Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-07

5 A Woman and the .JdCkd|S s
g -- &
by Ella W. Peattie.
s. ~ s's Va Pesss'e' *


Copyright, 1901 by Daily Story Pub Coz.
Marian Ogden was popular. When
anyone had occasion to mention her
which was quite often-they said
isn't she popular?"
OF course there We're reasons for it.
She was young, original kind. clever.
rich, and mistress of herself and her
property.
Size had numerous lovers. all of
whom were more or less commonplace
in the character of their devOtiOnS, and
to none of them did the lady appear to
incline. AT last it was noticed that she
was earnestly beset by certain gentle
man who was possessed not only of ali
aristUctatic name d considerable fortune
and remarkable personal attractions, but
also IA picturesque history. Did Miss
Ogden know of this picturesqueness the
gossips wondered. If so. was she going
to be able to overlook-well, certain
things which everyone knew about and
which nobody mentioned?
Miss Ogden was Seen-in white satin
embroidered at the opening night Of
the new theater, in the company of the
gentleman: the next week she was at
the horse shown black and silver
lacinSs-with the same escort; and to
cap the climax. she was observed at the
cErysanthemum shown gray with gold
Notwithstanding upon his arm. 1t
seemed as good as settled, and society.
which is not altogether heartless. sighed
a little and thought it rather pity that
a girl like that should be so utterly in
different toto a picturesque history.
But the odd part of it was that the
day after the horse show Miss Ogden
disappeared
She failed to keep luncheon en-
gagement that day, and her would be
hostess. not receiving any excuse, en-
deavored to call her up by telephone.
Her housekeeper replied that she had
not come home the night before, and
1t had been supposed that she met
with some friends with whom she
went home. but that no word had been
heard OF her. Her two spinster rela-
tives who lived with her-they were the
first cousins of her deceased stepfather-
We're in much alarm and could throw
no light upon the subject. At last, the
gentleman with the picturesque history
was appealed to. He seemed very much
disturbed. but said he had left her turn
ing the latch key in her own door the
night before. having escorted her home
show.
Had they gone anywhere for sup
PERI"
mo"
Had they-had they had any differ
ence of opinion?"
mo"
"He could offer no explanation-no
SUGGESTION
None
Begging a thousand pardons-he and
Miss Ogden We're not married."
APPROXIMATELY - most unfortunately
for him-no. Nor likely to be-
The truth about Marion was, that
that night her Impotence with mean
ingless and eNhausting life had reached
its climax. She was not ignorant of the
Picturesque History, but by a miserable
fatality, the man possessing it, held
more fascination for her than other
man she knew. In foolish and wildly
lonesome moments, Marion told herself
that she would rather have one month
of happiness with this man. who would
eventually be false to her, than to enjoy
a life of domestic placidity with onyone
else. His wit. his sudden sardonic moods,
his poetic temperament, his errant i'm
agination appealed to her as the most
interesting thing of which she knew.
But the saner part of her revOlted in
disgust from SO hedonistic view Of
life. She thirsted for purity as the
hart panteth for the water brook. She
thought Of the peace of life trodden
in the seemly paths of duty. She was
at war with herself; torn between i'm
agination and sense; hectored with the
fervid clamorings of her awakened heart.
yet restrained by the impulses of a
decorous gentlewoman, an aspiring wo-
man.
Just what came to her spirit on that
particular night-what of conflict and
dread, or shame and self-reproach, of
hope and aspiration, Marian Ogden
never told any one. But it seems quite
certain that she was confronted by a
temptation which she could not find
strength to meet. Consequently she
fled. The next night found her five
hundred miles away from home in a
village the name Of which she had never
so much as heard before.
eff anyone We're suffering on my ac-
count she said to herself Il should
deem myself coward. But as a mat
ter of fact, no one will feel anything
except a conventional anxiety" But
she knew in her tumultuous heart that
one man would rage like baffled beast
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