which
life she wanted she did not know; there
we're arguments for and against both.
Yes; she would leave the decision to
chance. She took up the letters and
shuffied them, then she threw both in
to table drawer, and shutting her
eyes, took up one. Three minutes later
it was in the letter box, and Marion
was rushing back through the rain.
The die was cast.
She did not clase her eyes till five
O'Clock in the morning, and then she
slept heavily until ten. No; she would
not work that day. She dressed to go
out, and spent couple of hours in a
picture gallery, lunching alone at quiet
little restaurant. Then she walked, or
browsed among old book stores, till the
darkness fell. After her solitary din
ner she pretended to read for a while;
then she went to dress for nine O'clock.
There Was one gown in the not very
full wardrobe which Roy like particu-
laEly well. 1t was of deep garnet
color, trimmed with velvet of a darker
shade. and SIT off at the throat and
wrists with bit of old lace. The dress
was old fashioned, d almest THREAD
bare, but il suited Marion. Roy once
said that she locked like a picture in
it.
She dressed her hair in The fashion he
liked, and then sal down TO wait. There
was yet half All hour before the clock
would strike nine. She went to the
piano and played fitfully-snatches of
old tunes, gay waltzls, bits from the
operas. Still ten minutes to wail At
nine she would know which letter she
had posted. She paced the floor. she
stoud at the window, she .poked the
logs on the hearth, she listened for the
bell. Why, she was growing nervous,
she told herself. Actually, Marion
Harcourt nervous! Oh, why had Roy
Manning disturbed her pc ace of mind?
1t began to mean SO much, his coming
or not coming.
Three minutes more! If he came be
would be on time; be would count the
moments till he could come to her.
Was that the bell? No; but the clock
struck nine. Roy was not there. Per-
haps his watch might be slow; even If
it were not he would not be likely to
come exactly ON the stroke of the hour.
Marion went to the door. s'Susan, il
any one Calls, l am in, you know"
Five, ten minutes past nine! The
clock surely must be fast. All, the |
belll She had sent the letter which said |
yesl She was sorry for it. She could't |
give up the old, free life. A knock at |
the door; it was not Roy, but Susan |
saying, "Miss Charlock. sent back the
books she borrowed"
1t must have been the other letter,
after all. 1t was half past nine Roy would |
not come now. Marion dropped into |
the nearest chair. feeling that she had
suddenly grown old. What had become
of the brightness of the room? Every
thing was old and shabby, and she was,
q lonely woman. who had thrown away
all that woman should long for, in
exchange for what?
She walked the floor till she became
tired. then sank down in an arm chair.
Her face was bowed on her folded arms,
and for the first time since her child
hood Marion shed tears. They over
flowed her eyes, and ran down on her
dress. There was no reasoning the m
away, no explaining them; they simply
came yelling out. She could no more
help shedding them than she could
change the color of her eyes. What had
she done in her pride and hardness?
Eyes; she is in. Walk right in the
study il you pieass," Susan was say
ing.
How Roy crossed the room soquickly
Marion never knew, but she found her
self crying again; but instead Of cry
ing on the table cloth, she was shedding
tears upon Roy Is overcoat. She seemed
20 re dizzy, and she heard him say, be-
sween kisses, 81 got your refusal, and
began TO pack like mad to 60 away.
Just before nine the second letter came |
and rushed over here. l don't pre-
end to understand it all, but the last
etter is all care for. You have been
crying, poor child. Was it because I |
lid not come? Do explain the mystery ,
# those two letters. No, never mind
lie explanation; it does not matter now,
nd we'll have lifetime to expla in ;
n"
"But l want to tell you, Roy. / did
write two letters, but l meant to
nail only one. though I would let
nance decide which it would be, you ,,
zee, and your coming or not coming at :
line this evening would tell me which E