Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-03-04


and in his efforts to entertain her and
make her slap as pleasant as possible
he forgot in some measure his own
heartache.
He had never spoken to Marion
since he said goodbye at Mawgan
Chase. He had seen her a few times
driving in the park, but she had not
recognized him. He had no desire
that she should She was out of his
world now. and more completely lost
to him than when she believed she
was the daughter of Richard West.
Hence even an cquaintanceship
would be fraught with pain to him.
Indeed on each occasion when he had
seen her he had suffered acutely for
days and nights after.
He tried bravely, and on the whole
successfully, to free himself from all
| illusions. He was nc longer hot
headed youth that laughed at impossi-
| bilities. He saw facts as they WERE
and endeavored to shape his life 10
them
If he found it impossible to put Ma
| rion out of his heart it was not for
want of trying His whole-souled alb
| sorption in his business was largely
| due to the fact that he wanted to for
| get her; and yet through it all he
knew it was only an elaborate piece
Of self-deception. Deep down in his
heart the conviction remained that he
should never forget her-never cease
to love her
He was no longer youth with
youths fieeting and evanescent pas
sions. Love had come to him in his
prime, and come to him once and for
all. He had fought and struggled be-
fore. The memory Of that fierce bat
tie after his discovery that she was
Dick Vests daughter would ALWAYS
remain with him. He had failed then,
and he knew he would fail now. He
might as well fight with the stars in
their courses as with this great pas
sion that dominated his life He could
no more help loving than he could
help breathing.
He kept hoping that in some way
time would soften the sting of his dis
appointment-that his memories and
regrets would become less poignant
But the months passed away and the
ache remained just as agonizing as
ever
This he believed was partly due to
the fact that he was constantly hear
ing about her Esther wrote at least
once week during all the time she
was in America, and in every letter
there was some allusion to Marion
Esther seemed to believe that there
was not another such lovely girl in
existence-not lovely merely in face
and form, but in character and dispo-
sition. Hence, when news failed
there was always something that Ma
rion had said or done that would fur-
nish sufficient material for letter
There was something very pleasant
in these illusions notwithstanding
they kept the pain alive. 1t was COM
forting to think that he had not al
lowed worthless woman to steal
away his heart. 1t was not an nm
worthy passion that stabbed him with
such bitter pain. 1t was love not
for the flesh but for the spirit-for
the brave, pure, and unselish soul
that dwelt in so fair tenement
Mrs. Mawgan returned to Cornwall
early in April. The place would be
wreck, she told Clement, unless she
got back soon. Besides, in another
month Esther would be home again,
and she wanted the hons to be habit
able by the time she returned
Esther had not been much discuss
ed during the months Mrs. Mawgan
had been in London. It was plain to
see that Clement took his sisters
side; indeed he told his mother plain
ly. at the very outset, that If Esther
had married Mr.. Jackson he should
have despised her. Marriage, he said.
was sacrament, not a question of
barter; after which deliverance the
subject was allowed to drop.
| He felt lonely and not little de-
pressed after his mother had left him.
A bachelor in diggings had compensa-
lions, no doubt, but there were always
drawbacks to lonely life. Occasion
| ally he fell to dreaming as to what
life would be like with woman he
| loved who was all his own
1t was foolish and disquieting in
| diligence, In those day-dreams one
face alone ever came up before him
| the face Of Marion.
He was not fond of gaiety. He soon
grew tired of the theater Concerts
drew him out more evenings than any
other thing. The music of Wagner
and Brahms and Beethoven and Bach
had an unfailing charm for him. But
often he was too tired to go out. He
wanted u sit at home, and then it
was the. longing would seize him that
he could not shape into words.
His partner, Henry Clay, would
sometimes say to him, why don't
you get married? It would be less
/ expensive than living in those rooms
Of yours, and you'd get far more com.
j FORT
i He rarely answered back. 1t was
Ie.,,S