The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-22

with scornful eye upon his companions
of the. club room, his fine open counte
nance working with indignation.
A silence fell upon the group for a
moment, but was broken again by the
same manly voice:
You, Ellis, and you, too, Ford, by
your own confession, both have sough,
Miss Atherton's society, and paid hei
attentions such as would lead her to be-
lieye you were sincere; and nov. be-
cause she has lost her fortune, you cas-,
her off at the very time when she requi
res the most tender support. What il
her affections have been bestowed on eli.
ther of you? But l trust she has not
wasted them on subjects so unworthy to
receive them'
"Her affections are engaged to your
sell, possibly sneered Ellis, Gas you
seem to constitute yourself her champ
ion."
"Pray try your luck, Hamilton. l can
afford to wish you all success now," was
the only remark of Edward Ford
The answer he received was naughty
glance from the dark gray eyes of Percy
Hamilton, as he left the room and pass
ed out into the street, and walked rapid.
y toward his own home in B square.
There was glow of excitement on
the young mans face, as he sat beneath
the light of lustrous lamp that very
evening, in his luxuriant home, for he
pictured TO himself fair and beautiful
woman whom he might surround with
all that wealth and true love could sug-
gest. The barrier that Percy Hamilton
had raised between himself and the
young heiress was broken down; he
would not fear to win her now; and he
thought of Mrs Cleveland's ball and
decided that, on that night, he should
learn bis fate.
Never had Grace Atherton looked
more radiant in her lovcliness than up
on the night Of Mrs Cleveland's ball,
draped in long trailing robe of blue
tulle, dotted with silver and pearls pearls
wreathing her fair neck and soft round
arms; pearls nesting softly among the
rich waves of her golden tinted hair,
which floating away from her face, fell
in q luxuriaEt web over her shoulders
There was an unwonted expression of
excitement in the deep-blue eyes, rich
er glow on the delicate oval face, making
her altogether a picture fitted to grace
an artists canvas.
But that tiny paragraph in the Even
ing Telegraph had done its work, for
many who had one short week before
bowed before the beautiful Miss Ather-
ton, now seemed strangely unconscious
of her loveliness and grace. Those who
so eagerly sought to secure her promise
for the earliest dance whenever she ap-
peared at ball or party, now seemed con-
tented to fulfill only the engagements
they had made with her night or two
previous, when they still believed her
Grace Atherton,t the heiress of Oaklands
And now she.has danced with both
her former lovers--how changed in theil
bearing toward her. No softly whisper.
ed words of love from Mr.. Ellis; nc
tender, eloquent glances from Mr.. Ford
She knew now that the goo they wor
shipped was Mammon. With nothing
save sigh for the worthless admiration
of the world, she dismissed them from
her>thoughts.
But there was one whom she could
not thus lightly have parted from. One
voice she wearied to hear And, as the
evening wore on and he came not, the
color faded from her cheek, and the
sweet face began to show signs of ennui
Suddenly her eve rests upon tall
Fmanly form, pushing his way toward her
amid the surging crowd of dancers, and
her face is once more glowing with ex
citement, and she swept back that wealth
of golden tinted hair from her face, and
whispered softly:
"Still one more to pass through the
ordeal ere Grace Atherton loses her faith
| in man"
He is by her side now, and her tiny
lieweled hand, which she holds out to
welcome him, IS warmly clasped in his
as he exclaimed:
| sour favorite waltz is over fear, Miss
Atherton, but was unavoidably detain
ed. Promise at least three dances to re-
ward me for my disappointment
"Reward you with three dances fol
being too late to fulfill your engagement
with me, Mr. Hamilton! Really, think
unless you can offer some most ample
Justification for your non-appearance,
should rather punish you by not dancing
with you again. This seems to my mind
more like justice" o
HAS he seen t?' she thought. 81
know he takes the Telegraph; but will
leave nothing to chance"
There was lull in the music, and
heated with the dance and the glare OF
the brilliantly lighted rooms, many
sought the balconies or shrubberv for a
time.
Among that number were Percy Ham
ilton and Grace Atherton; and, as they
walked slowly backward and forward in
the odorous walks of the shrubbery,
Grace found courage to say:
''Have you seen any news in the Tel
egraph that surprised you lately, Mr..
Hamilton 7"
81 read some news that grieved me,
Miss Atherton, far more than it surpris-
ed me- Riches are uncertain things"
"You allude to the loss 0! my fortune,
| suppose ?" carelessly remarked Grace.
81 do. 1t is sad loss to you, Miss
Atherton, brought up in luxury from
your infancy. l feel for you most deep
|ly Have you formed any idea
Of your future plans? ] have never
ceased thinking of you since | knew
that you had lost everything"
"A good education does much to place
a woman above want; and have all that
wealth could bestow," was Miss Ather-
toms evasive answer.
ga sad fate for one so bright and
beautiful, to be chained down to a life
of teaching 'Tis weary task,a and one
that would ill-suit one formed like you
IN GRACE our proutlest circles. / cannot