The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-03
A FIERY TRIAL.
EBy Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton in the
Peoples Home Journal

I
Peoples Home Journal
a blazing day. Between the brassy
splendor Of a cloudIess sky and the
glaring surface of the lake. Marcia
could find no GOODNESS anywhere.
True she had given one longing
glance toward the majestic rank and
dle of the woods on the mainland, but
to reach it would have required a long
walk over shingly neck. where the
greater exert1on of rowing there from
the point.
She had chosen to remain at the
house as the least OF the evils She sat
in cane rocker upon the veranda, a
little drift OF dIrny lacework in her lap,
and an open book on the stand at her
side: but even the double occupation
thus afforded her was not sufficient TO
still her restlessness.
How she had used to envy LueIla the
faculty of folding her hands in utter
idleness, and looking away into dis
lance, as if oblivious to everything but
the dreams she saw therel
Probably Marcia lost herself for
moment in the train of reflections
Al any rate the consciousness that q
woman had approached the veranda
came upon her like a sudden shock
This house had the strip Of barren
headland all to itself. and visitors were
rare there but 1t was not so much
mere surprise as the sensation she
might have felt had she invoked
phantom and Ii had appeared before
her which weighed upon Marcia then
In another moment she had sprang
forward and caught desh-and- blood
image by both hands.
Il thought it was surely your wrath,
Luellal / haven't had such a chill of
holy horror since Fay heard the ghost
walking overhead that stormy nigh hi. and
we discovered it in the pan aunt had
set in the attic to catch the drip. What
nonsense did we not experience in those
days I wonderl You never came
alone2''
yes. alone. Let me go In. Marcia.
Who is here2"
mo one. It's a blessing that Aunt
Linn Is tied to her room with influenza.
Think of any one having cold in the
head weather like this!''
The great, startled eyes, that had
been wandering about in a searching
glance, now fixed themselves upon
Marcia's face.
Have you heard anything about
me?" she demanded. ST have done no
wrong
This was strange talk for Luella- The
other saw, with concern, her wild. pale
looks-noticed the cold. clammy touch
of her hands.
Il want you to believe have done
no wrong" impatiently.
Il do. Any one who has known you
must. What is. the matter, Lucia r.
THAT / am hungry, first, suppose,
or ought to be- had no dinner"
Dinner! And you have been travel
ing. That means you have had no
breakfast either, and you have walked
through this glare from the station
enough to kill youl Come, YOU shall eat
and sleep both before you speak a word
of your trouble"
That there was trouble it required no
words to tell.
Marcia led the way to the dining
room and tried to forget her own Won
der in dispensing the rites of hospitall-
ty- Luella's brOWS knit with swift pain
as she observed her surroundings
How little you change hereY' she
said. Two years, but can almost be-
here yesterday! Why, those white roses
in the vase might be the very ones 1t
held that morning
When Leo upset your boat and gave
us all such a fright
To herself, Marcia was grieving over
the lines drawn by the drama of the
world In which she took so little part.
The softness and brightness had gone
out Of the lovely face, which bore now
the stamp of utter WEAKNESS.
Yes. What pity we did not drown
together that morning, Leo and T. said
Luella,, not recklessly, not bitterly, but
with set conviction which was worse
than either
When she had eaten. and drank
great shellcup of bitter Mocha, she
leaned back in her chair and closed her
eyes like a tired child.
Marcia put her elbow on the table and
her chin on her hand. recalling that
past, while she kept under quietude
Aunt Linn had enticed her here by
opening the house to a very select
party. There were the twins, Fay and
Grace, the Murray boys, who We're in
their train, Leo and Jerome. Luella. and
herself.
With the old house full OF life, and the
days all golden, the time slipped into
midsumla er before Marcia discovered
that the thread of purpose was being
woven in the web OF. life through the
woof of their idle pleasures.
She was down on her knees one
morning, picking the dead leaves from
Aunt Inns geraniums. Lucia sat
upon the steps-a fair. cool picture,
frightened by the scarlet fuchsia drop
ping down from her hair.
She looked to her friends adoring
eyes like a being apart from the pas
siOns of ordinary 1ife-..whOm love hath
not touched nor sorrow dimmed."
Let her learn the lesson OF me-" said
Jerome. with reference to half the
quotation only, when Marcia put her
fancy into words
The fiery notes Of sunshine dazzled
before her eyes, The marble head of
a rose and white cluster came off UNI
der her ruthless hands. Jerome gave a
f1irt of the watering pet he had been
welding, which deluged her with a
miniature shower.
Tame work, Miss Marcia. I'm off If
you're done with me-" and without
awaiting the permission, he dashed into
the house, from which he emerged with
dog and gun. and later, the music of
the discharge and the faint wreaths
of smoke curling up from the marshy
grounds marked his course through the
day.
1t was that impetuous and energetic
nature-the capacity for vigorous ac-
ton and the conscious power which
had exerted its influence over Marcia.
What more natural than that the calm
strength to be found in Luella should
have attracted such a MANI One sharp
little struggle with Self. and Marcia
was ready to stand aside and watch
the drift which should carry them to-
gether, though not without misgivings.
Two such intense indiyiduaIities as