From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 25: what you’re looking at

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22 liking to each other. She had her uncle’s, correct address now, and they were soon at “The Norwood.” Mr. Ray slipped his card into her hand as he and Bert left her at the door. “We'll call for. you here later,” he said; with am admiring glance, “and if we don't find you we'll go over to the little hotel. Just as like as not your uncle will give you the cold shoulder.” “He may,” said Marion, sadly, “for I’ve heard that he is very proud.. And he doesn’t know the whole truth of my visit to the city.” | With a last glance of sympathy her friends turned. away. Marion was alone again, but this time she was at the door of her own aunt’s dwelling. She was ushered into a reception-room by a smartly-dressed maid, who glanced her over critically and evidently approved of her appearance. “Wonder how she would have liked me in my own clothes?” thought Marion. ‘Ten to one l’d have received some cold glances from her if it wasn’t that-I look so out and out stylish.” , After quite a long wait she was ushered into her Aunt Susan’s presence. It was the most unpleasant moment of the young girl’s whole adventure. A fat, pudgy woman, very showily dressed, but who looked quite a little like her own mother, rose from a sofa as she entered. There was a poodle in her arms that snapped and barked savagely. “So this is my niece,” said the woman, languidly. She raised a lorgnette to her eyes and stared at Marion rudely. ~“T am your Niece Marion, Aunt Susan,” said Marion as sweetly as possible. “I came yesterday, as I wrote you, but I must have missed uncle at the station.” “Oh, he did not attempt to meet you,” said her aunt, still languidly. ‘“He found he had a dinner engagement which prevented, but really, my dear, you are better than I ex- pected.” At this cool announcement, Marion’s color rose, but she bit her lips to control her feel- ing’. . “Thank you, aunt,” she said, simply ; ef am glad that you approve of me. Your sis- ter’s children are not gawks, even if they do live in the country.” “So T see,” said her aunt, ‘and it relieves my mind considerably. But tell me, Mar- ion, how do you happen to be wearing such expensive clothes? Why, they are really quite fashionable ! Can your father afford to dress you so stylishly?” MY QUEEN. Really, you are extremely pretty. -_ . Marion burst out laughing before she im swered, } “My father would not know me if he should see me,” she said honestly. “You see I have dressed myself according to my | surroundings, aunt. I knew you would feel disgraced if | came to you in homespun.” “Very thoughtful indeed!” said her aunt, thawing out a little. “Take off your hat, Marion, and I will order some luncheon. lam veryg glad to see you.” | | Marion’s lip curled scornfully as she tte off her hat. She would have-been glad to have boxed the old lady*s ears, but as she couldn’t she watched her chance and teased the poodle for relief. In a moment the door opened and her uncle came in. He was a pompous-looking man who tried to impress every one with his importance. He greeted her with a patron- izing nod, looking her over critically, as his wife had before him. . —_— “Glad to see you, of course,” he remarked, very frigidly, “but we are, er—very busy, don’t you know—so much doing in our set at present.” : ‘ Marion ate lunch with her relations before she told her story. She felt that she must fortify herself against what was probably coming. 3 When the servant had cleared away the things, she began talking quietly. She was” determined to lose no time in enlisting her uncle’s sympathy. “What! Dolly abducted, and here in New. York?” a “You were sent to the apartments Of < bachelor—alone!”’ “Stayed all night at a cheap hotel with a a man’s housekeeper, did you say?” These exclamations of dismay interrupted Marion’s narrative. “There—now I have told you all, uncle!” cried Marion, as she finished. “I have told you the whole truth, and [ must rely upon your kindness! I should not have dreamed of coming to you had not Dollie’s own father disavowed her.” q “And quite right of him, I say!” almost screamed her Aunt Susan, who had supplied herself with smelling salts before Marion’s story was half over. . “And you expect me, a society leader, to mix myself up in this affair! Why, the thing is disgraceful! It will all be in the papers!” Her uncle puffed himself up to an alarm ing degree as he spoke, but Marion cons trolled her feeling of disgust by a powerful effort. | a “Ts it anything against poor Dollie that GOMIMEDOOKS com