The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-12-02
JOHN BsaTRAM,s coURrSHIp.

than real prayer in the ejaculation which
fell from the lips Of Eveline Marks,
as she threw herself on her knees be-
side her bea. Her eyes, red and swol-
len, indicated that the tear-storm had
been both long and violent, and it
had left its traces in the haggard looks
and disheveled appearance of her hair,
unusually smooth and bright, and the
great heart-sobs that, yelling in her
throat, choked her utterance.
Women are charitably supposed TO
indulge in such ebulitions of temper
on the slightest provocation, therefore
the indulgence of such luxury is
studiously denied any heroine for
whom sympathy is craved, but when
such demonstrations become beacon
cairns in life of ease and pleasure,
they must needs be excused. To Ey-
cline Marks sorrow had hitherto been
a terra incognita, until it had burst up
on her that morning i'll all its hideous-
ness.
She was the daughter of man re-
puted wealthy, and. if open handed
liberality and profuse hospitality are
criterions of mans worldly posses
sions, he must have occupied an envi-
able niche in the opinion of those who
measured mans worth by the weight
of his pocketbook. In his home Mr..
Marks was cold and reserved, Lut his
wife and children could not complain
of stinted allowances. His purse was
open to every demand, and especially
to Eveline was this indulgence re-
markable. A less sterling nature
would have been ruined by such n
course, no less than by the overwhelm-
ing fiattcry of a doting but weak moth
er; but as her character itself was
foreign to their own, the worst effect
had been TO lull to sleep all forebod-
ing of the future, which will at times
intrude upon our happiest hours. -
Thus all unprepared she had hastened
to the library, whittier sheihad been
summoned by her parents. She en-
tered with light heart and smiles up
on her hps-she left it with ashen face
and trembling limbs. In one mo-
ment her whole life seemed shattered.
Her father was ruined, anl there Of
fered but one means of escape A
man, on whom Eveline had always
looked with the respect due her faith
er's friend, on whose knee she had
been dandled when a babe, proposed
to relieve her fathers embarrassment
on condition that Eveline should be-
come his wife. She had heard the
whole plan without murmer, and had
only asked, with n calmness that de-
ceiyed her hearers, what was to be-
come of Claiming Lowell, to whom
they knew she WIS engaged"
NEED girl like you ask how she
is to nd herself of lover that has be-
come wearisome p her father had an.
swered, and she had questioned nc
farther, knowing what was expected
of her. fearless she left them, but
WREN once the door of her pretty room
had closed upon her, tears, sobs and
leiaculations had come thick and fast
Was she to be sacrificed, her best
feelings trampled in the dust, and
handed over as an article of barter?
"Talk of Circassian slavew she cried
"whst better am II May be far,worse
for she is trained TO expect such treat
ment, whereas they cheated me with 3
vain show Of frecdomr Then hat
come thoughts of the privations thG
must beset her mother; of her father
shame when the finger OF scoIn should
point him out as one recreant to his
trust; of her brothers and sisters wht
should be debarred from all that hat
made her own life beautiful; unit
worn out with the inner struggle, tn,
words with which this sketch open.
had escaped her lips.
A soft knock, at first unheeded, wa
repeated more loudly, and a voice sh,
recognized as her mothers, besough
her to come down, as Mr.. Bertram wa
in the parlor 81 cannot complain O
my lovers tardinessr she exclaimed
bitterly. ellis impatience is com
mensurate to the time he has previ
ously lost! But so be it. He viii
find me rather hard to manage, ant
may repent of his bargain!
It was with O heavy heart Evelin
4 descended to the parlor, where an OLE
gentleman rose to greet her entrance
Her heart sank as she noticed hos
very old he looked; for in truth, Mr.
John Bertram was long past the prim
of life. He was a fine type of a gen
i tleman of the old school, and thougl
his hair was fast losing all traces of it
loriginal color, and there were dee
wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks
; there was, likewise, a look of kindnes
that spoke in favor of the years tha
were flown. ss -.
AS Eveline looked into his face sh
!, thought stsurely this man whom
have always known so good, so gen
/, tie, cannot require the sacrifice of m
life in exchange for pecuniary favo
he must know must sooner or late
be repaid" And these. reflection
gave her greeting far more cordialit
than it would have had otherwise, an
she began to hope that the morning
conference was terrible practices
joke of deadly nightmare. She wa
rudely awakened to the fact that
was palpable reality, when Mr.. BE
tram said, "Eveline, suppose 20
already know the purpose of this in
teryiew? s4
Something to that effect, said E,
cline icily; "you await my decision.
Merely for FORMS sake, my dear,
said the old man cody. aOf cours
YOU can have but one answer"
spray. what may that be?" 0
haughtily as a young empress.
ssThat you will be off with the ol
La or, with the naw lova,. ., a n swere