The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-09-12
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of Venus added; dark, lustrous eyes
lefty hair; and olive skin glowing will
crimson. Her white hand strayed care
lessly over the harp strings, as though
unmindful of her companion, a fair hair
ed youth, who hung over her with ar
abandonment of devotion such as only
youth can feel and show.
The twilight grew deeper, and the
French clock told the hour. The wo
man seemed to start from her reverle
She held up her finger with half child
ing air, and said, "Maurice p
The boy blushed deeply.
"Pardon me, but the minutes fly sc
fast"
Minutes !-you should say hours
naughty boy"
"Hours Were they years, they would
60 as quickly
"Fie!' but the soft, bright glance de
MED the reproof. "You must really &C
now"
She held out her hand. He bent over
it reverenty. A footstep sounded out
side, and she quickly Withdrew it, saying
carelessly, "Good.bye."
Goodbye" he replied, and left the
ROOM
The twilight had thickened into night,
and the lamps burned brightly when he
reached the street. He walked briskly
on, his head in Utopia, and his feet
sometimes in snow, till he reached the
modest house in which was the room he
called home. The front door creaked
as he opened it, and sloyenly house
keeper looked up the kitchen stairs to
see who came in.
ats only that soft-headed painter on
the third story back" she reported to d
sister below.
The spainter" went up the stairs till
he reached the third story back" which
he unlocked and entered. 1t was large
room with mixture of dreariness and
cheerfulness, comfort and discomfort,
produced by the disorder of its contents,
which, if managed by deft hand, would
have made it almost luxurious.
Maurice added to the mess b.v tossing
hat and coat on the nearest chair; and
then, after filing a tiny kettle and put
ting it on the CRATE, he walked to an easel
that stood in the middle of the room,
and drawing aside the cover, gazed in
wrapt devotion on the picture it held.
1t was the woman he had just left
How the soft eyes seemed to beam, and
the red lips to smile, and the crimson on
the cheek to deepen beneath his eyes =
The kettle sang louder and louder, and
at last bubbled over into the fire, but it
did not awaken him from his dream
Suddenly hand fell on his shoulder,
and cheerful voice cried:
"Heigho, Maurice! Worshipping at
your own shrine I!
The boy turned, and saw tall, bear
ded man in the prime of life. He had a
strong. proud face, with broad, high
brow; mouth firm and kind, around
which care had drawn some lines, and
eyes that were usually sad, but were now
smiling kindly on the boy.
"Peyton," said he, grasping his hand,
''welcome."
Thanks" replied Peyton. "But let
me see the beauty that has so enchanted
you"
He looked at the picture and grew
white; with one hand he grasped Mau
rice by the shoulder, and pointing to it
with the other, he cried, "Great heaven,
Maurice. has she crossed your path ?"
The blood mounted to Maurice's
brow. He threw of the hand and drew
himself up haughtily, but did not speak |;
and With the sad light flooding his eyes,
Peyton continued, My poor boy, has
that beautiful fiend wound her deceitful
wiles around you"
Maurice's eyes flashed.
"How dare you speak thus of the pu-
rest and most beautiful woman on earth :?
Peyton, you are mad"
"No, but when see that face I won
der that am not Maurice, listen to
me. / love you with a love man some
times gives to mana love that is not
often born, but which, when once ava
kened, dies but with life; and in the
name of that love, / ask you, beg you,
to flee from that woman! Avoid her as
you would deadly serpent! Destroy
that picture, and tear her memory from
your heart. All, Maurice, do it for my
sake! l love you far better than she
ever can"
"Peyton do you know that you speak
of the wife of gentleman 7"
"Wife of gentleman In heavens
name, Maurice, not yours p
The burning pain in his eyes forced
Maurice to reply, mo"
THANK heaven! l would rather kill
you with my own hand than hear you
call that wretchcd woman wife ;"
Maurice sprang forward and clutchec
him by the throat.
Coward! How dare youp You shall
answer for this! l see it all-you love
her yourself"
With calm hand Peyton pushed him
of. ~
sLove her? Yes, l loved her once
with a strength that wasted all my youth,
and made my manhood desolaLe; and to
save you from like fate, I will tell you
a secret that 1 thought to carry to the
grave. That woman is my wife!''
His face was ashy, and great beads
stood on his brow Maurice stood like
statue second; and then, looking
Peyton boldly in the face, he said, "You
lier" and, folding his arms, calmly waited
the result of his words.
The veins kuotted on Peyton's brow,
and his face grew crimson. He raised
his hand, but it fell quickly to his side.
He stepped close to Maurice
"Maurice, no other. man has ever said
these words to me,and had another than
you said them now, should have struck
him TO the earth ;but cannot harm you
1t is not you, but the spirit of that devil
there, that speaks" and he dashed the
picture to the ground His lip trembled.
"God bless you, Maurice; l forgive you,
but henceforth we must De strangers"
He left the room.
In the drawiug-room soft music filed