The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-06-08
f 0 R & | V E NJ.

dTlic ASC!CN SaC, Win the SnfuDDery
ovcrhanging all about lter, and lining
the walk thckly as far asthe gate, where,
through an opan aperture, made narrow
er than the gateway itself by the thick
ct of new leaves, was visible a picture
such rs many an American landscape
would furnish, of undulating fields and
bright foliage, and here and there pic
turesque cottage. She dropped her book
into her lap, and gave herself up to the
grateful recognition of the fragrance and
the scene.
A male figure suddenly, and in some
haste, passed across the scene and dis
appeared Why did not Mr.. Druitt stop2
Very well, let him go by without speak
ing, if so he chooses Yet, he might have
( been sick. He did look pale. She rose
to her feet, looking undecided. What
if she should go after him and ask after
his health: She pressed her hand hard
upon her heart. 1t throbbed with great
| beats
All. here is Mr.. Iced, one of John
Druitt's friends.
She looked toward Mr.. Iced nteutly
us he came III at the gate and walked
toward her. He was looking severe
His lips were compressed. His face was
rather'pale, as though he was just recov
ering from the effects of recent excite
ment.
"Why, what great dark eyes you lift
on me- he said, looking up at her with
a slight, cheerless laugh.
"Did you see Mr.. Druitt pass, just
now?"
"Yes."
as he uuwell ?
81 should think he would be-"
"Why 2"
''He has swindlcd our firm out of
twenty thousand dollars worth Of goods"
Il don't believe it,
Mr.. Iced shrugged his shoulders.
"Therc is some mistake" she persist
ed There must be. A nobler man
never lived. 1 will not believe it. l
would not, though an angel told me-"
She turned away abruptly and entered
the house, without inviting Mr.. Iced to
come in.
1t was there where John Druitt found
parlor. 1t was an hour alterward when
he entered. The sun was gone down,
and the evening air breathed in the Win
dow, laden with the fragrance Of the
flowers The twilight shone in upon
his face. 1t was still pale. He came
and seated himself quietly close to her.
and looked into her face.
"You have seen Mr.. Leed," he said;
"do you believe his story"
mo" fell from her lips, and, with
the strong impulse of the moment, she
arouse, and bowed her head against the
window-side, and burst into tears.
"The story is not true" he said, i'll
the same calm way "and time will show
it. Any business man is likely to get
into q difficult position. 1t is so with
me now. owe money, and have stop
ped payment. Naturally enough, my
creditors are frightened, and for the mo-
ment, are angry"
"You need not explain" she said,
turning to him. 81 believe in you"
He reached out his hand. She took
it. They had never before committed
themselves to this familiarity. The next
moment his arm was around her waist,
and their lips met.
II don't know what it means," she
said, "but am drawn to you
'And so am l to you, Katy. And,
being now united, let us never more be
parted, save by death. Shall it be ?;
"Yes."
He kissed her again, and then, offer
ing some excuse for leaving her, he has
tened away, going out by the front door
and disappearing behind the foliage at
the gate.
Catharine presently arose, and walked
out upon the lawn, along the high, thick
hedge that lined the road.
Suddenly she stopped, and pressed
her hand upon her heart, and listened.-
The sound of two voices, lady's and a
gentleman's, had reached her ears from
the other side of the hedge, and she rec
ognized each Of the voices. One was
Miss Mary Leeds; the other was John
Druitt's.
In the excitement and happiness of
the past few minutes, she had quite for
gotten the report, which had been of late
circulating, of an engagement between
John Druitt and Mary Leeds,
Now it came to her with a shock
Was it so? And was he playing false
with her? She clinched her hands to-
gether till the nails cut into the palms,
as she stood still and listened to the
words they spoke to one another.
"But you will not 60 away" Mary
said, in a pleading tone.
"Mary," he replied, Il will rot leave
you."
Catharine heard them now walk away.
She turned, and walked back to the
house, and seated herself on the door
step. Not half hour afterward, John
Druitt entered at the gate, ,and approach
ed her He stepped forward, eagerly,
and seated himself at her side. exclaim-
ing:
Il could not stay away from you. !
had to come once more this evening to
tell you how love you, and"
She sprang to her feet, ard confront
ed him. He rose and stood before her,
with the light of the newly-risen moon
on his face. Her eyes CLEANED at him
as she calculated, in a single breath, the
fatal word:
"Swindler"'
How white he turned in moonlight as
he stood there facing her! Without a
word he walked away, and left her at
the door.
How long she stood there, motionless
like statue, she could not have told
She was aroused by the entrance of
some one at the gate-a lady, who rus
tied toward her in white dress, and
laid her hand upon her arm. 1t was
Mary Iced.
81 have heard Of your engagement"
said Mary 'John has told me. l am
glad to hear of it. He is noble fellow
falling short in his nobility only of one
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