The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-11-10

a sober looking old lady, dressed in
black, hurried in.
2 SO Meta Meta, comeI You are
startling this lady, my love! And
see yodr hair, all tangled! Come
now, and brush it out before tea!''
"My hairI"7 The poor bewildered
creature mechanically took off hernet,
and lett golden masses float down
back. ayes; 1 must make it smooth
and glossy before he comes. viii go
with you aunt"
And she submitted to be led away,
as meek as child, the old lady apol-
ogizing as she went.
II" We try to watch her, but she will
break away sometimes" said the ma
tron in a husky voice.
Ten minutes afterward, when the
landlady came up to inquire if there
was anything special they would like
for tea," Juliet detained her with
questions about this fair, crazed Ophe-
lila.
i' "Well, Miss, they only came in the
morning stage, and they're goin away
tomorrow but it seems her brain S
turned, poor dear! and her aunt is
takin' her to private asylum in Yer
mout. She was engaged to young
fellow, Miss, and he left her all of a
sudden for somebody else, and just
made her the wreck she is. l wish he
could be hanged, just dol" and the
Iandlady wiped her eyes with the cor
ner of her cap strings.
"They amt rich-at least, SO ]
gathered from what the aunt said
and she's an orphan, and this asylum
business is hard pull on 'em; but
she grows worse every day at home.
She isn't violent exactly, but she is
wilful, and always will be dressed in
white, because she fancies poor thing
that she's to be married soon and she's
on the lookout for him all the time
"They are going on tomorrow
morning? then they will travel with
U.S." said Juliet. "Poor, pretty little
thing! And her name"
"Well, properly speakin,' it's Mar
gret Ellsland, but they call her Meta
when they speak to her. But mustn't
stand here no longer. Yes'm, the
milk-toast shall be prepared, and I've
some beautiful current jelly think
you'll like" 5ilI
Long after the garulous woman had
gone down stairs Juliet sat thinking,
her book closed in her lap, and her
eyes mechanically fixed on the far-off
panorama of hills and wales and trem-
ulous pine thickets already beginning
to be shrouded in the purple mists of
twilight. She was pondering over
the contrasts of this life; she placing
her own lot side by side with that of
the poor crazed creature, who was as
fair and as deserving and as much
Gods child as she.
"I have read of such things in
books" she said, half aloud, I" but
they never seemed so close and real to
me before. She, deserted, poor and
on her way to mad-house; and all
through mans treaehery! l, rich in
health, anticipation and, above all, in
Rogers love! Oh, | never realized
before how happy ought to bel"
And one or two tears, springing
from strangely commingled fountains,
dropped on her folded hands.
5f" Don't take on so, Miss" said the
pathetic stephens, "theugh, to be
sure, it's as sad story as ever heard !;
and she so pretty too, poor dear!"
There was new vein of thankful
ness in Juliet's prayers that night; a
new softness in her eyes, as she closed
them on the little pillow that smelled
SO sweetly of dried rose-leaves !;
while, in another room, she could
just hear poor Metals voice, singing
to herself, in cadences, oh, SO sad and
plaintiYei H4
They were fellow-travellers the
next day in the numbering old stage
coach which left the village at eight
o'clock and Meta insisted on holding
Juliet Darley's hand and sitting close
beside her all the way.
J My dear, you will tire Miss Dar-
ley" said Mrs. Elisland, the aunt.
+ Meta looked eagerly into Juliet's
eyes. i91 aAt"2 a.- s0
s9" Shall I tire you?"
"No," said Juliet caressingly; "you
need have no fears of Chat"
Meta nestled close up to the arm
that encircled her fragile waist SO ten
derly. !As @ -.-
40 " love you," she said artlessly.-
II don't think / know exactly who
you are, but Hove you, because your
eyes are so soft, and your hand SO
frn.. should like him to see you p
:" Where is he?"
| "He is coming" Her blue eyes
frightened; the two spots glowed out
on her hollow cheeks. 8. Don't you
see my white dress, all ready for the
wedding? He will be here very soon
now the violets, are Almost gone
Somehow I get strangely bewildered
about the weeks and months and
days. she added, passing her hand
vaguely over her forehead, "but he
will come when the violets are out OF
bloom"
Mrs. Ellsland wiped her eyes. Ju,
liet's heart ached for the poor, wist,
fnl, watching little creature!
at will not be for long," she
thought, as she noticed the almos
transparent delicacy of the thin hands
the hectic glow of the cheeks. "She
will soon reach her eternal home.-
But what punishment can be too Sc
r.. ~