Marion Arleigh's Penance / Everyday Life Library No. 5

with everything in it, belongs to you. If you told me to lie down here and d

ike face was rais

dea that anything requiring secr

lau

s of the world say to such a theory? Rather

ression still lingered on her l

I am only a poor artist, struggling to make a name. You, sweet, are rich and beautiful. From your high estate you smi

ish it were all open and straightforward. I wish you would go to my guardian and

happen if I did as you a

replied; "and they would b

"If I were to go to Lord Ridsdale and say to him, 'My Lord, I

e replie

prevent me from ever seeing you again. If I were to tell him, Ma

Allan. If you think so, we-we wil

el, Marion. You are so heroic and grand-so unlike other girls; you would not darken my solitary life for an

face brightene

f your letters it seems to me your voice is whispering, and that whisper makes the only music that cheers my day. Tell me

rds please you, I will tell you over and over

d the young man. "In all the wi

r that brought a bright flush to her face and a love light to her eyes. She drooped her head wi

fruit hung ripe on the trees-golden-brown pears and purple plums, the grass under foot

for that age. She had a face fair as a summer's morning, radiant with youth and happiness. Greuze might have painted her and immortalized her. She had a delicate color that was like the fa

Arleigh on this June evening. The young man by her side was handsome after a certain style; the impression his face left upon every one was that he was not to be trusted; his dark eyes were not frank and clear, the thin lips were shrewd, with lines about them that betokened cruelty; it was a face from which children shrank instinctively, and women as a rule did not love. They stood side by side under the shade of a

proudest men in England, and pupil of Miss Carleton, to be alone in the sweet, soft

wrongly influenced and led astray. Much may be forgiven her, for lovely Marion Arleigh, one of the richest heiresses in England, was an orphan. No mother's love had taught her wisdom. She had no memory of a mother's gentle warning, or sweet and tender wisdom. Her mother died when she was born, and her father, John Arleigh, of Hanton, did

est plan yet suggested to him. She was sent first to a lady's school at Brighton, then to Paris, with Lady Livingstone's daughters

generous with a queenly lavishness, truthful, noble. Had she been trained by a careful mother, Marion Arleigh would have been one of the noblest of women; but the best of school training cannot compensate for the wise and loving discipline of home. She

as to do with this beautiful and gifte

ld then," he thought; "and I ferve

great an alteration in his way of life, he deferr

ool Marion Arleigh was just sixteen. Miss Lyster was not long before

feet," she would say to her som

ther-a genius-an artist-whose talent equaled that of Raphael, but that he

is genius, his struggles, his thirst for appreciation; the portrait she drew of him was so beautiful that Marion Arleigh longed to know him. Her wish was gratified at last. The drawing master who for many years had attended the school died, and Adelaide besought Miss Carleton t

at the end and aim of their existence was to marry well, was to secure a title, if possible-diamonds, an opera box, a country house and town mansion. With that idea engraven

brother. Allan should marry one of the girls, and then his fortune in life would be made. After passing them all in review she decided on Marion Arleigh. Not only was she the wealthiest heiress, but in her case there were no parents to interfere-no father with stern refusal, no mother with tearful pleadings. When she was of age she could please herself-marry Allan, if he would persuade her to do so, and then he would be master

d with the lesson. He never looked at them. Miss Carleton flattered herself that she had found a treasure. Allan was not only the cheapest master she had

ster. "There are no parents to interfere; she wil

nteen now," said Allan; "th

oud and thankful to win it. If you play your cards well, Allan, in one way

ed, looking admiringly

t her letters to you contain a promise of m

, Adelaide; with you to

n by saying how much Allan admired Marion; then, seeing the idea was not displeasing t

Other girls had talked about their flirtations; nothing of the kind had ever occurred to her. True, whenever she went out she could not help noticing how men's eyes lingered on her face; but that one should love

sorry I am that he ever came to Miss

s Arleigh, her beautiful you

en; he would rather look upon your face once than gaze for years on the loveliest of all cre

happy?" asked the

peace or rest is. He never sleeps o

, to whom this flattery w

there would be some hope of winning you; he would not let any other barrier

e it," said

o not even understand want of nobility in others. Do you not know that there

g girl, wistfully. "How shall I know, Ad

n to own their love; willing to suffer everything and

spect your broth

r you, to try and win you? Listen to me-I am telling you the truth. They would not be content with insult, with dismissing him ignominiously, but they would mar his future. You do not know the pow

," said the heire

uin him as completely as it was in human power to do so. The world is not generous; it is only noble souls that beli

e great object of keeping Allan's wooing a secret. If that could be until Miss Arleigh wa

instinctive dislike of all underhand behavior; that she could never be induced to look with favor on an

e young could not resist. Let those who misuse such talents remember they must answer to the Most High God for them. Adelaide Lyster used hers to betray a trust, that ought to have been held most sacred. She ca