Marion Marlowe in Society, or, A Race for a Title — page 13: what you’re looking at

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—m 10 appreciate his dilemma—and sympathize with him, too—for such an-act as he had re- ferred to—that of making a mésalliance— would have been as fatal to his*career as in- sanity or sttcide. Before she could speak a maid tapped on the door. She had two visiting cards upon a silver salver. “Maude Rushlyn and -her mother,” an- nounced Mrs. Stetson, dryly. “Well, I must confess that they are starting’in promptly.” CHAPTER V. A DAZZLING TEMPTATION. / ‘“T disappointed them that time,” was Mrs. Stetson’s remark, when she came back to the room where she had left Lord Curry and Marion. “They inquired after you in a way that should have made your ears tingle, Lord Curry; and as for you, Marion, they “are both just dying to see you.” “And I shouid be so glad to see Miss Rush- lyn,” said Marion, quickly; “a girl with mill- ions in her own right should be a very at- tractive person!” “Why?” asked Lord Curry, with some im-- patience in his manner. “Because there is no excuse for her not be- ing attractive,” said Marion, promptly. “She has had the money to cultivate every talent that she possesses. Very different from a poor girl who has to work for her living! Why, if I had money,” she went on, “do you know what I would do? I would spend every hour in the day in travel or study. I should learn, learn, learn, just as long as my brain would let me, and J would develop every grace that nature has given me! Oh, it must be beautiful to be able to do this, to say noth- ing of the good one could do to his fellow- mortals if one had money!” Lord Curry looked at her gravely, but did not speak. No girl of his acquaintance had ever before suggested such a use of money. “How about dresses and bonnets?” asked Mrs. Stetson, slyly; “you have forgotten what most girls would think were the most important items.” “Oh, I’d have those, of course,’ Marion, carelessly; “they would come under the head of cultivation of graces,” too, said MY QUEEN. Lord Curry laughed. She interested him greatly. When he finally went to his cham- ber her face seemed constantly before him. Mrs. Stetson’s invitations for the party were sent out the next day, and Marion was greatly interested and excited as she watched the preparations, The magnificently furnished mansion was thrown wide open and the decorations of the rooms were on an extravagant scale. “Only a small party of the elect, my dear,” Mrs. Stetson said, laughingly ; “Tt am going to be very exclusive with you, child; it is one of the ‘tricks of the trade,’ as you will see before the season is over.” Marion’s eyes dilated with genuine curios- ity. | “My dear Mrs. Stetson, what do you mean?” she asked, eagerly. “Listen,” was the answer, as Mrs. Sigiaon folded her fat hands upon her lap, while Marion knelt on a footstool and gazed up at ~ her earnestly. “This winter is to be a lively one, if I can prophecy correctly. Lord Curry is here, and the Duke of Lorton is coming, and, besides, we have a score of boys of our own who are really eligible. Now, on the other hand, there are a dozen girls who are rich and pretty, title hunters the most of them; but that is not wholly their fault. Most of them are put up toe it by their ambitious mammas. If you are anxious for some fun. you can readily have it, Marion; it is only a matter of a little shrewdness, and an exclusive start is the beginning of that shrewdness.” “T see,” said the young girl, with a mis- chievous light in her eyes. “The girls are not really in love, so the field is fair and I am to have an ‘inning’ !” “You have it already,” said Mrs. Stetson, laughing; “why, Lord Curry was vanquished at the first glimpse of your face! I have only to mention your ‘dot,’ and he’ u propose instanter.”’ “Mercy! Don’t ever do that!” cried the girl, blushing furiously; “why, it would be perfectly awful to be made love to under those circumstances!” “Those are the conditions under which most society girls become engaged,” said Mrs. Stetson, grimly. Eomicbooks ~ “What can our boys _ com :