Marion Marlowe in Society, or, A Race for a Title — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

¢ ger & . ” ~ ” > = “ . “ * 4 ‘and true at heart! MY QUEEN. — 11 know of love when they have had ‘money,’ ‘money,’ ‘money’ dinned into their ears ever since their babyhood? And.what do our girls care for affection when they can capture va tifler”’ . “Oh, but there must be many exceptions! It would be awful if there were not!” said Marion, soberly; “and, as for Lord Curry, he does not seem like that at all. fam sure he ~ is capable of loving very deeply.” “Found that out so quick, have you?” laughed ‘Mrs. Stetson. “Well, mark my _ words, child, his heart will never guide him! ‘What is bred in the bone must come out in the flesh,’ and Lord Curry’s ancestors were a greedy lot of fellows.” Marion sighed as a vision of the young Englishman appeared before her. He was a handsome fellow, and one who could be very attractive, if it pleased him to be so. “Then his better nature is stunted,” she said, very decidedly; “I am sure he is noble It must be the shadow of those wretched ancestors that he cannot get away from.” “The shadow is relentless, then,” said Mrs. Stetson, smiling; “for I have known Lord Curry for several years, and he has always been the same; no amount of money was so alluring that a larger amount did not tempt him from his previous allegiance.” “Then I despise him,” said Marion, her lip curling a little. “He does not know what love is, if he is so shallow and sordid! ‘ “Few ‘men know what love is,” was her hostess’ answer; “although there is no other word which they make so free with and no other sentiment which they insult so. fre- quently.” Marion looked at her sharply. There were lines of sadness about her mouth. It was “evident that she spoke from some bitter ex- perience. “Is the Duke so unprincipled, also?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. To her great surprise, Mrs. Stetson burst out laughing. “Faney questioning the principles of a Duke!” she said, gayly; “but wait until you see him, girlie, and judge for yourself, but, remember, I wish you to tell me as soon as possible if you wish to be a Duchess!” closed the door. The young girl stared in astonishment now, for, in spite of her laughter, Mrs, Stet- son was serious. “As if I could ever win a great man like that,” she said, slowly; “a real nobleman— why, the thing is preposterous !’’ “Why not you as well as any one else?” asked her hostess, still laughing; “and think, Marion, what a monstrous joke it would be to see a little country girl entered in the race and at the end of the season run away with the title!” The lady fairly shook with laughter, as the picture presented itself, but for once the young girl was too serious to join her. “A joke, indeed,” she said, rather grimly ; “and one that would be turned upon me with a vengeance! No, I think I will not venture in the path of the Duke. I am of far too humble origin to aspire to a title.” “Nonsense! What difference can _ that make?” cried Mrs. Stetson, growing serious. “T tell you, Marion, it will be a capital scheme! I’m thoroughly in earnest, and you must look at it sensibly! You have the beauty and I have the wealth. ‘There is no reason on earth why you shouldn't _be a Duchess!” She rose from her chair and went over and She had no idea of letting the servants overhear the scheme that she had been hatching. When she came back to her chair she drew it a little nearer to Marion and her voice sank to a whisper as she began talking rap- idly. A half an hour later the young girl went slowly from her presence. Such a picture of regal splendor had never been presented to her before: such a vision of future magnificence had never dazzled her brain,—not even in the wildest flights of her youthful imagination. The title 6f “Duchess” was dangling with- in her reach, and-between her and it were only a half dozen young women with bags of gold to colitiechabsnes her beauty and, in one or two cases, a flawless lineage, which was supposed to weigh but lightly in the bal- ance. Marion’s calmness. heart beat faster in spite of her It was a temptation to try for GOmiiGoooksnco