“It has been a hard struggle, but I am sure it is nearly over now!” she sighed. “Oh, I shall win fame and fortune yet, I feel sure that I shall! All it needs is the three Ps—‘patience, pluck and perseverance.’”
She was just passing the gate of an old red farmhouse now, and her eyes wandered a little curiously over the familiar premises.
“Silas Johnson’s farm,” she said, aloud. “Oh, I wonder if he is kind to the poor, unfortunate girl that he married!”
Almost as if in answer, a young girl came running down the path. Marion recognized her at once. It was Sallie Green, her old playmate.
“Oh, Marion! Marion! How do you do!” cried Sallie. “I knew you in a minute in spite of your lookin’ so stylish!”
Marion put her arms around the girl and kissed her tenderly.
Sallie was pale and thin, and even homelier than ever.
“Oh, Marion! This life is awful!” she said, as soon as she could speak. “It is killing me to live with Sile! You have no idea how cross he is, now that he’s got me where he can boss me!”
“But don’t let him ‘boss’ you!” said the young girl, quickly. “Have some will of your own, Sallie, and make him respect it!”
“Oh, I can’t! I can’t!” sobbed Sallie, dolefully. “He’d kill me, I believe, he’s so almighty spiteful! He wasn’t so bad at first, but it’s awful now. Why, sometimes, Marion, I believe he just hates me!”