The Honorable Andrew Surrey’s residence was a most charming one, overlooking the sea, and that year it was christened by the surrounding neighborhood “The Home of the Nymphs,” in honor of the charming beauties residing there.
But dire calamity and sorrow were destined to overtake these beautiful and careless nymphs ere their summer holiday, begun with so much of happiness and promise, should end, and the memory of it was the means of saddening their whole after life.
During one of their many excursions and picnics, Marion Vance made the acquaintance of a young man, who was introduced to her as Mr. George Sumner.
He was about twenty-two years of age, not handsome, nor even fine-looking, but possessed of a singular fascination of manner that attracted her from the very first.
He was introduced by a young man who was somewhat attentive to Miss Kate Surrey, and who had met him at the German University, where he was studying.
He knew nothing of him, beyond that he always had plenty of money, and report said he was to fall heir to great possessions upon the death of some aged relative.
He had been well received at the university, and it was supposed that he belonged to a highly respectable family, and he was consequently admitted into the best of society there.
Marion Vance, with her fresh young heart, her susceptible nature and impulse, was not long in learning to love this fascinating stranger, which feeling Mr. Sumner appeared to reciprocate, and, before half of her visit had expired, he was secretly her declared lover.
The gay Misses Surreys, intent upon their own beaux and pleasures, were culpably heedless of the mischief that was brewing in their midst, and of the toils which were being so cunningly woven around their fair young visitor.
They were all older than Marion, and should have guarded her against the constant attentions of any one.