The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-05-19
THE g: NJ By Helen
UNDECEIVED LOVER. l0OR Forrest Graves.


= ter SettleQ ueHnltely, anu
at once"
WON "You are very unreason-
able, aunt" said Miss De-
lancy, struggling her shoulders petu-
lantly. "Things of this sort can't be
hurried up in moment"
"a moment!w echoed Mrs Gardi-
ner. "Why, it's full three months since
Grey Pelham commenced visiting
you"
"Set your heart at rest, aunt" said
Marion, with a glance of triumph
shooting from beneath her dropping,
blue-yeined eyelids. "If ever man
was desperately in love, has s.s-the
time of his bachelor freedom crows
Short
''But how short"'
'Will you be satisfied if he proposes
in a week?'
''Yes-but he will not.''
leave him to mew said the tall
beauty, imperiously. 81 am as impa-
tient as you are-but know very well
it will not do to show it."
st is shockingly expensive" said
Mrs. Gardiner, plaintively. when 1
took the furnished house for six
months, I supposed you would be off
my hands long before this-and. the
servants bills, and the account for the
coupe, with the driver in white gloves,
and"
"Spare me the reiteration of house
hold annoyances, aunt" said Marion,
impatiently. "You are supposed to be
a wealthy dowager. I, your heiress
niece. What sort Of society do you
suppose we could have commanded If
people had known our real status?"
swell, suppose you are right" said
Mrs. Gardiner, disconsolately; .'but.
dear me, Marion, if this last chance
should fail
SIT will not fail, aunt. Haven't I
told you to set your heart at rest?"
Thus ended the colloquy between
aunt and niece, and Mrs. Gardiner
left the room to attend the summons
Of her cook.
Marion rose slowly, walked. with the
step of a princess, to the full length
mirror, framed in a network of gilt
passion vine leaves, and looked into
its surface.
What a lovely picture smiled back
upon her, flushed with the soft wine
light of sunset A tall, flexible figure,
full of unstudied grace; a small head,
royalty set upon the slender, snowy
throat, and crowned with braids of
silken black hair, coiled round and
round in glossy profusion. Her COM
plexion was rather dark, but fine
grained as satin, with a delicate GRIM
son glow on either cheek, and lips full
and scarlet as newly ripened cherries,
while her lovely black eyes, large and
soft as velvet, gave a tender express
sion to the whole countenance.
yes" murmured Marion Delaney,
half aloud. II have beauty = Grey
Pelham has rank and wealth. Are
we not evenly matched? What right
has he to ask for more?"
The thoughts were yet fitting
through her brain, when a servant en-
tered, with a sealed missive in her
hand.
"A telegram, miss, just arrivedp'
Marion caught it from the servants
hand and tore it open.
miss Delaney" it read. "your father
Is much worse and more troublesome
to-day, and I cannot continue TO take
charge of him. unless arrears are paid
up at once. If do not see you soon,
shall bring him up to New York,
and return him to your care.
SARAH DARBY"
Marion flushed scarlet and bit her
lip until her small, white teeth cleaned
vindictively.
"What a bother!" she muttered to
herself; "but it is just like that spite
full old Darby to carry her senseless
threats into execution. / must get ten
dollars from Aunt Gardiner TO stop her
mouth with; and the sooner the bet
ter. Perhaps had best take the even
ing express down TO Berksdale at
once"
She glanced at her tiny Geneva
watch
YES, have time; but ought not
to waste it now, of all times. One
nights delay may cast some chill
across the glow of Grey Pelham's
love; but there is no alternative left
me-"
And the evening express carried Miss
Delaney down to the obscure little viii
lage where her poor, crazed old luther
was farmed out, at the least possible
rates of compensation, to a hard faced
widow with heart like adamant and
sympathies dried down to the merest
shreds.
Meanwhile. Grey Pelham. Esquire, in
his elegant bachelor sanctum, was pre-
pairing himself deliberately for an even
ing call on his fair goddess. 1t was a
room whose adornment and decoration
bespoke not only wealth without stint
or limit. but refined taste and highly
cultured appreciation. Exquisite lit
tie bronze groups glimmered on carved
brackets; statuettes of alabaster. leaned