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

A beautiful September sunlight, with
the purple shadows just closing over the
last faint flush of the departing day, and
one or two timid stars hanging tremu
lously against the perfect sky. The
eastern hills rise dim1y where the great
and the gray road wanders away
beneath the arching trees whose leaves
are Just tinged with yellow.
A long, low house sets back from the
read, and the smooth-shaven lawn In
front sweeps down to its bordering fence
of brown.
Between the great, clumsy-looking
gate-posts there is slight, graceful
girl, with soft dusky hair, and shadowy,
dreamy eyes. A face, that once seen,
would haunt one forever. A brave, true
face, with its clear, pure outlines and
crimson-eurving mouth. A shawl of
vivid cleaning red trails from one arm
over the dead black of her dress.
Above her there is fair, stately man,
with chestnut curls and q sweeping gol-
den beard. A pair of knowing hazel
eyes watch his companions as he leans
indolently on the gate-post and twirls
his hat in one hand.
A sad little air with quaint, old
fashioned words comes hoating down
through the scented air, in boys clear
tenor:
Summer is breathing soft DER the hill!
Roses are blooming sweet in the vale;
Yet must leave thee weeping alone?
All, who'll protect thee when 1 am gone ?D
cts brother, Glare" she says to him
smilingly.
Barbara bending suddenly down
to her-"Im going away tomorrow to
California. Icame tonight to say good
bye
Going away ?" she returns, with all
the eloquent light beaming from her
face, and surprise and pain quivering in
her voice. " For how long ?''
Probably for years-possibly for
ever. And the beautiful cruel eyes
smile heartlessly on her white stricken
face.
The truth comes to her slowly. It is
30 hard-so very hard to believe him
false. And all the bright glad summer
the twilight walks and rides made
blissful by his presence-oh, must it all
be forgotten
And still through the soft cool air
thrills the boyish tenor:
Bright were the glances that eyes gave me"
Something in the yellow glaring moon
light seems hateful to her now, and her
brothers voice arouses new sense of
pain. But pride comes to her aid, and
with a mighty effort she crushes back
the rising tears, and forcing smile ON
the paIlid lips, says, as she gives him
her hand
"I am sorry to have you go, but
goodbye"
Goodbye, little Barb, and pair of
bearded lips are pressed to her own be-
fore she can resist him, and his light
laugh floats back to her almost mock
fr1Ofvv bo xaro1Iro AI,a
The last notes of her brothers song
come to her while she stands there alone
In the moonlight:
" Long ere the morrow I shall be,
Friendless, forsaken, far from thee"
There is one low, dry sob, and the
brown wood, while over her the moon
throws its pale, shadowy light.
CHAPTER II.
Three years have elapsed since the
preceding scene, and would now take
my readers to back chamber on the
third floor of the E. Hotel. The
time is midnight. There is figure OF
man at the window, a man who is evi-
IDENTIFY in a deep slumber, for the head
is pillowed upon both arms, which rest
on the SILL His breath comes heavily,
his face is flushed, his hair disheveled,
and his whole appearance speaks plainly
enOugn-lnGOncatlOn.
In the street below there is confu-
sion of shouts and hoarse cries there is
clangor of bells on the night air, and
a suffocating smell of smoke is in the
room
Suddenly the door opens, slender
figure in dark wrapper hastens to the
man at the window, and a woman's voice
cries
ttClare, the house is burning
quickly p
But it is not Glare, and she hesitates
then
'sSir, arouse yourself /; the house is il
Hamesp'
Bending over to shake his arm,
sickening smell of liquor greets her
and the man mutters and moves in hi
sleep.
His face is turned little toward he
that fair blonde face, how natural
It is her lover.
Louis North P Oh, my God, Louis
how came you here ?"
For moment she reels blindly, thel
rallying, seizes pitcher from the STAN
and dashes the contents over him. III