The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-11-07

u COIue Ill.
Then he came into the room, very
tall, clear-eyed young fellow. He
came directly toward her, carrying
half dozen orchids and mass of
violets. She took them silently and
sat down. Then she covered her face
with the flowers.
The man looked at her a moment
without a word, then he said slowly:
Marion, am afraid we have"
He hesitated. I am afraid we have
not-you have not been happy. do
not know how to say it. but"
The girl looked at him quietly. "But
what?
IF you do not wish to-to-have
this-thing go on"
"You mean, you mean you do not
wish to-to-oh, cannot say it!'
Marion! Marion! That I do not
wish to-that Il"
"Yes, that you do not wish to marry
me! knowl know!"
The mans lips twitched, but he
never took his eyes from hers. ~
mean that, if-yOu did not
"Have l said sof''
"No."
"Wellw
II wish you-to be happy!"
"That is the greatest wish that one
could have for another, isn't it?" She
laughed little Historically.
II have never wished you to be any.
thing else. There's only one thing that
we should understand before-ara
that is"
81 know, that you will be the mas
teri"
"There must be some one to say
what shall be done. although master
is an ugly word"
Eyes, men never like it in that way,
but 1t is true! What do you mean by
saying this?"
II mean only that our home shall be
our own, and that we shall live in
1t alone"
81 know-you do not wish my
father" She laughed bitterly.
II wish only your happiness, and
my own. 1t has been trying winter.
You do not know it, but my fathers
affairs were not in the best way when
he died"
Are you intimating that my father
was at all responsible?"
1.-THE Street is a strange place, Ma
rion, and many odd things happen
there-old friends become enemies,
and-well-what is the use in reviving
unpleasant memories? It Is all
dead"
Revive them? They are not dead
with me, but you have been busy In
the Street, and know what you are
doing there !"
ut has been for you. That Is all
that l may say about it, Marion, won't
you believe in me? may have neg
lected you, but 7 was thinking of you
all the while, down there. Won't you
trust meY
The girl rose. "Will you pardon
me If l say good night?" she said. II
am tired I"
The next day at noon, Miss Story
went up the aisle of the church upon
the arm of her father Her friends
filed the seats about her. There
seemed so many of them. they almost
hung from the arched roof.
The triumphal music crashed from
the organ and flooded her entire being,
but with mockery that almost choked
her.
If they had only run away, as they
had planned so many times when they
first began to know their love!
The long aisle seemed interminable.
With every step it seemed to stretch
on and never end and her agony with
it. Then in moment 1t did end, and
the organ ceased. He was there wait
ing for her. and he took her hand.
The old minister who had baptized
her stood there with open book, and
family she heard his droning chant.
She heard him say II WILL" knew
her time had come, and raised her
eyes.
Her father was behind her, and all
he meant-the opposition of her fam
lily, the fearful strength of which OPP
pressed her senses. She was one of
them.
1t was her hour, and she rejoiced in
her heart, so loudly that she hoped
no sonnd of regrat woud he hear.
above 1t.
The words of the clergyman came
to her as from another world. through
another consciousness for which she
could not account. but she was impa.
tient for them to be over, that the
whole thing might be ended.
Family she heard them-love honor
and obey! She felt his fingers press
her own, and the touch of him In
stantly reused her against her father
and her family, who were awaiting
her denial.
Suddenly she became conscious that
her hour had come indeed.
The minister was awaiting her an.
swer to the great question. The man