The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-05-28
MARION'S MISTAKE.
BY JENNY WREN.

BY JENNY WREN.
1t was a strange woOing, that of Mel
son Ellis Perhaps its very strange
ness won Marion Reynolds into assent.
She has been so accustomed to see men
at her feet-to have them smile at her
bidding and obey her slightest whim.
that there was a singular fascination in
knowing her momentary caprices had
no power to sway the current of on..
mans will, that what he thought right
he held to, even should il subject him To
her diSpleaSure. His wooing had not
been very demonstrative. In a 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 a single kiss upon her forehead.
and for one moment, as she lay in his
arms, a look came into his face as of a
man who has won grand race, whose
triumph all the world must eXult in.
Women smiled when the engagement
was announced. \ 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 as a com
petitor. and, 10, he had borne away the
prize. But of all this outward conicc-
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 come fashionable ball:
II shall be 50 glad. Marion. when all
this is over, when society viii be con
tent TO let us drop from its roll, and re-
tire into our own quiet home life
'Oh, but Nelson" she answered. so
ciety is not going to give US up simply
because we are married. l expect to
make quite sensation, ass.IIe YOU. as
Mrs. Ellis
~ sensation My wife a sensation?
| trust not. Wives. Marion. have other
duties, which hope the girl love will
find greater pleasures than any society
can offer. | am not a jealous man. Ma
riOn-at least not consciously 50: bat
to see You as l have seen You tonight.
giving your smiles, Your glances to
other men, has shown me how little |
could tolerate in a wife. But | Will
atone for all you give up, dear, by de
voting my life to You. and 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 a panr, but " hat he had
said had grated on her He had asked.
not as a something yielded for his sake
but taken it as "A simple matter Of course.
He seemed to ignore that ii might to
her be sacrifice To yield that which had
really given her keen enjoyment.
When he next met her Nelson missed
something. Her greeting had lost none
of its warmth. her smile none Of is
sweetness, but there was now and then
an absent look in her eyes which
haunted him long after he had left her.
1t was at this time that Allen Fame
came upon the scene. He and Marion
had been friends " hen children. He had
carried with him all these years the pic
tuTed memory of her face. and when he
returned to find its radiant beauty all
undimmej, the first gladness was met
with an absolute shock of finding an
other 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
unguaTJled Farapej. suddenly iS aroused
to a sense of his great danger. Marion
met him with a warmth which brought
a ray of hope into the darkness. He
might yet retrieve his late return. and
subtly. quietly he laid the snareS which
were to entrup her feet.
Il suppose it would be hard enough to
give YOU up. Marion, to anyone" he said
to her one evening when her lover was
absent. Notwithstanding my own love
il hopeless, l cannot make a secret of its
existence to you. | could not hide il, if
/ would. but to see YOU give yourself TO a
man who prizes your loveliness only IS
Il Turk his slave. who viii possess ii only
Tint he may hide il from the world. who
will doom your young life to b-e speI
only for his own selfish ends, is inzoler-
able TO me-
"You do Mr.. Ellis great injustice,
Allen. But even did think him so self
ish as you portray him. l certainly
would not discuss his faults with any
One 50 long az | looked upon him as ny
promised husband"
But when again and again her be
trothed urged her to appoint day when
he might really call her his, Allen Fane's
words came to her mind. Linked 10 her
own expressed Thought which had
ranked ~ long and sOwed the first seed
of doubt. she sf1zanlI at the idea of lall-
ing the step from which there was no
Withdrawal.
why are You 50 anxious, Nelson"
she at, last said to him. Think of the
long years we are to spend together
Absolutely il is appalling! You viii
get tired Of me ss.on enough
Tired of You. darling. Does one tire
Of the sunlight, or voluntarily seek
the shadow? 1t seems TO me since.
have met YOU that | have only for the
first time realized what Il great boon
Hfe may prove | have waited long and
patiently. dear. Give me the promise
ask tonight. Let the June roses bios
sem for my bride. and the robins song
echo our happiness"
where slIall we spend the summer,
Nelson2''
Il have chosen a little cottage far
away from the noise and hustle of the
world. 1t is perfect in its every APP
Po;ntment. and we can spend the long
summer days in forgetfulness that
there exists the seething, surging cur
rent of human life. from which we have
so separated our own. Do you wonder
1 am impatient. dear?"
"Oh. but Nelson, l hate cottage life.
and | am sure our society would become
mutually unbearable in such monot-