Smyrna times., 1901-02-13
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Marion Purcell had given up every
hope of being happy. So she told
every one which was inclined to talk
and sympathize with her Yet she
was pretty, clever and young-very
young for her actual age of "a, as she
proved by habitually speaking of her
self as a woman getting on in life.
And it is only the youthful who do
that. The average maiden lady, who |
has left her Both birthday several years
behind, usually alludes to herself as a
girl. Miss Purcells despondency of
mind resulted from having given her
love to a man who did not want it.
1t was but fair to him-Jack Gray
was his name-to say that he had never
played with this young lady's affec-
tions, nor spoken a word which she
could have imagined the prelude to an
offer of marriage That indeed, was
why Marion was so angry with herself,
and why she felt doomed to a lifelong
sorrow, not unmixed with self-humi-
liation. She loved Gray simply be-
cause she could not help it, nor was he
certainly less than 10 years her senior
perhaps even a year or two more than
that.
They had met during a country
house visit, and finding that Gray pos
g. IL h III,
hood of Marion Purcell's home, it was
pleasant to anticipate further acq1ain-
tance.
In this way they became intimate,
and Gray enjoyed run down" to the
Marston's little place in Surrey all the
better for being sure to see that pretty
and pleasant Miss Purcell, who could
talk more pleasantly and brightly than
the average girls of the time.
The Purcells were not wealthy peo
pie. They could not we'll be 50 will
nine children, of whom Marion was
the eldest Four boys followed her a
intervals of 10 to 18 months; then cam,
four girls. and the youngest of all was
but when the eldest of the family
was 21.
Such difference of age was a draw
back IN many points of view. Marion
had to play the part of deputy mother
when she was only slip of a girl, anC
now-when she was grown to woman
hood--a large share of domestic re
sponsibility fell upon her as a simpl
matter of course.
That was why outside friends invite
her here and there SO often. The
said that that Miss Purcell was too mic
and too clever to be mewed up forevt
in little country home, with no MOI
exciting occupation than repairing tn
torn garments of the young member
of the family or making the lightest
pastry and the most successful cak'
and puddings.
''You will have a husband and
home of your own, some day" Il
older ladies would say, when Mario
sighed a little over Dicks habits
teasing and Geoffrey's rude answer
and the general croOkedness of Il
younger children. And the girl won
smile, and blush, and look half-pleas
half shy, at this prediction until-we
until the time came when she kne
she loved Jack Gray and knew that
did not love her, thereby driving h
to the conviction that life had taken
wrong turning for her. and all hope
exceeding happiness must be Civ
up.
The year of 1900 had run round
her pretty much as it did for people
general. Week days and Sunda.
good, bad and medium weather,
seasons coming one after another, a
nothing out of the common happeni
in the Purcell household or in t
neighborhood. Only that to Mar
would always be marked in her men
calander in black letters, because q
ing it's progress she had fallen L
love-and unreturned love.
Holiday preparations were adva
ing; Mrs, Purcells conversations W
her eldest daughter ran very mi
upon the necessary mincemeat 6
the inevitable plum pudding, anC
children's party had been promised
be the youngest members of the Fl
lily.
Other invitations were being Civ
notably by the Staintons, the par
ular friends of Mr.. Gray. Their da
was set for the 23rd of December,
everybody who was known to IL
ever so slightly was asked, so that
rooms might be full and the merrin
all that was reasonable.
Marion bad haan fohtinO rather