The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-11-25
MARCIA'S
ORDEAL.
By Martha
McCulloch- William
Copyright, Kos, tB 7, { Mcclure

Marcia came up the walk with Il sigh
# relief So intense il WAS almost sob,
All afternoon she had been Drawing il
out, forcing herself To smile and chat
ter dutifully. listen respectfully 10 Cal
NerlCy structures upon the world her
world and life in general and make
the requisite automatic RESPONSES.
Aunt CalVcrley WIS no blood kin,
auly her fathers stcpsiSter but all the
more punctiliouS and difficult because
of It, Twice Il year she came in state
10 spend the night and day after ut
Grecnways The visits always left
MaN'ia and her mother uncomfortable,
but this was the first whose legacy had
been true hcartachc
Don't look SO. daughter | don he
lieNc IT," Mrs Aston said, drawing
Marcia down beside her upon the piaz
IN bench. She WAS small and fair and
blue eyed all unlike her daughter
Even Aunt CalNerlcy admitted grudg-
ingly that Marcia WIS Aston through
and through That meant she WAS
beautiful
AS handsome MS an Aston" had
been n saying of the countryside this
hundred years. As race the Alstons
were slim and supple, dark eyed dark
proved. with fine olive skin and clear,
healthy scarlet showing richly in lips
and cheeks. light stepping too Marcia
in especial had the motion of flower
swaying In gentle hreezcs There had
been something of natural irritation
but no surprise whatever. when Ivor
Morris fell in love with her ut first
sight
There could he no doubt of II. He
called the very next day and the next
and the next, then upon the fourth
planned Il picnic in the grounds of High
Brook, his ancestral estate. He WIS
but newly come to it, The big house
had been shattered and shroudcd al
most twenty Years. That VAS his eX-
cusc for asking his new friends to make
merry with him outdoors Though he
WIS far too we'll bred To devote himself
eonSpicuously To Marcia when thus
playing host, 10y Il sofi of tacit consent
she WAS pushed forward To bc the head
and front of everything. The next day
he vanished unaccountnblN. hut in
week he was back again and evidently
more i'll love tlan ever. He managed
somehow 10 see Marcia every day for Il
month: then came another absence and
in the midst of 1t Aunt Calvcrlcy.
Aunt Cnlycrley WIS bursting with
news, Mrs Alsion was certain of it
the minute she SET eyes on her There
WAS Il certain swelling us of pride in
her own discerning mixed with oSten-
tatlous pity for the blindness of her
ktnfoik. sim size told nothing out or
the common until after the midday
dinner. when she had begun Ne"fihG
dellcaiclN 10 the subject OF her drpar-
ture. Although tn" length OF her visit
was always as hN"d rs the laws of the
Modes nnd fersians. she lelt sadly
sighted II III the last hours ot 1t sh"
was not begged To make II longer.
Mrs. Aston lad INST said, with n com
mcndabi" show OF hcArlinrsS. u M
siir" lll'fc np'llihg tn can N"n nome
You had lusi as well stay With us until
Monday when the revelation came.
enough tn wear onI my welcome any.
where's. AUNT tnlNerl"y returned Vi
ciously know YOU Nv" VIII be
wantin' To 90 right off aud see your
new nelghbors. or course You know
I've Morris j. feifhin home his wife
and twins, Don't tell me YOU hadn't
heard? And him here :" much. We'll,
| am astohished. Bnl men air queer
specially the Morris men How else
did the old major haN" SIX sous ana
Just this on" grandson And Ives
father was The widest of the lot.
Maybe that's why mistrusted his son
~ from the very first You Won
make me briirte he's hrlhstn the wife
of his own good will and pleasure,
believe there's been tronbl" between
en- anu she = brought TIE gentleman
UP with II round turn How do
know You know he has got f"ggy
henderson 10 Keep h"ls" Tor MN.
On the way here ! Stopped at High
Brook To ask Peggy II She reckon"d
could get her daughter Fanny TO come
ana Hul't Tor me next ihli fegGy was
50 mustered couldft hardly get
sensible worn out OF her i've hnd sent
ler ehgraph oihin nome Shtur-
day. Prepare adjoining rooms for Mrs.
Morris ana twin children
Why dldht you tell rs yesterdays
wonid iovo ia nave mnde u cake for
those ciiidrch feggy llendersons
cake Is always ms heavy as she Is"
Marcia interrupted so gayly her mother
gave her look OF adorihg pride Now
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