The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-30
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color, Ellery."
"Well, ,then," catching the round waist,
"shall l be true to my hair or my heart ?
4 The great black eyes burned medita-
lively on his face.
!, Il have never proved you, Ellery."
J, "No. Why didn't you before you let
me put this on5' fondling the golden
circlet on her slender finger.
She gazed moment at the beautiful
face bending toward hers in the dusk ;
suddenly she clung to him in passion
ate caress.
Because loved you sor'
He laughed. kissing the delicate fin
gers, and lifting her hand to see the
white contour of her cleaning arm.
at isn't too late nowy'
NO, it isn't too late now August
Berne answered.
"Too late now" cried hoarse voice
above them.
"What, for heavens sake, is that !"
cried Ellery Granger
at is only my mocking- bird" she an
swered but her face was n little pale as
she raised it to the ash overhead.
"Too late" cried the bird again, in
visible among the boughs.
''Go back to your cage, Scarlet? p eX-
claimed his mistress, shaking the sapling
with no gentle hand, and the bird flew
out of the branches and disappeared at
an open window of the house.
"Well, must 60 now," said Granger
"Good-by, sweet. l will be out again to-
morrow. BY George, Prince has paved
hole as deep as grave under that tree.
Hold up, sir! What the deuce are you
about Z"
He vaulted into the saddle
"Good nightn' he called again, and
was gone.
August heard the fast-dying sound of
his horses feet going cityward, quite
happy, and with no foreboding Of evil.
But under the honeysuckles of the porch
a cry accosted her:
.'Too late p
"Scarlet always learns something dis
agreeable to hear she murmured, i'm
patiently, recovering from the surprise,
and vexed at the ominous words. "Now,
l have tried month, ,and could not teach
him Ellery's name"
"Too late!" cried the bird again.
There were red roses in August Bernes
dark hair the next evening. They set
off its duskiness, and made more like
marble the handsome, decided features.
Few women are as beautiful as was Au-
gust that night.
She had never waited for Granger be-
fore; he had always arrived early,er the
dusk had fallen. Now the darkness
deepened, and the moon came slowly
up, as she sat under the hOney-suckle
playing with Scarlet, and listening to the
} hum of the June insects.
! Waiting grew to anxious watching.
lEllery had never failed before to keep an
appointment. The road from the city
lay along high ridge. She kept her
eyes on it,and could see every tree of the
old turnpike, but never horseman gal
loped its leugth that night.
The village clock chimed ten at last.
August rose slowly from her seat. But
with one backward glance at the hill, her
step was arrested.
Along the bare, white road she saw q
carriage slowly rolling. Two persons
were seated in the barouche-one she
knew instantly The contour of the
head, the outlines of the shoulders, were,
Enthusiastically, Ellery Granger's. His
companion was lady-attractive GER
tainly, since Granger leaned constantly
toward her. There was filmy vail, like
silver, floating from her hat, and the
graceful head was hung with masses OF
dark hair Slowly the carriage passed
and disappeared down the hill.
The damask roses were not as red as
the passionate color that famed into
August Berne's checks, at the sight, but
no one saw the flush.
TOO late," cried the bird.
She struck him dead at her feet.
A week passed, and Granger never
came. She knew what it meant, then;
he had been true to his tickle nature-to
his yellow hair
The girl grew ill needed change, the
physician said.
1--WE are poor; 1 cannot afford a
change" August said, indifferently.
''But you must get it, someway, unless
you want to die" answered the old man
testify. II believe you don't care a
straw whether you live or not "
Il DON'T" August answered.
"Her mind, as well as her body, is af-
fected," observed Doctor Lessing, turning
to her mother ''She must be reused to
some interest in life, or she will never
regain her strength
He offered plan A friend of his
who was crippled required a companion.
The gentleman was named Aubrey he
lived by the sea in summer This was
just the place for August No difficult
duties, rest luxury, sea air; above all, a
change and new interests.
i The arrangements were settled; they
made her 60 almost IN spite of herself.
Mr.. Aubrey's carriage came for her.
His home was six miles distant on the
shore.
The beauty Of Rockledge she had
| never Seeu DclOIc, SlC Was NClCoIuSNt
) cordially by Mr.. Aubrey in his study.
Il shall be very glad to have a young
: lady to talk to- he said. "AIy niece,
Edith, who has been my companion, has
lately given herself away to a young
fellow from the city, and | get no more
good of her, Rockledge is pleasant
but l get very lonely, confined so much
to the house.
''Miss Aubrey is lately married, then p
"Not yet-soon to be, | suppose.
, These young men are not apt to be very
patient There they come, riding up the
avenue. 1 wish Edith would not ride
!, that half-broken horse" sotto roce.
August leaned from her seat and look
) ed from the window. The two she saw
riding up the avenue were the two she
had seen driving in the moonlight a
| month previous. She grew very pale,
but that.was the only sign of what she
suffered.
I Mr. Aubrey took q cane and limped,