Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-02-20

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She looks at him q moment. Is this
the man she has loved SO madlyl Oh,
what are the bitter years of waiting and
weeping to the terrible sufferings of this
one dark moment?
Louis, do you know me ?" steadying
him with her little hands.
"Why's ill-Barb Gla-see-yer, Barb.
Gives (hic) kiss p
He reels toward her, but she pushes
him back and looks him full in the
face.
"Louis, if nothing else will bring you
to your senses, let me tell you that this
house is burning to the ground, and un-
less you exercise some wi1t-power and
| follow me, there will be nothing but
a heap of ashes left of us by morning" !"
| A little sobered now by her earnest
tones, he straightens himself up, and
puts her one side, with drunken leer
as he crosses the door.
So much the better, my dear. We
| viii perish in the flames together SO
romantic, you know ! You are not
aware that I am something of fire.
worshipper ?" and he swings the key be-
fore her startled eyes-the key has locked
them for life.
Louis-Louis, you surely will not
keep us to our death !? Give me the
key -
With half sob she springs toward
| him, but he receives her with out
stretched arms, and draws her to his
breast.
"Couldn't give you that, sweetheart
ri do anything else though, because
I love you'll do truly l''
His hot breath sweeps her cheeks as
he bends over her.
For shame, Louis !'' she cries, strug-
CLING to free herself from his cruel
grasp; then realizing how vain her eff
forts are, she grows quiet, and her face
rests as white and still as death on his
shoulder
There is pause, in which a cloud of
smoke pours in at the window. She
looks up into the cleaning eyes above
her, but makes no outcry. There is a
slight movement of his lips as though
he would press them to her own, and
his head droops over her. But sud-
denly he opens his arms and she is at
liberty.
Your pure lips shall not be con-
taminated, Barbara am a drunken
wretch.
He unlocks the door and throws it
open. A tongue of flame leaps from an
other chamber, and a volume of smoke
pours up the stairway. The halls are
comes gaspingly. North snatches
blanket from the bed.
stAre you afraid of me, Barbara %
"Not now," she whispers.
ftI'l save you, little Barb, he says,
wrapping her in the blanket. Put
your arms about my neck. Hold fast,
now, and cover yeur face and mouth
from the smoke
He Lifts her easily in his arms, and as
the smoke holds back an instant he
springs for the stairway. A few mo-
ments more and they are out in the cool
fresh air and away from the crowd.
A slender youth comes to Barbara's
side and kisses her rapturously.
"Oh, my sister thank God, you are
safe 70
Then he turns quickly to her COM
panion, but the eager light fades from
his face, as he recognizes his sisters
faithless lover of three years before.
"Mr. North We are greatly obliged
to YOU" This coldly and proudly.
You are mistaken, Glare. It is I
who owe my life to your sister" Then
aside to Barbara, I" I must see you.
Do not refuse me. Tell me when and
where"
"I shall be at my old home after to-
morrow. Stay, after tonight, for it is
morning now. I viii see you Tuesday
evening at my home in M"
Thank you I will come.
He fushes little beneath the gaze of
assist her further, which offer Glare de-
clines haughtily, he bows and walks
away with the fitful light falling over
the cleaning chestnut hair and elegant
figure.
Another September evening, but in
tensely warm for the season. The chirp
of the crickets comes up from the yard
the leaves are motionless on the
branches, and the moon hangs like a
ball of fire in the sky. The air is odor-
out and heavy with lingering summer.
In the two figures on the veranda we
recognize Louis North and Barbara
Vaughn.
There is something indescribably at
tractive and fascinating about her to-
night. Her robes of muslin are very
becoming. Her face shines out whitley
from it's frame of dusky braids. One
or two sweet peas droop from the brown
into her belt. North devours every
little detail of her dress with his greedy
eyes.
Barbara" he is saying, "I owe
you an apology for the condition in
which you found me on the night of
the fire."
He pauses an instant, but she only
bows, and he goes on: What you
thought of me I do not know-I dare
not ask. But may I ask if have drifted
entirely out of your life ?"
He knows that he has been something
to her. Her face, is turned from him,
but he snatches one white hand, and
bends toward her, saying, almost fiercely:
You do not answer me You must p
''I must ?'
How royalty the dainty head lifted,
and how clear and scornful are the eyes
that once dropped beneath his own !
Z" Forgive me, Barbara, and answer
me. I love you. Forget the past, and
let us be happy"
The girls dreamy gaze is fixed upon
the old gateway, with an expression of
half regret for the days that will never
come back
Through her brain there drifts the
memory of that night at the gate three
years ago, and she turns to him little
sadly:
"You deceived me once. I cannot
trust you again"
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