The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-12-26

r. disapprove Of the stage. said
Toms wife. ia her thin. high. cool
voice, and particularly disapprova
Of all such songs and the way Tom
sings them. They seem or not Ter
proper
You are always right" said Tom
with covert sarcasm. feeling Is al
ways banal, and love is a myth, SO
why should one sing songs about it, or
eat ones heart out with longing for
q dream that can never come true?"
It was just at this moment that Sal
" came into the room waving yell
low telegraph envelope.
after ALL" she cried, she's COM
ing! Isn't it too delightful"
NJ don't know" replied. seeing
that we haven't the faintest idea who
she is.''
Marion Allerly, she replied
What" cried one OF the men, THE
paragon among widows The one who
combines all charms and virtues 49,
beauty, enormous wealth, talent, ev-
erything. except a heart, for she scorns
all men and is so faithful to the mem
DRY Of the dear departed she declines
to lend an ear to the suitors that
clamor at her door"
Il have met her." said one Of the
men. slowly, "and for once report does
not exaggerate. She is the handsom-
est woman, and the most fascinating
one ever saw, but what sets her
apart from other women is kind Of
spiritual look. can't describe it ex-
actly, but she looks as II she had been
through some great sorrow some
thing that had scared her very soul,
and that she had been purified by it.
Only, of course, such an idea is absurd
in connection with one like her. who
has always been a darling Of for
tune"
There was some story" began Sal
ly.
Toms hands fell with crash on the
keys Of the ptano. Don't tell IT," he
cried fiercely sAll the good stories
have been told, asa the others are not
worth telling"
1T isn't much, and really never
knew the truth Of 1t. for she never
spoke of it to me, and it may all have
been canard. The world is always
gossiping about beautiful women" re-
piled Sally, who having gotten started
was not to be stopred but Marian
was married when mere child by her
father-a tyrannical old gentleman
with a stern sense Of 3 parents rights
over his children, to man who might
almost have been her grandfather, and
who by all accounts did the one de-
cent act of his life when he died and
left her everything in his will For
many years the poor child struggled
along, trying to do her duty, living a
colorless life, but not unhappy until
the other man dawned on the scene,
He is said to have been handsome
young fellow, brilliant and sympa-
| thetic, one who could give to Marian
everything she craved in companion
ship. Neither one of them dreamed of
any danger until It was too late Then,
because the man was gentleman and
would not harm the woman he loved
he went away and Marian went back
to the dull monotony of waiting hand
and foot on her tyrant. That's the
story, as ! have heard it,
"And pretty enough story, too, Z.
commented one of the men, full Of
the quiet tragedy that wrecks happi-
ness and blights lives"
"Shockingly improper" said Toms
wife.
Nov she is free. perhaps they will
marry" said someone
mo" said Sally. 1T seems it was
| a double tragedy for the man was
bound. too. Do you know" she added
meditatively, tits none of my affair,
but ! would give worlds to know who
the man is"
''Tom." / cried sharply. II left my
shawl In the hammock. Fetch it to
me-" and as he stumbled blindly out
into the dark he accidentally jostled
his wife's chair.
You are SO awkward" she cried
sharply.
eyes," he said duly. Il am always
making mess Of things"