The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-03-04

the evenings kept MIN lrom DToodlHBr
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 seer 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 acquaintanceship
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 no longer a hot
headed youth that laughed at impossi-
bilities. He saw facts as they were,
and endeavored to shape his life to
them.
If he found it impossible to put Ma
rion out of his heart 1t was not for
want Of trying. His whole-souled alb
sorption In his business vas largely
due to the fact that he wanted to for
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 vas no longer a youth with
youths fleeting 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
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
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 al least
once a 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 a 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 a worthless woman to steal
away his heart. II was not an un-
worthy passion that stabbed him with
such bitter pain. 1t was a love not
for the flesh but for the spirit-for
the brave, pure. and unselish soul
that dwelt in so fair a tenement.
Mrs. Mawgan returned to Cornwall
early in April. The place would be
a wreck, she told Clement, unless she
got back DOR. Besides, in another
month Esther would be home again,
and she wanted the hous 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 IL Esther
had married Mr.. Jackson he should
have despised her. Marriage, he said,
was a sacrament. not a question Of
barter; after which deliverance the
subject was allowed to drop.
He felt lonely and not a little de-
pressed after his mother had left him.
A bachelor In diggings had compensa-
tons, no doubt, but there were always
drawbacks to q lonely life. Occasion
ally he fell to dreaming as to what
life would be like with a woman he
loved who was all his own.
1t was a 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 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 to sit at home. and then 1t
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? 1t would be less
expensive than living in those rooms
Of yours, and you'd get far more COM
fort"
He rarely answered back. It was
such an Easy remark to make. No
doubt he could get married il merely
being married was all he wanted.
He sometimes wondered IL he took