The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-09
WHICH WAS TIE IFEsRESs,

a 1alr, slender girl, Win the gOidel
hair blown away from the hlue-veine,
forehead, and soft, violet light shining
in her eyes as she stood there, a living
picture, framed in by creepins vines
and swinging sprays Of clematis-tliat
was the last glimpse that Henry Dal-
mayne caught of Lllias Raymond on
the summer evening that he went away
to seek his fortune.
He had found it already in certain
sense-in so ia. as man may fiud treas.
ure-troye in the rich abundance of a
woman's love; for Lilias loved him. .and
Lillias' heart was gold mine in Itself
She turned and went back into the
house, with the glistening dew of tears
upon her cheek and a mournfu. qniver
on hergip..-
elbow silly am!'' she murmured to
herself. "It will be but year or two
at the farthest, and he has innch more
to endure and battle with than l."
And Lillias repined at the fate assign
ed her in the great play bill of the
world. 1t was hard to realize the truth
of the blind poets words, that "they
also serve who only stand and wait"
If she could have worked to earn
money to help him; if she also might
have been privileged to bear a weapon
in the strife. Alas! it is so hard to sit
still and count the seconds which must
elapse ere the crisis of our fate dawns
upon the laden horizon of life.
So Henry Dalmayne went to London
and Lillias stayed behind to bear the
separation as best she might.
Engaged, eh ?" growled old Mr..
Peckham: Henry's maternal uncle, whose
skin had turned yellow with the reaec-
ton of much gold, and his heart was
harder than the marble of which his
mansion was built. Nephew, you're a
fool! Engagcd--at two and-twenty!"
"But, Uncle Ralph, she is the sweet
est girl you ever saw!'
Sweetest girl! Sweetest fiddle
sticks !" roared out the irate old gentle
man. "There, there, don't talk senti.
ment to me; I've no patience with it.
Henry was silent. The glitter of the
frescoed ceiling-the flash of silver and
cut glass-the exquisite aroma Of the
rare, red wine, and the velvet flush Of
hot house peaches, became dstasteful
to him, all at once. Uncle Peckham
had promised to make his fortune for
him but Henry was not at all sure that
he wanted his fortune much on these
terms. Cne glance, one smile from
Lillias-were they not worth all these
hollow pageantries?
"Here," said Uncle Ralph, tossing a
card across the table "Ive got you an
invitation to Lady Bruce's party to
night. You'll meet some people there
that are worth the knowing"
Henry Dalmayne hesitated; it w:.s
the evening he had set aside in each
week for writing to Lillias. She would
miss her letter; but after all, it would
only be one days delay. He could
write as well upon the next mig t.
So Henry Dalmayne went to Lady
Bruce's under tle wing, of his uncle,
the wealthy stock. broker.
"Well," quoth Uncle Peckham, when
the festivities were over, and they were
once more sitting beside the fire that
shone and sparkled like deephued rubys
beneath the carved arabesques of the
marble mantel ia the rich mans dining
room, show do you like Sarah Ester
brook ?"
every well, sir"
"Very wellw sarcastically mimicked
Mr.. Peckham. "Do you know that her
father is worth quarter of million ?"
SIS he, sir?"
as he, sir? Henry" roared the old
gentleman. ~ believe you're fool
Why, there are score of the wealthiest
young men in town who would give
half they possess-aye, the whole of ii,
if need be-for the smiles and glances
Miss Esterbrook vouchsafed to you this
very night.
"She was very polite, sir; but"
"Polite! And pray what would you
have, Mr.. Dalmayne2 Do you want a
woman to tell you, out and out, in so
many words, that she likes you, before
you can take hint p
Henry colored like girl. 1t was
impossible to be quite iDsensible 20 1.-THE
charms of this flattery, the more espe-
cially as Uncle Peckham was not one
who ordinarily "buttered his phrases"
as the expression goes.
ayes, my boy" went on the stock
holder, tapping the table emphatically
with his finger ends; ''she does like you.
And / am not the only person who has
noticed it."
"But, uncle. she is so plain"
"What of that? All women can't be
Venueses, and the prettiest of them
have grinning skull and cross bones
under their pink and white skins and
fair exteriors. Beauty is only skin
deep"
Henry thought of pretty Lillias with
thrill of tender recollection, Miss
Esterbrook with all her golden charms,
could never hope to rival her. Yet, as
the weeks went by, his thoughts and
ideas changed. The yellow luster Of
the gold-workshipping atmosphere in
which he lived seemed to wrap him
round the surface glitter of society !;
ideas gradually uprooted the old dog
mas and axioms Of his youthful faith.
And, enc evening carried away by the
witchcry and enchantmcnt of the hour,
he proposed to Sarah ESterbrook, and
was accepted.
Congratulations poured in upon him
the next day.
"You're the luckiest dog going, Dal-
mayne," cried one.
IL only wish l were in your shoes,
echoed a second.
And Heniy, dazzlcd by the brilliancy
of his prospects believed that he was
really most fortunate man, For, &C.
cording to popular rumor, he was go
ing to marry one of the richest girls in
London. And Uncle Pcchham took to
himself all the credit for the whole.
This is better than plodding on one S
whole lifelong behind a counting desk,
cried Ralph, joyous'y rubbing together
his lean and wrinkled palms "a young
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