St. Tammany farmer., 1897-06-19
MARION'S MISTAKE.

MARION'S MISTAKE.
M JENNY WREN.
1t was strange wooing, that OF Mel
son Ellis. rerhaps its very strange
neas won Marion Reynolds into assent
Che mas been 20 accustomed to see meu
y her foet-to have them smile at heu
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
ne held to. even should it subject him to
ner dlspleasure. His xooing had not
oeen very demonstrative. In q few
simple. straightforward words, he told
her OF his love, and asked her to be his
wife, but when she had as quietly an
swered him in silent wonderment at her
own submission, he drew her to him and
pressed . single kiss upon her forehead,
and for one moment, as she lay In his
arms, look came into his face as of a
man who has won grand race. whose
triumph all the world must sexult in
women smiled when the engagement
was announced. A dangerous rival was
removed from their pathway. Men
frowned. Who was this man who had
outstriPped them in the ranks? They
had not even recognized him a. a COM
petitor, and, lol he had borne away the
prize. But Of all this outward conjec-
ture the lovers needed little. Once Mel
son said to- her, as he bade her good
night after returning from an evening
OF dissipation at some fashionable bali ;
Il shall be 90 glad. Marion. when all
this Is over. when society will be con-
tent to let us drop from its roll, and re-
tire into our own quiet home life"
'Oh. but Nelson" she answered, $50
ctety Is not going to give us up simply
oecauso we are married. I expect to
make quite = sensation, I assure You, as
Mrs. Ellis"
"A sensation! Ny wife a sensation?
] trust not. Wives, Marion, have other
duties. which I hope the girl love will
find greater pleasures than any society
can ofer. am not a jealous man. Ma
rfon-at least not consciously so; but
to see you g have seen you tonight,
giving your smiles. your glances to
other men, has shown me how little
could tolerate in q wife. But I will
atone for all you give up. dear. by de-
voting my life to you. and making your
happiness my own"
It 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 Us something yielded for his sake,
buttaken it as simple matter of course.
He seemed to ignore that it might to
her be sacrifice to yield that which had
really given her keen enjoyment.
When he next met her Nelson missed |
someAhing. Her greeting had lost none
Of it's warmth, hr smile none of its
sweetness, but there was now and then
an absent Look in her eyes which |
haunted him long after he had left her.
It was At this time that Allen Fame |
came upon the scene He and Marion |
had ben friends when children. He had |
carried with him oil these years the pic
tured memory Of her face. and when he
returned to find its radiant beauty all |
the first gladness was met
with an absolute shock of finding an
other its possessor. He had not been
Of his dreams until he was
Fudely awakened from thcm, as one
walking peacefully In his sleep upon IN
parnpet. suddenly is aroused
10 eense of his great danger. Marion
nDet him with q warmth which brought
} ray Of hope into the darkness. He
might yet retrieve his late return, and,
subtly. quietly, he laid the snarcs which
we're to ents1p her feet.
II suppose it would be hard enough to
give you up. Marion. to anyone." he said
% her one evening when her lover was
lhsen&. Notwithstanding my own love
8 hopeless, cannot make = secret Of its
.xistenro to you. could not hide it, II
would, but to see you give yourself to a
nan who prizes your loveliness only as
J Turk his slave. who will possess it only
hat he may hide it from the world who
vill doom your young life 10 be spent
'nly for his own selfish ends, Is intoler-
Ible to me-"
You do Mr.. Ellis great injustice,
Allen. But even did think him 20 self
sh as you portray him, certainly
Eould. not discuss bis faults with any !
ne 80 long as I looked upon him N my /,
husband"
But when again and again her be-
rothed urged her to appoint day when ,
e might really call her his, Allen Fane's
1ords came to her mind. Linked to her
wn expressed thought which had
nukled 80 long and spweai the first seed
doubt. she sha0nk At the idea Of taxi
y the step from which there wes NO
why aro you 70 anxious, Nelson ?" !,
Be at list said to him. Think Of the
Dng years we are to spend together.
bsolutely It is appalling! You win
= tired Of me soon enough"
Tired Of you, darling. Does ONE tire
the sunlight, Or voluntarily seek !,
No shadow? It seems to me eince :
mo met you that have only for the :,
~ time realized what great boon :,
70 may prove. have waited long and !
ltjeufay. dear. Give me the promise l !.
X tonight Let the June roses bios :,
m for my bride. and the robins song
Ao our happiness" /.
''wheEe snail We spend the summer, :
e3sun7" =,
ssr Is~> eho.er . l;ttl> .r<x.
my from the noise and hustle Of the
Md. Il is perfect in it's every ap- =
int1ment. and We can spend the long Il