Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-08-31
MARION.
by JULIA COURTNEY.


Excuse me for . moment while !
get them for you.' She passed
quickly through an inner door into
an adjoining room. He stood IS
she had left him, his hat in his
hand, stifiy erect and convention
ally polite, in sort of tension, the
tightness Of which even her depar-
ture from the room did not loosen.
It was . warm afternooa. The
wind coming in through the west
window, gently lifted the lace cnr.
from the floor, and just as gently
let it fall again. The roses in the
yard gave forth of their perfume,
bat scarcely stirred, and only gold
aud black butterfly disturbed with
. fash of color the calm serenity Of
the time.
Three, four, Eve minutes passed,
and the man. waiting with appar-
emily stoical patience, and gazing
through the open door at the grace
ful circles Of the black butterfly, in
reality saw nothing. The sombre
blackness of his eyes spoke i'll of
his thoughts. Ten minutes, and
with q soft rustic she re.sntered
the room. He was still standing
in the spot where she had left him.
Pardon me, she said, advancing.
q supposed you were seated
1t doesn't matter in the least
he answered. taking from her out
stretched hands the package she
held
As he did so their eyes met. Un-
consciously he dropped the letters,
and seized her hands in both Of his.
Marion, Marion For Gods sake
do not let as part like this =
For an instant she was pale as
death, and she gazed at him with
wide-open eyes. too frightened to
speak. Then, as the color came
back to her face, she drew herself
up proudly and answered.
Miss Allen in the future, Mr..
Norton
he dropped her hands and stood
erect before her. he lowered above
her in the dignity Of his passionate
anger. His eyes blszed but his
voice was low.
Miss Allen ] Miss Allen This
from the woman who was my be-
trothed bride This from the one
woman In all the world whom /
deemed truel You give back my
love. as you do my ring, and bid
me offer it to some other woman
who win accept it. No! Il would
be an insult to offer the heart you
have owned to another. ! would
meet the supremest scorn to give to
. true woman the dregs Of faith
and trust and love you have left
with me. But you shall never be
Miss Allen to mel You may mar
ry your millionaire lover il You will,
you may be to the world what you
will, but remember that to me you
shall be ouly Marion Excuse me
for intruding; / win bid you good
day.
He turned and left her as she
stood. She heard his quick angry
step upon the walk, and the latch of
the gate click after him. She tried
TO call but no word escaped ber lips.
She started toward the door, but
the letters ct her feet withheld her,
and with trembling fingers she
knelt TO pick them mp. Then she
fed quickly to her room and bolted
herself within.
II was another bright day Q few
weeks later. A rich July day in all
the beauty Of It's blue skY, its per-
fume and its flowers. An ideal day
FOR q wedding, and the society Of
the town were congratulating Ma
rion on winning the smiles Of the
god Of day. It was high noon, and
st. Marks had never held Q larger
or more fashionable gathering.
The ushers had escorted the rows of
white-robed maidens to the front,
and had unfassened the streamers
Of white ribbon to allow the family
and immediate guests to pass. and
then stood holding them in their
hands. The candles on the altar
glimmered against the rich back
grounds, and the lilies on the
organ and the altar railing drooped
in the sultry heas.
The minister opened his service,
/ and stood facing the congregation.