The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-03-11
His Good
Angel
ByM. Neutrality-suspicious.

Marcelin went soberly down the
garden walk, although she wanted 90
dance. Her feet seemed made for
dancing they were 50 small and light
stepping. Notwithstanding. she was
tall and straight and slight a Ills
stalk. Her elinging white gown made
her seem indeed a living lily, near
akin 20 the whlteblossomed ranks
swaying lightly In the sunset breeze.
She was all ready for the Eloridge
party--ln a little while the Ander-
sons would call for her. IL was like
fairy tale-thls going In stRte-wheu
she had no more than hoped 10 creep
10 modestly by the side door.
Indeed, at first she had not dared TO
think Of going az all. Aunt Bah, who
had brought her up, had seruplcs
against dancing and parties In gen
eral. Then there had been the matter
Of frock Marcella had nothing
save a skinny blue rag. worn for so
long the whole village knew II.
Then all unaccountably faroif
Wy &bhNih NfhA sRAhN e<AR =
check with a note that ran;
"Spend this for Amy's little girl"
On top OF that the Andersons had
opened their summer home month
earlier Marcella had been kind 20
their little lad the year before and
they did not forget It. SO she was
going under Mrs. Anderson's wing to
the Elbrldge's grand entertainment.
The town had been agog over IL
since before the cards were out II
marked the homecoming Of Elbridge
Gray. heir and grandson. The would
be wise said II would also signalize
the announcement OF his betrothal TO
Sidney Cleve.
Marcella had not gainsald these wise
ones, albeit very certain that she and
her heart knew differently. Back In
the days when Aunty Bah had kept
school for the very small children OF
Lithgow first families Elbridge Gray
had been among her worst and clever
est pupils. manageable unless al
lowed to sit beside Marcella and study
her lessons instead Of his own.
He had been Jealous OF her as any
small Turk, even after he had out
grown Miss Weir's school. Indeed,
until he came 10 the age OF jackets
and shyness he had not hesltated to
claim her anywhere and everywhere,
to frown sulkily If she smiled at an
other lad. even TO take her to task for
preferring girl friends. Then had
come the Christmas pantomlme, In
which he had been fairy bridegroom.
she fairy bride. After the wedding on
the stage everybody had laughed and
leased them SO he turned on her as
though il were her fault and rudely
cast her off.
That had lasted for year-then he
had secretly made friends with her.
"You know you belong to me just the
same but folks mustn't know" he had
cautioned THE Idiots laugh so--and
look so sly and-hateful. OF course
I'll marry you when we are grown |
up-but don't you tell, no matter what
anybody says"
She had not told. She would never |
tell. Elbridge had not written all |
through his five years absence, but |
neither had he forgotten--he had sent
her delicate remembrances at Christ |
mas, st. Valentines, Easter and on
her birthday.
And when Grandmother Elbrldge |
paid her yearly ca,l at the cottage she
never forgot to say: "ElbrIdge asked
me to make you two his compliments
when ! saw you"
After that she usually launched into
eloquent accounts OF her grandson
how he was an honor man. or chosen
10 the most exclusive secret societies
how his classmates an but fought for
the privilege Of entertaining him I'm
their fine homes-after while what
a figure he cut in the prOmenades and
at commandments. Then he had
gone abroad, and IL was the same
thing-London had welcomed him,
Paris made him free Of its best
That was nothing remarkable. she
gave you to understand. OF course
Elbridge himself did not tell all these
things-lt was his friends. and the
family's, who took pains 10 let her
know he was getting the due Of his
name and blood, 70 say nothing %
his looks and his talents
Grandmother had let Lithg0w folk
know Of Sidney Cleye. II was at
school with her grandmother az Miss
Hale's. Eibridge met her In Paris,
aad they are the Creates friends. Al
heiress1
"of course. You must have heard
Of the great Cleye iron works q
beauty too. ! hear the artists almost
fight Tor the chance 81 painting her
You sill see her maybe o little later
this with a significant smile "Uf
course she is greatly run after bot 4
from IN can hear She does not lack
respect Tor age and family. and aIi