Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-05-24
CHAPTER VIII

Miss Marjorie did not, however. go
to her own room. She took cloak
from its peg in the hall. threw it
over her head opened the front door
softly. and went out Mrs. Magnum
would have been shocked out of all her
propriety if she had seen her pacing
up and down the garden walks alone,
but just at that moment Miss Marjorie
cared little for Mrs. Magnum. or any
thing she could say.
The night was dark and starless. the
air chill and raw. But after that heat
ed room it was positive luxury to
feel the fresh damp wind coming from
the hills After those sharp, unnerv-
ing voices it was soothing to listen to
the leafiess trees breathing and whis-
pering of the coming of the rain.
Storm and cold and darkness-they
were all preferable to that snug par
1or and its disagreeable inmates; and
% Miss Marjorie paced up and down,
up and down, and thought.
Thought of another time which had
been far happier than this A time
when she was also a companion. but
not Miss Magnum's companion, A
time when there was one voice that
always softened when it spoke her
name; when there were eyes that
frightened at her coming-lips that
welcomed her as only privileged lips
might do, She thought of long, pleas
ant evenings, spent with books and
work and music, around cottage fire.
Of quiet walks and talks by summer
moonlight Alas, where had those
blissful moments fled? Why had the
Why, from that wealth of love and ten
derness had she been cast out into
the cold world alone?
She had been foully slandered; she
had been cruelty distrusted; she had
been heartlessly deserted. Over and
over again she said this to herself Yet
on that night, as she walked up and
down the gravel path, the sense Of in
fury and of wrong seemed to die away
and in their place came a wild yearn-
moment of the happiness of yore!
"Oh, that it were possible
In this dull life of pain,
To find the arm Of my true love
Around me once again."
she murmured, as she clasped her
hands above her aching heart Where
was he? What was he doing now?
Beautiful and bright, he had risen like
a star above her lonely path; had won
her heart. and worn it for a time:
had bound her to him by the most sa-
cred ties; then left her for years, per-
haps forever, Where was he-where
was he? And she stretched out her
arms to the sullen night sky in her
vain and passionate appeal to him
who would come no more.
The sky grew darker. A drop Of rain
touched her cheek. She turned to 20
in, yet, with strange, uneasy feeling
she fingered a moment beside the gate
looking out upon the dark road that
led into the village. Then her eyes
wandered away beyond Banley, and
out towards the hill where the haunt
ed house stood. How strange the un-
seen and unacknOwledged link that
bound her to the people there, What
would they say when she went tC
them and told her tale? Would they
think her mad or would they take
compassion upon her for the sorrow
she had undergone, and admit her tc
their family circle as a welcome anC
honored guest? Was 1t likely? Had
they ever heard her name? Yet how
well she knew theirs; and how much
she could tell Of their daily life anC
habits, from the stern banker dowr
to his favorite daughter, Rose, "Cous
in Rose Cousin Rosel" She said Il
aloud twice, and then started ant
flushed guiltily. lest any one should
have heard her.
Some one had heard, Not Mr.. Mag
num-not even Kitty, but tall. hand
some young man, who had been walk
ing along the public road, with hi
hands in his pockets and his head
bent down. He had passed the gar
den gate without even looking tina
way, but the low voice made him star
and turn round. In an instant he hat