From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* ] — et ye ee oe i "Ss : - ~ we must tidy ourselves up a bit, dear! tie y ra brave and strong as a lion! but, oh, my goodness! = i il Seal « - as . : ; . Y “4 MY QUEEN. : slightest word will make me thrill with plea- lf we only lived in the city, darling. We will But no one will ever come here. / just die longing for love and never, never _ get it.” | ‘Mine was to have black eyes and brown hair, and be very tall,” began Marion, wip- ing her eyes, “and he was to be, oh, so gentle and tender in his wooing, yet all the time as Oh, my lover was to be a perfect prigge among men, and we were to marry and live in a little para- _ dise of pleasure!”’ Her cheeks were glowing as she finished her impulsive speech, and radiant smiles were dimpling her fair features. “And mine was to have gray eyes; like yours, Marion; and a big mustache, and— Just look at who is coming!” Dollie finished abruptly, pointing out of the window. eo “It’s the man that mother said was look- ing for board, I suppose,” said Marion thoughtfully. “Father must have taken him and he’s bringing him straight into the kitchen.” 5 ‘“He’s the handsomest man I ever saw!”’ cried Dollie, springing up. © “Quick! Marion, 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. “My darters, Mr. Lawson,” he said, with an effort at politeness. Then leaving the girls to entertain the new boarder, he strode out of the room again to do the evening milking. The stranger, a man of thirty, of most _ striking appearance, stood as if rooted to the spot for at least a full moment after his first sight of the girls. Such beauty as this was rare in any place, but finding it buried here in the wilderness of rocks and sand, he could hardly believe his senses for a minute. Marion Marlowe rose politely, and offered him a chair, which he accepted with such a glance of admiration that she could not help blushing. PF am most fortunate in finding such de- 5 sirable quarters,’ he said gallantly, “for I had not dreamed of anything in the way of ‘society in this forlorn little village. see, | am a bit of an invalid, and the doctor You has sent me into the country to rest. Little did I imagine that I should find angels to minister to me! Which will explain, I trust, any seeming rudeness in my manner.” “We stared at you also,” said Marion, still blushing, “but my sister and I have seen so few gentlemen, Mr. Lawson, that we were just as much surprised as you were.” She tried to speak naturally, but her voice trembled a little. body. The man’s dark eyes seemed reading her soul. irritated her. What could it mean? calmly. No man whom she had met had ever affected her so strangely. There was a curious ‘sen- sation of anger thrilling every fibre of her His penetrating glance annoyed and She tried to think “IT hope I am somewhat different from be these townsmen of yours,”’ went on the man _smilingly, “no better perhaps, but a little less boorish. It is a shame that such beauty as this should be wasted upon them! Forgive me for what seems to be flattery, but I must speak honestly. . You are both too beautiful to be buried here! You should live in ~ city, my dear young ladies!’’ Marion bit her lips to contro! her resent- ment, but before she could reply her mother entered the kitchen and began preparations for their homely supper. CHAPTER If. MARION PROVES HER INTUITIONS. The weeks passed swiftly at the Marlowe farmhouse, for Mr. Lawson’s presence there had broken the monotony. Not once during his stay had Marion been able to shake off her first impressions. She dreaded him instinctively, and was ill at ease in his presence. There was a mystery about him which she could not fathom—but her intuitions were keen, and she decided to trust them. Marion was too amiable to ordinarily allow her feelings to be seen. N (CONMUCE HOOKS ED