The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-06-07
Im wine! That's all an absurd no

"Well, he is your own father, Miss
Delaney; fix it any way you please,
and 1t amt hardly decent to let him
starve."
"You are too extravagant in your
ideas, Mrs. Darby. What can an old
man like that want of new clothes and
dainty fare? 1 tell you, can't afford
to pay you more than two dollars
week; my expenses in New York are
ruinous, and"
"Then you may as well send him to
the poorhouse at once, Miss Delaney.
won't undertake to keep him short
of three dollars, at the very least"
81 don't like to do that" Marion an
swered, hesitatingly, as if the idea
commended itself to her as not imprac.
ticable in some respects. "People will
talk"
They'll talk just the same If you
let him starve to death here, and q
good deal worse"
"It's great nuisance" said Marion,
impatiently. "Well. l suppose l will
have to pay you two dollars and a
half"
The other woman grumblingly as
sented, but added:
Don't you want to see him? He's
talked great deal about his pretty
girls comm"
"See him? Oh, no, not for the world!
1t always racks my nerves. You
needn't tell him I've been herer'
"Wellr calculated the other; 'if you
amt the coolest one, Miss Delaney! l
don't set up to be the most devoted
daughter in existence, but if my father
was like your'n, I'd want at least to
see him once in a while"
what would be the use? Here's
the quarters money in advance; and
If he gets violent or troublesome again,
just lock him upon bread and water!
Now, show me to my room, please, for
I've got TO get back in the early train
tomorrow morning, before my de-
voted cavalier misses me!'
"Then it's true that you are going
to marry a rich man down in New
York, Miss Delaney! Squire Frothing-
ham said you was, but, la! there's
heaps O. reports that haven't no more
foundation than a whiff of smoke"
Miss Delaney laughed triumphantly.
"You will see, three months from
now, Mrs. Darby. That's right; get
the candle, for there is nothing that
spoils my complexion like want of
sleep"
Grey Pelham had sat as motionlesS
during this conversation as if he had
been turned to stone! Honorable gen.
tleman that he was, he would have
scorned the idea of eavesdropping; but
he had been spellbound-thunder
struck. Was this cold hearted, cruel
wording, whose very natural affec.
ton seemed frozen in her veins, the
Marion he had worshiped with such
blind, unquestioning idolatry? Was it
possible that he had been deceived all
these months?
Like the downfall of some superb ed.
ifice, undermined at once and entirely,
his dream of love crashed to the earth!
He buried his face in his hands, with
low, bitter groan, given to the men,
ory of the Marion whom he now knew
had never existed, save in his own
imagination.
Then he rose and went out in the
cool, clear moonlight, staggering like
one just risen from a bed Of serious
sickness. He was thankful now that
he had encountered no one-that he
was free to depart without question or
doubt.
Disenchanted - undeceived! The
blow had been a cruel one, but Grey
Pelham recognized the kindness of the
Hand that had struck it, and returned
to New York, resolved to bear it with
what equanimity he could.
Miss Delaney waited, but waited in
vain, for Mr.. Pelham's anticipated
call; and finally at the end of three
days dispatched little pink note, per-
fumed with the ottar of roses, to ask
the reason of his unwonted absence.
The servant brought back the note
unopened.
"Please, miss, he sailed for Havana
this morning.
A month subsequently the exasper-
>ated creditors of Mrs. Percy Gardiner
met in the elegantly furnished house,
just in time to deplore their own dill.
toriness, for that smiling matron had
| decamped, leaving an array OF. debts
behind her that might have awed the
notorious Mrs. Chadwick, the Ohio
prisoner.
And that was the disastrous end Of
Marion De,ancy's matrimonial CAM
paign!-New York Weekly.