The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-03-18
CHAPTER xxxv-continued.

Some do. But they have their
reward; they keep their hearts pure
n their ideals %unstained. But |
think the majority find their hearts
desire sooner or later. Surely there
is a providence in these things"
Then II your true mate Is in ex-
istence you think he will find you
sooner or later?" Esther questioned,
with a little laugh.
Why not? Anyhow, l couldn't
marry merely for a husband"
The lights from Mawgan Chase be-
gan at length to glimmer through the
trees, and Marion lowered the win
dow and pushed out her head. The
air was keen and frosty, the stars
were twinkling in a %cloudless sky,
the roar of the sea came family over
the hills.
"Oh, it's delightful to be here
again." she said, eagerly. 81 feel as
though / were returning home from
a far country"
1T Is your home, dear, whenever
you like" Esther answered.
"You have all been SO good to me-"
and then the carriage swung throug
the gateway and slowed up at the
door.
Mrs. Mawgan received Marion with
her usual stately grace, and told her
she felt honored in welcoming her
once more under her roof.
Not so much honored as | do in
being allowed to come" Marion IN
swered promptly; and then, after
warming her fingers for a moment
before the fire, she hurried upstairs
to dress for dinner.
That evening she spent coiled up
In a corner Of the big couch, and
watched Mrs. Mawgan with her knit
ting and Esther with her embroidery.
The conversation grew intermit-
tent as the evening wore away.
Marion declared she was deliciously
happy-too happy to talk.
She fell asleep that night with the
~soughing Of the wind in her ears,
and awoke next morning to the chirp-
ing of innumerable birds.
They did not talk about Clement
till the afternoon. Marion and Es-
Their took a walk by the high road
to st. Chloe. The wind was keen,
but tempered by the warm sunshine;
the roads were hard with recent
frost; the sea was like sapphire be-
meath a dome of perfect blue.
Marion was in brown from head to
foot, save for a white osprey In her
sable coat and a white bow of tulle
at her throat. Her brown boots
showed nov and then beneath her
brown velvet corduroy dress; her sa-
BILE coat matched perfectly her hat
and skirt; her Lluff harmonized with
the rest.
"Oh. you pretty brown sparrow
Esther laughed when she came down
stairs ready for her walk III think
| never saw you look so WELL"
The keen wind brought the color to
her cheeks and vigor to her move
ments. She was altogether too ener-
getic for her companion. But when
they started to talk about Clement she
slackened her pace.
He has done splendidly," Esther
replied, In answer to a question, but
he has worked much too hard. Just
at present he is down with an attack
Of Influenza"
"Oh, l am sorry" Marion replied,
alphabetically.
its only a mild attack, he assures
us. But he will have to keep away
from business for another week, at
least-perhaps longer"
"He has q partner, I believer"
"Oh. yes; everything will go on all
right; besides, the rush OF the season
Is over"
THAT Is unfortunate. Do you know
I have see your brother only twice
during the last year, and neither time
could l get to speak to him."
did he see your"
Il am not sure. l think sometimes
he deliberately avoids me-
"You see, dear. you are out Of his
circle, and In London he is only a
business man."
"As IL that could make any differ
ence!"
He may think it makes a great
deal Of difference. You are In the
inner circle of what Is called society.
and Clement Is too proud to pre-
sumo"
"Oh, I hate all those artificial dis.
tinctions," she said. a little plaintive-
ly. rs he not as good as I am, and
a thousand times better? When l
was poor and a social outcast he was
q friend to me-. Why does he ignore
me now?"
"You do not need him. dear. II
you wanted help he would help you
again. Glenn is a greater man than
when you knew Sim first
Marion was silent. and they did not
speak again till they reached the vii
iage; but Esther's words kept turn
Ing themselves over and over again
In her brain, you do not need him,
dear. II you wanted help ne would
help you again.
There might be truth In Esther's
remark. but was 1t all true? Did she
not need him? Was she not just as
lonely and friendless as on the day
she was cast up by the sea?