The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-15

~ LOU are very uuEedSou-
able. aunt" said Miss De-
!an4y, Struggling her shoulders petn-
iaAtly. Things of this sort can't be
4d:ried up in a moment"
\ "A moment" 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 glance of triumph
shooting from, beneath her dropping.
, blue-veined eyelids. IF ever man
was desperately in love. he is-the
time of his bachelor freedom grows
short"
"But how short:"
"Will you be satisfied if he proposes
II week.
"~es-but he will not"
"Leave him to mew said the tall
beauty, imperiously. Il am as impa-
tient as you are-but know very well
it will not do to show it,"
1T is shockingly expensive" said
Mrs. Gardiner. plaintively. when [
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 ne the reiteration of house
hold annoyaIceS, aunt" said Marion.
impatiently. You are supposed to be
q wealthy dowager. /. Your heiresS
niece. What sort of society do you
suppose We could have commanded if
people had known our real status"
"Well. suppose you are right" said
Mrs. Gardiner. disconsolately; but.
dear ne, Marion, if this last chance
should fail"
1T will no. fail, aunt. Haven't l
told you to set your heart at rest:"
Thus ended the colloquy between
aunt ard niece. and Mrs. Gardiner
left the room to attend the summons
OF her cook.
Marion rose slowly, walkel. with the
step Of princess. to the full length
mirror, framed in network of gilt
passion vine leaves, ard looked into
its surface.
What 4 lovely picture smiled back
upon her. flushed with the soft wine
light of sunset. \ tall, flexible figure,
full of unstudied grace; 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 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 tender express
sion to the whole countenance.
YES" murmured Marion Delaney,
half aloud. Il 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 servant en-
tered, with 4 sealed miSsire in her
hand.
"a telegram. miss, just arrived
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 / cannot continue to take
charge of him. unless arrears are paid
up at once. If I do not see you soon,
l 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 bother she muttered to
herself; but it is just like that spite
full old Darby to carry her senseless
threats into execution. 1 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 BerkSdaie at
once"
She glanced at her tiny Geneva
watch.
Yes. I have time; but I 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 father
was farmed out, at the least possible
rates of compensation. to hard faced
widow with a heart like adamant
Meanwhile. Grey Pelham. Esquire, in
his elegant bachelor sanctum. was pre-
pairing himself elaborately for an even
ing call on his fair goddess. 1t was Il
room whose adornment and decoration
bespoke not only wealth without stint
II limit, but refined taste and highly
cultured appreciation. Exquisite lit
tie bronze groups glimmered on carved
brackets; statuettes of alibaster leaned
from backgrounds of ruby velvet;
paintings that an amateur would have
valued at their weight in gold opened
the glow of Neapolitan skies and misty
Swiss valleys to the eye. and cabinets
of rare canoes and antique coins filled
the recesses.
But the student and philosopher were
now mergedsin the enthusiastic lover