The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1900-12-14
The Pursuit Of Happiness.

hihtoDuly was IdltClCu WHtH LII. II C.
lix Morris asked her to marry him.
Love had never come her way As an
orphan she had been confined to the
care of &. spinster aunt, who was prin-
cipal of the village high school, and
Alice had grown up by rule.
At the age of 23 she was still with
out independence, 4 victim to the re-
'entless order and precision of her
aunt's house. She hid met few con-
genial persons of her own age; she was
a nonentity in the presence of her dog
matte aunt, who was lsidered per-
son of much Importance. Alice's opiD-
ion was never asked. A fiction pre-
vailed that she was still child. and
her attitude toward all the world was
deferential.
DR.. Felix Morris was at least 81, and
he had way about him that marked
him man of affairs. In the rich old
village he was easily the leading phys
ician in spite OF his comparative youth,
and he was sert for from distant towns
to participate in consultations. He was
not a native of the village, and little
was known of him except that he was
a brilliant physician. an indefatigable
student, and man of property. In
fact. he presided over an elaborate es
tablishment, consisting of a square,
sullen-looking stone building in the
midst of beautiful park, and the most
extensive private stables in the coun-
ty.
He did not seem to think long or
demonstratlve courtsnip necessary. He
had been attending the aunt of Alice
Almsbury through a severe illness, and
had frequently been in consultation
with the niece, Perhaps he had cast
an appreciative eye upon the perfectly
kept mouse and made note of the re-
serve of manner possessed by the girl
AT any rate he said one morning after
his professional call:
1t will be unnecessary for me to
see your aunt again, Miss Alsmsbury.
If | cali again it must be for pleasure
My duties are finished here, l think"
1t will be at once a pleasure and
duty to receive you," the girl replied,
taking his words as a formal polite
ness, and meaning nothing more by
hers, Neither my aunt nor myself
will forget what you have done for
her."
She was astonished when the doctor
presented himself the next Sunday af-
ternoon and indicated by his manner
that his visit was a social one. She
Sfi1l WI
clared quite frankly that his visit was
for her. He talked about matters of
general interest, and while the girl
mad more than half notion that the
conversation was pe-functory she laio
that to the unaccustomed nature of his
call. When he asked her to go riding
with him the next day she accepted
readily enough. Her aunt gave con-
sent, seeing in the invitation only the
thoughtfulness of careful physician.
She agreed with him that Alice had
been shut up in the sickroom too much.
Now, Mr.. Felix Morris was hand
some man in cold and self-sufficient
way, with an aristocratic air; he was
already distinguished and rich More
over, he had trick of command So
when he asked the lonely and timid
girl to marry him, she accepted she
expected to be loved. Else why should
he desire to marry her? AS for her
self, so pleased was she at a prospect
of change in her dull life that she had
not an idea whether she loved him or
not.
She was elated There was a glori-
Gus sense of anticipation! What more
could one ask?
Her aunt provided a substantial
trousseau, every one of consideration
in the village was invited to the we'd
ding, and six weeks after that unex-
pected ride Alice Morris settled down
in the sullen stone house and looked
about her expectantly for the happi-
ness which belonged to her.
Two days after the wedding her hus-
band said to her:
Mrs. Nelson, the housekeeper, is
about leaving, you know. L suppose
she told you"
mo. Does she leave because l have
Gomez"
Not at all. On the contrary, she
told me three months ago that she
would like to be relieved from duty.
She is going to her daughter"
A miserable idea intruded itself into
Alices mind. Was it possible that she
had been invited to fill the domestic
deficiency caused by .be departure of
the hOusekeeper?
My coming seems to have been op-
portune," she said dryly. She was not
in the habit Of indulging in sharp
speeches, but during the two days OF
her marriage she mad come to TIE re9t-
ization that she was to have no honey
moon. With actual horror she per-
ceived that her unloved girlhood was
to find its perpetuation in loveless
womanhood. With her once installed