Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-06-04
MARI0N'S MISTAKE.
ny JENNY WREN.

II was 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 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 itsubject him to
her displeasure. 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 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 rs of a
man who has won grand race. whose
triumph all the world must exult 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 as a COM
pctitor, and, lol he had borne away the
prize. But Of all this outward conjec-
ture the lovers needed little. Once Nell
son said to her, as he babe her good
night 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 it's roll, and re-
tire into our own quiet home life"
"Oh, but Nelson" she answered, $50
ciety is not going to give us up simply
because we are married. / expect to
make quite sensation, assure you, as
Mrs. Ellis"
"a 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 so; but
to see you as have seen you tonight,
giving your smiles, your glances to
other men, has shown me how little
could tolerate in wife. But l 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 as q something yielded for his sake,
but takenitas 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
something. Her greeting had lost none
of it's warmth, her 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
1t 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 years the pic
tured memory of her face, and when he
returned to find it's radiant beauty al
undimmed, the first gladness was me-
with an absolute shock of finding an
other its possessor. lie had not beer
conscious of his dreams until he wal
rudely awakened from them, as on,
walking peacefully in his sleep upon n
unguardcd parapet, suddenly is aroused
to q sense of his great danger. MarioI
met him with q warmth which brough
ray OF hope into the darkness. II
might yet retrieve his late return, and
subtly, quietly, he laid the snares whicl
we're to entanp her feet.
"I suppose it would be hard enough t.
give you up, Marion, to anyone" he salt
to her one evening when her lover wa
absent. Notwithstanding my own low
Is hopeless, I cannot make, secret of 1t
existence to you. I could not hide it, J
would, but to see you give yourself to
man who prizes your loveliness only a
aTurlx his slave, who will possess it onl
that he may hide it from the world,wh
will doom your young life 10 be spcn
only for his own selfish ends, is intoler
able to me"
"You do Mr.. Ellis great injustice
Allen. But even did think him so sell
ish as you portray him, certain
would not discuss bis faults with an
one so long as looked upon him as m
promised husband"
But when again and again her b.
trothed urged her to appoint a day whe
he might really call her his, Allen Fame
words came to her mind. Linked to he
own expressed Thought which ha
ranlsled so long and sowed the first see
OF doubt, she shrank at the idea OF lal
ing the step from which there was II
Withdrawal.
"Why are you SO anxious, Nelson
she ot, last said to him. "Think of tn
long wears we are to spend togethe
Absolutely it is appalling! You WI
get tired of me soon enough"
"Tired Of you, darling. Docs one tir
OF the sunlight, or voluntarily see
the shadow? 1t seems to me SINCE
have met you that I have only for tn
Arst. time realized whnt a great boo
life may prove. have waited long nn
rot;enHjy. dear. Give me the promise
asls tonight. Let the June roses olo
son for my bride, and the robins son
echo our happiness"
"Nl,ere shnll we spend the summe
Nelson?' :,
~ have chosen q little cottage y
away from the noise and hustle of q q
world. It is perfect in It's every y
pointment, and we con spend the lon
Summer days in forgetfulness th'
there exists the seething, surging Gu
rent Of human life, from which we hay
- 1.anoratcd our own. DO you wohh'
lam impatient, dear?" Z.
..o,. h,,t Nelson. j hate cottage III