Lurana Sheldon

“ Marion’s gray eyes flashed as her sister talked, but she walked slowly on and did not interrupt her.
“Then he said that I would have a comfortable home if I married Silas, and that I’d go straight to destruction if he did not look out for me!”
“How horrible!” burst out Marion. “And to think he is our own father! Why isn’t he content with one such experiment? Poor sister Samantha, whom he forced to marry Tom Wilders! I should think her miserable life would be a warning to him! Oh, Dollie, if we could only go away and earn our own living. You can play the piano beautifully and I can sing. ”

“ Silas Johnson isn’t a bad fellow, but he is an awful bore. He isn’t much like what we have dreamed of in the way of lovers.”
They had entered the dingy kitchen now and closed the door behind them. There was no one there, so they went on softly with their confidences.
“I should say not,” said Dollie, smiling brightly through her tears, as she recalled the mental pictures of the gallant youths which they had so often woven into the links of their daisy chains, hoping that some day they would come, like Cinderella’s Prince, and rescue them from the drudgery of farm life, which they hated. ”

“ A half hour later Miss Gray and Marion alighted before a small, third rate hotel and Miss Gray paid the cabman with a bill which seemed to be all the money she had in her purse.
Almost as if in a dream Marion followed her into the office and up the stairs to a room on the top floor.
“We’ll stay here to-night,” said Miss Gray, as she locked the door carefully, “and to-morrow you shall go to your real uncle, Miss Marlowe. Just remember that ‘The Norwood’ is on Fifth avenue; any officer will direct you if I should not be able to go with you.” ”

“ There are many like you who have married for the sake of a home and have found that home—oh, so unhappy after the novelty and glamor of the change had worn off. Grace Shirley’s advice is not to marry for any reason but one—and that is love. A marriage based on any other reason must in time prove unsatisfactory. Respect must go with love, of course, but respect alone is not sufficient to keep two people together “until death.”
[30]
If you married without loving your husband you would only make him unhappy because he would yearn for what you could not give him. ”

“ There was no reply, only the hurried tramp of bare feet in the road, but there was a light crackle in the bushes of the pasture lot as Marion hurried to the bars driving the truant cow before her.
A group of nearly a dozen lads from the Poor Farm were shuffling down the road. They had been working about on various farms through the day, and now were “rounded up” like so many cattle by Matt Jenkins, their keeper, and were being hurried home under the constant goad of voice and lash, the latter a cart whip of ugly dimensions. ”

“ Her uncle puffed himself up to an alarming degree as he spoke, but Marion controlled her feeling of disgust by a powerful effort.
“Is it anything against poor Dollie that [23] she should have been hypnotized by that fiend?” she cried, earnestly. “Or is it anything to my discredit that I should have been tricked by scoundrels? We are only children, Aunt Susan! What do we know of the world? Why, we are both as innocent as the very field daisies at home, yet you scorn us for our misfortunes—you ridicule our sorrow!” ”

“ Marion ate her dinner in some perplexity, for every few moments Miss Gray excused herself, and pouring a glass of liquor from a decanter on the table, took it in to her host, who still remained in the parlor.
“Does he always drink like that?” Marion ventured to ask timidly; “for if he does, I am sorry for my poor aunt. She must be wretched indeed to have a drunken husband.” ”

“ After that you must try to forget him, dear! You are safe from him, now—never again can he harm you! When he is safely disposed of we shall have enough to do, for we must go to work to win fame and fortune.”
Dollie shook her head and a dazed look crept into her eyes.
“To-morrow, Marion. I am so tired to-night! To-morrow my head will be clearer and perhaps I can remember.”
Marion took her in her arms and began smoothing her hair.
“Just one thing, little sister, and then you shall go to sleep. Did you take grandma’s topazes from the old chest, Dollie? ”

“ This deal with Silas had been his own secret.
If the marriage was not consummated it would become public property.
But what was a man to do with a daughter like Marion? It was a proposition which would have puzzled a wiser man than Solomon.
Martha Marlowe had always been an obedient wife. It did not occur to the old farmer that Marion might have inherited her obstinacy in some degree from her father.
The day following the tragic scene in the kitchen Marion spent in close companionship with Dollie, but still the girl’s manner baffled and pained her. ”

“ It is evident that you have not been able to justify yourself in regard to this new friend. You do not say that your husband has used you harshly, and his business matters which you complain monopolize so much of his time are, we presume, really directed towards your comfort and protection. It is his business that provides you with your home and your home comforts. If it takes too much of his time to do this, why tell him so. Tell him that you are willing to do with less if you can have more of him. Let him realize that his society is more valued by you than pretty dresses or a handsome house. ”

“ Her mother was sitting in the kitchen patiently darning stockings.
“Mother! mother!” cried Marion sharply, as she threw herself on her knees by her side. “Is it possible that you are willing for Dollie to be sacrificed? Are you going to sit calmly by and see her sold in bondage to Silas Johnson?”
“What kin I dew?” asked her mother, irritably; “ef your father sez so, what kin I dew? ’Tain’t a wife’s place to meddle with her husband’s runnin’ of his fam’ly.”
“But think of it, mother, what her life will be when she is tied to a man whom she does not love! ”

“ Now, I am ready, Miss Marlowe, to hear the rest of your story!”
It was the first sign of genuine interest that she had shown, and Marion smiled at her gratefully before continuing.
Miss Gray watched her with the sharp glance of an eagle as she talked. There was an intensity in her gaze that puzzled Marion.
“And you have come to New York alone to search for your sister,” she said finally. “Without funds or friends you have entered upon this mission?”
“I have fifty dollars,” said Marion reluctantly, “and, oh, Miss Gray, do you not think uncle will help me? ”

“ Laxity in manners is never excusable because one is at the seashore or mountains any more than if one was on Broadway. You would not let one of the boys kiss and embrace you on the corner of Broadway and Twenty-third street, would you? Well, you want to preserve your dignity just the same at the seashore. The boys may make fun of you for a day or two, but they will respect you a good deal more than they do the girls that forget to respect themselves. ”

“ Don’t try to make people think something of you when they evidently do not wish to do so.
“My mother scolds me harshly for allowing young men to kiss me and place their arms about my waist. We are spending the summer at the seashore and all the boys and girls carry on more or less. Is mother right or is she only old-fashioned and prudish, as the other girls say?”
We think this is one of the saddest letters we ever read. Any girl ought to know that her mother’s actions are for her good, and that her mother has her child’s interest at heart even more than her husband’s. ”

“ Ray. It comes like a burst of sunshine in this awful hour of misery. If you will only help me to save my sister! Every hour, every moment must be fraught with agony to poor Dollie.”
“Let us hurry to Police Headquarters,” said the young man, quickly, “and you must tell them all—every word of your story.”
There was no hesitation in Marion’s manner now, although she inwardly prayed that her words would not bring Miss Gray into any trouble.
[21]
“She was a true friend to me,” she said, very sadly. “Poor girl! I pity her with my whole heart and soul. ”

“ The next instant she had darted straight out into the road, and as the vicious whip was raised for a second cut at the poor youth she sprang at Matt Jenkins with the fury of a panther—snatching the whip from his [3] hands and throwing it over the fence into the pasture.
“How dare you, Mr. Jenkins!”
Marion’s eyes flashed like fire as she faced him.
Her sunbonnet had fallen off and showed her beautiful hair and rose-tinted features. The daisy chain fell and was trampled under her feet in the dust—the links which bound her wishes were scattered and broken.
“How dare you strike a poor orphan?” ”

“ We all need more or less variety in this stupid old world, and the fact that you are an agreeable hostess to others does not give your lover or husband any reason for unjust suspicions. You will do well to have this plainly understood before you marry him.
“I guess you are tired of hearing about other people’s troubles, but perhaps you can find a few minutes for me, for I am certainly in great trouble. I am deeply in love with a young man whom I know thinks more of me than he does of any one else, but who enjoys going around with other girls, and who says frankly that he will never marry. ”

“ When I married my husband five years ago I thought he was all that was manly and adorable, and I have tried to be a good wife. Little by little he has seemed to grow away from me, and his business and his men friends monopolize almost all his time. About six months ago I met a man of my own age, and since then I have corresponded with him. My husband is much older than myself, and I have found pleasure and solace in the letters of my new-found friend who seems to care for me deeply. ”

“ The fellow must be a fool to be so utterly reckless.”
“Oh, he knew my father would never attempt to rescue Dollie, and there was no one else. Why, he never even gave me a thought! I was only a little country girl; he did not dream that I would follow him!”
“Well, he didn’t read your character very well, that’s all I’ve got to say,” said Mr. Ray, laughing. “Why, my sister says you would go through fire and water for any one you loved! You have made a friend of her for life, my poor wronged sister!”
There were tears very near Mr. Ray’s lashes now, and it was Marion’s turn to play the comforter. ”

“ Turning so that she faced both her father and mother, Marion rested her right hand lightly on her sister’s shoulder.
“I will answer him, sister, and it shall be once for all, for this anxiety is killing me. I can brave it no longer. When a girl’s own [8] father and mother refuse to protect her it is high time for some one else to interfere. Dollie does not love Silas Johnson and she shall never marry him, for in spite of you both I will find some way to prevent it.” ”

“ Very probably the young woman of your desire realizes perfectly that you are in earnest, but wants to become convinced of her own sincerity before she lets you talk to her seriously about matrimony. We think she must be a very level-headed young woman, and if you can win her affection and marry her you may feel that you have secured a prize. The girl or woman who is slow to decide upon so serious a matter as marriage is far more to be esteemed than those who take the step hastily and unthinkingly. ”

“ A girl who values her own comfort more than anything else is not a promising subject for the trials and responsibilities which invariably accompany matrimony.
Unselfishness is the very first quality necessary for those who propose to enter wedded life.
“I write to ask if it is true that men only desire to marry rich girls? Is there no chance for a poor girl who is loving and true-hearted to win a good, true husband even though she is poor and dependent upon her own exertions?”
Good men are looking for loving and true-hearted girls the world over just the same as they have always been. ”

“ She was thinking of Bert’s visit to the kitchen that last night and the sudden disappearance of the family jewels.
“He wouldn’t have written if he had been guilty,” she whispered decidedly. “It was Mr. Lawson who stole them! The infamous villain who abducted my sister!”
Marion breathed a sigh of thankfulness that she had never mentioned her suspicions. [12] There would have been people enough ready to accuse him if they had known of his visit to the farmer’s kitchen.
“When one is down, everybody gives him a kick,” she said to herself. “Even poor, dear Dollie was not spared! ”

“ Dollie finished abruptly, pointing out of the window.
“It’s the man that mother said was looking for board, I suppose,” said Marion thoughtfully. “Father must have taken him and he’s bringing him straight into the kitchen.”
“He’s the handsomest man I ever saw!” cried Dollie, springing up. “Quick! Marion, we must tidy ourselves up a bit, dear! He mustn’t think we are frights, even if we are a farmer’s daughters!”
Farmer Marlowe introduced the girls with an awkward wave of his hand. ”

“ Do you think that a girl can be happy if she marries a poor man? I am engaged to the nicest fellow in the world, only he’s poor, ever so much poorer than my father. I love him dearly and would marry him to-morrow if I was sure that I would not miss my home comforts. ”

“ Our correspondent need not fear that there is no chance for her in the field of matrimony. A loyal, noble young man does not seek for a girl to pay the bills, he is both willing and glad to pay them himself, if only he can find in her a trusting, faithful companion—one who can bring joy into his busy life with her kisses and her smiles. In fact, we believe that most right-minded young men prefer the honor of supplying the funds for the family. ”