Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-05-30


how the room was so mean and plain
and poor; and there was only can
die on the table, half burned out ;
and the little violin hanging at the
foot of the bed and no fire and no
food; and the poor child herself in
rags and tatters, though she was Just as
pretty as picture then. You've seen
her."
"I, child when have 1 seen her?''
"Don't tell Uncle Paul told you -
she's Miss Craymer."
Miss Craymer l'' and Millicent
looked at the child, her face quite
changed.
eyes, organist at st. Mary's only
think of itr'
Millicent did think of it. For a mo-
ment she was struck dumb. Miss Cray
mer I about whom she had thought SO
often, noting the delicate tints of the
girls com plexion, the sweet refinement
of her face; noting also that Paul al
ways addressed her with almost studied
formality; noting how the warm blood
would come up in her cheek at the sight
of him embering how she had said
to herself more than once, "That girl
loves Paul Regley. Does he know it, 1
wonder2"
"Uncle Paul is so good" spoke up lit
tie Stella, still studying the fire. He
does just such things all the time. I'm
going to Ascension with him. l don't
want to hear anybody preach but dear
Uncle Paul"
Millicents cheeks flushed crimson {;
there was a choking feeling in her throat
and her lips were dry. Through and
through her brain went echoing that
name, Miss Craymer; and again she
asked herself, did Paul know it? Did
he see the timid glance, the varying col
Or did he divine the quick confusion
of her manner, or even the pains which
she took to hide it? and might that not
be one of the reasons why he was
anxious to leave st. Mary's? Dear, self
forgetting PAUL.
All at once there came over her an
overpowering sense of this mans worth
and grandeur of character. Was he not
prince among men whom she had re-
fused because he would not yield to her
in humoring her selfish whims Oh,
how the love, true, real, tempestuous,
surged up in her heart just then What
had she done2 Wrecked her life's hap
piness, perhaps. Paul had right to
despise her now; perhaps he would
some time forget her; this sweet-faced
girl might win him at last. And for a
moment Millicent hated Miss C1aymer
furiously.
care you going in to rehearsal to-
night?" asked little Stella after long
silence.
"Yes; is it time ?" And Millicent
hurried threw on her wraps, telling
herself that she must see Miss Craymer
not that she longed to meet Paul
longed to throw herself upon his bo-
som, and say, Z" will go to the worlds
end with you, if you will only take me
back"
So Stella and Millicent found their
way into the organ-loft. Miss Craymer
was playing, and Mr.. jackson, the long
bearded tenor, filed the church with his
sonorous voice.
AS Millicent entered, the quiet little
organist turned, and their eyes met but
this time it was Millicent's glance that
fell, her cheek that crimsoned, her bo-
som that heaved with an emotion not to
be controlled, for Paul was there, stand
ing very near Miss Craymer, and he
hardly looked up.
Millicent was fit for nothing that
evening. By fits and starts she was
gay, but her usually steady voice was
tremulous. Not once had Paul spoken
to her, and always before he had sought
her out, suggested here, commended
there.
All the singers were talking about it,
with whisperings and sly glances; but
her heart was crying out ooh, Paul,
Paul 1 have lost you |"
So the time went on, and Millicent
was too proud to take the first step
toward reconciliation. Paul became
the rector of Ascension, and was much
of the day busy with his parish duties
SO she saw him but seldom.
Whatw st. Mary's now to Millicent,
with all its pomp and show, without
Paul? A good man took his place, a
man upon whose locks had fallen more
than sprinkling of the SHOWS of age
the father of a whole pewful of chill
dren, little Stella said and his voice
was not musical, nor his manner grace
full, though he was great in gifts. Mil
hcent's old friends lost their charms !;
her splendidly bound prayer-book be-
came hateful to her, and she often
carried Stella's plain little morocco,
which was a gift to the child from
Paul.
"It seems to me Paal is never at home,
even to his meals" sasd his mother, half
fretfully, one day. ~ wish he would
take house down town.
"He is going to,'' said the merchant.
"Whatl' exclaimed Mrs. Regley.
Millicent grew cold to the heart.
81 mean he is going down town" the
elder son said, laughing at the conster-
nation he had created. "I don't know
about the marrying. I always said
Paul would be the single man of the
family. But he told me only yester-
day that he was looking for boarding
place. Pm sure don't see where he
will find one suitable in that part of the
city, unless he goes to Mrs. Craymer's !;
she keeps a few boarders near the
Park"
Howlike dagger every word struck
upon Millicent's ears She left the room
soon after, and in the privacy of her own
apartment wept and struggled with her
self.
"What shall 1 do? 1 cannot lose
him p she cried in agony.
This was on Sunday morning.
Presently Stella knocked at her
door.
ooh, Millicent ~ she cried, as she let
her in, ",oon't you go to Ascension
with me? Uncle Paul can't come for
me; he has an extra service. He said
you wouldn't go to Ascension but you
will, won't you7''