The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-03-11
CHAPTER XxxV.
At M awsan Chase.

SF'TF En- NAV
At Mawsan Chase.
Marion was lionized everywhere.
She was beautiful, she was clever,
and she was an heiress. What other
virtues did she need to be a society
favorite? Her first season was a
veritable triumph, and she honestly
believed that she was happy every
hour of the day. It was something
new to be sought out and fattered
and waited upon. The men were
charming. Statesmen and scientists,
government officials, peers, baronets,
knights. plain misters with common
place surnames-all laid their tribute
of admiration at her feet. The mum
Der OF proposals she might have re-
ceived had she only had patience to
listen she did not trouble to count.
She became quite expert in diagnos-
ing the symptoms, and before the
trembling young man had time to
shape his thoughts into words she
settled the matter for him. 1t ba-
came rather monotonouS after awhile,
and not a little annoying. She did
not believe II possible that so many
young men could all be in love with
her at the same time. 1t seemed to
be out of harmony with the eternal
order. That twenty men could all
love equally the same woman, or
that twenty women could all love
equally the same man, would show a
state Of topsy-turvydom ~irreconcila-
BILE with all her previous conceptions.
She had imbibed some Of Esther's
notions. That there might be n
man somewhere who could and would
love her supremely-a man for whom
she was meant-the complement of
her life-her souls mate-she fully
believed. But that the soft youths
who said flattering words to her
loved her in any true sense of the
word she did not believe.
Hence she dismissed them without
any conjunction, and felt sur they
would feel none the worse on the fol-
lowing day.
Her second season was rather less
delightful than the first. The novel
ty had worn off. The freshness and
glamour had steadily faded. 1t was
as though she had come into the gild-
ed Don in the gray light Of the
morning after the jewellers had de-
parted. :.
There was a good deal beneath the
surface which she had not seer dur
ing her first season-had not ever
suspected. Beneath the pomp and
display, beneath the rouge and smiles,
beneath the glitter and glamour there
were not only aching hearts, but bit
ter hearts.
] She began to see the ropes and
pulleys, the tinsel and colored paper,
the magnesium wire and smelly
lamps by which the stage effects
were produced. She caught whispers
of plottings and contrivings and
maneuverings that filed her with
dismay. and ultimately with disgust.
The brilliant gatherings were often
but SO many traps to catch the un-
wary. Things were not what they
seemed.
Before the third season was half
way through she revolted. She longed
for a sane and a simpler life. She
felt as though she were being trotted
out like a prize colt before a crowd
of possible purchasers, and that she
was to be knocked down to the high.
est bidder. She had angered Lady
Fowey almost beyond forgiveness be-
cause she refused to entertain the
idea OF matrimony. and had distinctly
shubbed one or two eligible s~uitors,
including the sixth son Of an impe-
cunious duke.
She began to turn, almost uncon-
%sciously. longing eyes towards Nav
gan Chase. She wanted to see the
fishermen Of st. Chloe again. She
hungered for genuine human com
partnership. She longed for the rest
full music Of wind and sea. She felt
as though she had been living
amongst ghosts and shadows for
months, and she pinned for the fresh
air and the daylight and the things
that mattered-the things that made
for peace and health and life.
So she wrote to Mrs. Mawgan and
Esther and asked II she might come
down and spend q few weeks at Nav.
gan Chase. The answer was SEN by
return Of post. and three days later
she was on her way to Cornwall.
Esther met her at the station with
the brougham. and they sat very
close together during their drive tc
Mawgan Chase.
Il am tired. Esther" Marion said
leaning her head against the shoulder
Of her friend.
THE journey is q long one"