Project Gutenberg's Marion Arleigh's Penance, by Charlotte M. Braeme

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Title: Marion Arleigh's Penance
Everyday Life Library No. 5

Author: Charlotte M. Braeme

Release Date: February 26, 2005 [EBook #15182]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARION ARLEIGH'S PENANCE ***

Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders

EVERYDAY LIFE LIBRARY No. 5
Published by EVERYDAY LIFE, Chicago

[Illustration]

Marion Arleigh's Penance

BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.

_Author of "Dora Thorne," "Madolin's Lover," "Lord Elesmere's Wife," "A
Rose in Thorns," "The Belle of Lynn," Etc._

CHAPTER I.

Three o'clock on a warm June afternoon. The great heat has caused
something like a purple haze to cloud over the deep blue of the sapphire
sky. There is not one breath of wind to stir the leaves or cool the
flushed faces of those whose duties call them out on this sultry June
day. Away in the deep green heart of the broad land broad streams are
flowing; in the very heart of the green woods there is cool, silent
shade; by the borders of the sea, where the waves break with a low,
musical murmur, there is a cooling breeze; but here in London on this
bright June afternoon there is nothing to lessen the white, intense
heat, and even the flowers exposed for sale in the streets are drooping,
the crimson roses look thirsting for dew, the white lilies are fading,
the bunches of mignonette give forth a fragrance sweet as the "song of
the swan in dying," and the golden sun pours down its flood of rich,
warm light over all.

Three o'clock, and the express leaves Euston Square for Scotland at a
quarter past. The heat in the station is very great, the noise almost
deafening; huge engines are pouring out volumes of steam, the shrill
whistle sounds, porters are hurrying to and fro. The quarter-past three
train is a great favorite--more people travel by that than by any
other--and the platform is crowded by ladies, children, tourists,
commercial gentlemen. There are very few of the humbler class. Ten
minutes past three. The passengers are taking their places. The goddess
of discord and noise reigns s