Cañon City record., 1909-12-23

IOSts hob udi n ChOu5h AOi poA
pie. One of those dianty one-piece
dresses that fits all the way down. A
large black hat of irregular outlines,
an abundance of brown hair puffed
out under her hat. She passed by the
gay shop windows and looked in. The
stores were crowded and she enjoyed
being near the happy school children
who lined up outside.
She was deciding on a present for
Aunt Ellen. This was Thursday-only
one more day and then Christmas.
Aunt Ellen had raised Marjorie and
they were more than sisters to each
other. Aunt Ellen was a widow al
most forty years old, but she didn't
look thirty. She had a son, Harry,
who was twenty-one-one year older
than Marjorie, and, therefore, had
many more privileges. Perhaps 1t was
because he was a boy, but anyway,
Marjorie was sick and tired of it. She
had always lived in Boston, and it is
the same proper Boston today that 1t
always has been. Every thing she
saw or did or heard was supposed to
be proper. Ever since she was eight
cen she had been told that she was to
marry Frank Melburne. She always
hated the name Frank, yet had curl
osity to see him. Harry had teased
her and called her Mrs. Frank" She
had will power enough for twins, but
kept it we'll under control. Only twice
in her life had it dominated the West
brook home. Once when a child she
and Harry had quarreled. Harry
threw her doll down stairs and broke
its head She told him on the spot
that his hobby horse would suffer the
same fate. Aunt Ellen heard the
threat and took the angry little girl
on her lap and told her to forgive;
told her how badly Harry would feel
when he saw the dollie; told her how
that would be heaping Goals of fire on
his head. But as soon as Aunt Ellen
left the room Marjorie stuck the hob
by's head in the CRATE among the hot
Goals and heaped them we'll up. where
Aunt Ellen and Harry found them
later.
The next time was when Aunt Ellen
wanted her to go to Cambridge with
Mr.. Morton-a little, middle-aged
gentleman she could always remem-
ber. She only saw him occasionally
but now since she was through school
she bethought he was there oftener.
Aunt Ellen held him in high esteem,
how high Marjorie didn't know, but
she believed as high as high-priest
Aunt Ellen explained that she was
to go with Mr.. Morton to hear some
lectures and see demonstrations in
electricity by some very able young
men. Marjorie didn't take the slight
est interest. She had never disliked
MIR. Morton. rather admired him. but
the whole thing was so cut and dried
she Just went to bed and stayed until
it was over.
She wasn't so slow. She knew one
of those demonstrators was Frank
Melburn. She heard Harry talk about
him afterwards. If Aunt Ellen thought
marriage so blisSful why didn't she
try il again. This always telling her
that marriage was the natural way to
live; the very highest happiness to a
real woman She had taught Marjorie
10 be a good housekeeper, 10 sew, and
of course, she could play beautifully
and paint and paint and embroider,
but Aunt Ellen was not training her
10 be a self-supporting woman. Mar
jorie thought all this out before she
started for town Now, with her pret-
ty chin held high she walked down
Washington street and in window
she saw a picture just like Aunt Ellen
her back and hips; yes, even her
hair-and a man stood in the doorway
holding out both hands. Now, Aunt
Ellen liked pictures and this looked
like a back view of herself She
bought 1t and hurried on.
In the subway mass of humanity
surged and showed and crowded for
ward TO each car as it pulled up. Af-
ter almost suffocating in the throne
that was becoming more unbearable
every minute, a dozen times pushed
back after nearly getting 10 a car,
when at last another stopped near
where she stood A young man held
out his hand to her and fairly pulled
her up through the crowd. She took
the seat, he still stood close and smil-
ed pleasantly down into the brown
eyes. That look thrilled her as moth
ing on earth had ever done She was
transformed in a minute from a girl
to a woman. A woman who could
love and suffer and sacrifice If need