The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-06
By MARGAREr RLoUNr.
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she was to understand that the feeling
with which she had looked upon her
guardian was not a reverent friend
ship as she had supposed, but a girls
first pure but passionately adoring
love!
She faced the thought courageously
when she was free from her partner.
But her eyes still followed the tall
figure of Roland Glenn from the quiet
corner in which she had esconsed her
self.
She saw him looking at her, too, now
and then, with an anxious, harrassed
expression. And twice she caught
the red-brown eyes of Miss Isadore
5tearns turned upon her with fiery
CLEAN Of anger in their depths
What have | done to yex the proud
Beauty and heiress, secure in the poss-
e5sion of lover like Roland?" thought
Ina, pitifully, as her head dropped upon
her hand.
And her tired eyes closed for a mo-
ment, to shut out the lights, the crowd,
and the shifting hustle Of that gay cir
Gle, in which Roland, once married,
would speedily be engulfed, and lost
to her forever.
Mrs. Hilliard and Ina returned alone
in the carriage that evening. Roland
remained, and would probably outstay
the last Of the guests, Mrs. Hilliard
observed.
They will be married at Christmas,
| suppose" she went on. And then
she will take my place in our home
here, and l shall go back to my little
cottage and farm in Orange County,
where | shall expect to see you, Ina,
for long visit, next summer, if you
don't marry some merchant prince and
go off to Europe before then"
Ina made no answer Nor did she
speak after they reached home, but
buried herself in the pages of mag
azine, while Mrs. billiard trotted off,
up and down stairs, on her usual tour
Of inspection Of bolts and bars for the
night
AS the lady left the room, Ina drop,
ed the book, and leaned her head upon
her clenched hands. She did not hear
the hall door open softly and close,
nor see that someone entered the back
drawing room from the hall. Her
whole soul was in passionate revolt
against the pain, which (when one is SO
young, and SO unused to misery seems
50 utterly impossible to bear.
Father -father Why did you
die and leave ne to his carer" she
sobbed, aloud. and when at last the
relief Of tears came, 20. if l had
died with you or with my mother! =
II | had never seen him"
Ina my little darling Ina! you
will be i'll if you go on like this!" said
a voice beside her voice all too dan
gerously dear. Indeed | thought you
looked very i'll at the party, and l
came away directly after you, to see
what was wrong. What is it, dear?
Tell mel"
The caressing tone, the caressing
drive her wild with anger, grief and
shame.
ooh, how could you how can your"
she cried, dashing his hand away, and
springing to her feet. "IIow little my
poor father and mother could have
known you! Never to tell me that
it was cowardly! But now that know
it, to come to me like this! Oh, do
you think it is right?"
1T would not be fit might not be
but it is right" said Mr.. Glenn,
81 was cowardly, dear!
From the time when you came home
from school l knew that loved you.
But was bound, and dared not speak.
Miss Stearns soon saw difference in
me. She saw you, and grew jealous
and for three months our meetings
have been only quarrels and chickering's
on your account, Ina. Tonight she
was angrier than ever. | could not
blame her. You were so lovely. dear,
in your pretty ball-dress! She told
me that was free, and that she would
at once marry wealthy stock-broker
who has offered himself to her dozen
times over. Ina. | took my freedom,
thanking God silently for my deliver
ance from loveless and unhappy
marriage! l come to you to ask you
to, be my wife. My whole
heart is yours, darling. What is your
answer?"
Ina could not speak She looked at
him, her large eyes shining bright and
soft through tears.
your father and I were like broth
ers, Ina" Mr.. Glenn continued, taking
ler unresisting hand. HE was ten
years my senior, but we were abroad
.en years together, and l was the only
1ne of his friends who knew all about
lis marriage to your pretty English
mother. | was with him when she