The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-05-19
ii--A--''
POOR
MARCELLA
Il Story of Persistent
LOUe
Bv FANNIE HURST
By FANNIE HURST

with formality to the official social life
Of Washington.
1t was a quick transition from the
busy, unremarkable life Of Marcella
Martins childhood, as daughter Of
prosperous manufacturer of radio
parts, to the highly complex social
plane achieved by Festus Martin aft
er his growing wealth had enabled him
to foster political ambitions, and aft
er those ambitions had landed him in
congress.
Undoubtedly 1t was the combination
of Marcella's estate Of only child, COM
bined with the doting ambition Of par
ents who could have loved her more
wisely, which was accountable for the
six years of rigid social disciplining
which were imposed upon the protest
ing Marcella.
1t was said Of the Martins, laughing
ly, in certain Washington circles, that
the adoring parents Of this girl had
actually succeeded in making over her
face. A rather plain face. too long,
with overhanging brow and dull brown
hair entirely lacking in lights. But
SO often had this and that artist ideal
lied it, and so long and arduously had
schools Of massage, dentistry and hair
dressing, expended skill in improving
it, that by the time she was eighteen,
Marcella was indeed quite an improve
ment upon the lank, lusterless little
girl Of other days.
1t can readily be imagined that the
Martins spared neither time nor the
most elaborate expenditures to launch
successfully into an estate BETTING
her fathers rank this idoliZed and only
daughter.
The fact that she was diffident.
frankly unsocial, unimpressed by
wealth or station, unambitious along
lines assiduously mapped out for her
by her parents whose dreams Of ulti-
mate highest realization lay in this
girl, only conspired to urge the elder
Martins to maximum effort.
"Why, Marcella, another girl with
your opportunities would be in her
seventh heaven Of delight. Doesn't 1t
mean anything to you to have all the
things your fathers wealth and po-
sition can afford for your"
"Of course 1t does, mother, only !
want them in my way. I'm no good
at this social-round kind Of thing. I
don't like 1t chiefly, guess, because
I'm failure at it. Don't force, moth.
er. Can't you reconcile yourself to the
fact that I'm not what you want me
to be?"
No, neither of the parental Martins
could. Festus Martin, as much as his
more obvious wife, wanted this daugh-
ter fitting complement to his achieve
ments both official and social. His
wife was that A pretty, pampered-
looking woman with small eager ways
and deep gold eyes that were brighter
than, If not as profound, as her daugh-
ter'S.
Emma" he confided to her once
during one of their frequent contro-
versies about this problem Of their
girl, II actually believe you still have
more youth and social charm than
Marcella. What Is 1t ails the child?
She's as fine a girl as you'll meet in
a thousand years, and yet-and yet
no two ways about it-something's
missing"
"It's her own fault, Festus. Mar
cella's heart isn't in living the life
about her. That's what hurts me so.
To think a girl with her opportunities
doesn't appreciate them"
Marcella's reaction to these implica-
lions of her doting parents was emo
tional and deeply sincere.
"Dears, don't you think 1t hurts me
as much as 1t hurts you that I don't
seem to live up to what you want Of
me? If only you could make up your
minds that you're trying to make a
silk purse out Of"
"Marcella Martin, nothing of the
sort. You've ten times the sense and
intelligence Of the girls you compete
with. Why, man like Senator Morris
wouldn't look at the swarms of silly
girls who buzz around him, if you so
much as took the trouble to exert your
self to interest him. That's what trou-
bles us. dear. You have all the op-
portunities for success, including some
very natural qualities Of your own, and
you won't use them"
The subject of Senator Morris was a
mooted one in the Martin household.
It seemed fitting to the parents Of
Marcella that the most eligible bach
elor in Washington, one of the most
outstanding members of the upper
house, a man with much achievement
behind him and obviously again as
much ahead, should be potential timber
for Marcella. After all, the only child
Of a millionaire many times over, per-
sonable, probably the most all round
educated young woman in the capital.
travelled, Informed and by no means
without certain quality Of distinction,
had the right to cast her eyes high.
Anyway, the Martins felt that way
about it, and spared neither time, eff
fort nor expense to the bringing to-
gether of these two.
It must be admitted. however, that
these somewhat ingenious and not a.