Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-05-22
MARION'S MISTAKE
BY JENNY WREN.

SSSSN been SO accuS-
toned to see men at her feet--to have
them smile at her bidding and obey
her slightest whim, that there was "
singular fascination in knowing her
momentary caprices had no power to
sway the current of one mans will,
that what he thought right he held to,
even should it subject him to her dis
pleasure. His wooing had not been
very demonstrative. In few simple,
straightforward words, he told her of
his love, and asked her to be his wife,
but when she had as quietly answered
him in silent wonderment at her own
submission, he drew her to him and
pressed single kiss upon her fore
head, and for one moment, as she lay
in his arms, look came into his face
as of man who has won grand race,
whose triumph all the world must
exult in. Women smiled when the ell
gagement was announced. A danger
ous rival was removed from their path
way. Men frowned. Who was this
man who had outstripped them in the
ranks? They had not even recognized
him as a competitor, and, 10! he had
borne away the prize. But of all this
outward conjecture the lovers needed
little. Once Nelson said to her, as he
bade her goodnight after returning
from an evening of dissipation at some
fashionable ball:
II shall be so glad, Marion, when all
this is over, when society will be con
tent to let us drop from its roll. and
retire into our own quiet home life. y
ooh, but Nelson" she answered,
"society is not going to give us up
simply because we are married. ex-
pect to make quite sensation, L as
sure you. as Mrs. Ellis"
"a sensation! My wife sensation? I?
7 trust not. Wives, Marion, have
other duties, which hope the girl |
love will find greater pleasures than
any society can offer. l am not q
jealous man, Marion-at least not con-
sciously so; hut to see you as 1 have
seen you tonight, giving your smiles,
your glances to other men, has shown
me how little | could tolerate in Il
wife. But / will atone for all yor,
give up, dear, by devoting my life to
you, aud making your happiness my
own"
1t was hours after he left her before
Marion fell asleep. She could have
yielded society with all it's glare and
glitter without pang, but what he had
said had grated on her He had asked,
not as something yielded for his
sake, but taken it as simple matter
of course. He seemed to ignore that
it might 10 her be sacrifice to yield
that which had really given hef keen
enjoyment. Suppose the light in the
crowded bathrooms was artificial, it
was none the less pleasant to her
young eyes: if the whispered nothings
in her ears were subtle batteries, they
were so delicately veiled that they fell
softly aud Jared not. 1t had grown
part of her life, and simply because
her life was to he merged with his
must she leave behind her all the pleas
ant follies of her youth?
When he next met her Nelson missed
something. Her greeting had lost
none of its warmth. her smile none of
its sweetness. hut there was now aud
then an absent look in her eyes which
haunted him long after he hal left
her.
II was at this time that Allen Fame
came upon the scene. He and Marion
had been friends when children He
had carried with him all these wears
the pictured memory of her face. and
when he returned to find its radian,
beauty all undimmed. the first glad.
ness was met with the absolute shock
of finding another its possessor. He
had not been conscious of his dreams
until he was rudely awakened from
them, as one walking peacefully in his
sleep upon an unguartled parapet, sud
denly is aroused to sense of his grea,
danger. Marion met him with 4
warmth which brought ray of hope
into the darkness. He might yet re
irieve his late return. aud. subtly
quietly, he laid the snares which were
to cntrap her feet.
81 suppose it would he hard enough
to give You up, Marion. 10 any one,
he said to her one evening when hel
lover was absent. "Notwithstaudjn,
my own love is hopeless, I cannot max,
secret of its existence to you.
could not hide it, if I would. hut I,
see you give yourself to man VIII,
prizes your loveliness only rs q Turl
his slave. who will possess it only tina
he may hide l. from the world, VIII,
will doom your Young life 10 he spen
only for his own selfish ends, is intol
erable to me. "
Won do Mr.. Ellis great injustice
Allen. Bnt ,vra did I think him s.
ss'hsh aS ydu portray him. certainl
would not discusS his faults with An