The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-08

this September day was a
white one In her calendar She was
happily conscious. as she hurried to-
ward the car, that for once she was
thoroughly well dressed, from the
plumes on her pretty hat to the tips
of her immaculate shoes
Moreover, she was leaving the rou-
tine of her home duties, the sometimes
exacting charge of an invalid mother
and a family Of active young brothers
and sisters, to spend two weeks with
a school friend-two weeks, she told
herself, in which to be merry and fool
ish and irresponsible, and to forget
Aunt Julia's constant reminders that
Life is duty"
Marion thought she desired more
than anything else to be what she
called real all through" and the real
tiles of dainty dress and harmonious
surroundings were not always possible
on the small income which remained
from her fathers estate. AS she hast
ened on her way she was thinking Of
her mothers parting words
"Good-by, dearp' Mrs. Lincoln had
said. Enjoy yourself all you can,
but'-hesitating a little, as wise moth
ers sometimes do, over the expediency
of pointing a moral-"remember to live
up to your clothes"
When Marion entered the car in the
bravery of her pretty brown costume,
more than one eye glanced at her
bright face with approval and a broad
shouldered young man, who bowed to
her as she passed his seat, thought
with a new interest:
what has the girl done to herself?
l never realized before how attractive
she is"
Marion herself felt that the presence
of Paige Warren added the last touch
to the brightness Of her white day. To
be sure, she knew him only "a little"
as she would have phrased it. She had
seen him once or twice at the infre-
quent parties which the social life of
Riverton afforded, and he had been
mice" to her when they CHANGED to
meet, with the unfailing politeness
which he showed to every one.
The handsome young fellow embodi-
ed to her much that she had most
longed for-breeding, social position
and those winning personal qualities
which give significance to it all. She
admired Alice Warren, Paiges sister,
even more than she did the young man
himself, and dreamed of her friendship
as the height of unattainable bliss.
Perhaps he won't know it," she
said to herself, as she settled her valise
in the seat she had chosen, but fol
once l am dressed as we'll as his sister
Alice would be, and though l suppose
it is snobbish, somehow my fine feath
ers make me feel finer every way
body and spirit"
Then she was startled by a quayer
ing old voice close to her ear.
Air you goin' as far as Brandon?
it asked.
Marion turned to lind the wrinkleC
yet childishly round face of littl
old woman bending toward her from
the seat behind. The face was framed
by close, drawn-silk bonnet that hat
grown rusty with long use.
Il am going to the first station be
yond Brandon" Marion replied, ciyilly
"Can 1 do anything for you?"
She asked the question with a cor
scious sinking Of the heart. Surel
her white day, the day consecrated t
entire leisure and elegance, was nc
going to be spoiled by the intrusion q
this strengthening old body!
"Why, she is a perfect figure of fun!
Marion groaned inwardly 81 can
simply cannot have her on my hands
This is my vacation, and have earne
it. One can't be doing ones duty a
the time, whatever Aunt Julia ma
sayp
4 wish you'd come back and 81
with me" the quayering voice persis
ed. unheeding the girls reluctant al
1--WE got a good deal to tell you, an
/ can't half make you hear viii
you're settin' so fur off there, and IL
cars rattlin' an rumbli1' like all g
out"
II will turn round toward you
Marion said, reluctantly. "and then
won't be necessary for me to move"
The lands sakel Tain't such
great piece of business just to mo-
che seat back. Anybody'd think