The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-24

rious to resent the familiarity.
"The son of Wall street banker
Dick Van Alstine by name"
"Ah! exclaimed Harry, involuntari-
ly.
The name was quite familiar to him
as belonging to one Of the New York
millioraires.
A brief silence followed which was
broken by startled cry from his new
acquaintance.
"GoOd Heaven! Look yonder. See
that lad standing behind Van Alstine's
chairw Harry's eyes were already
turning in that direction A handsome
youth had glided quite unobserved into
the as-ament, and now stood, as il
transI2ed, watching the progress of the
game.
He had round, fair face, delicate as
tany woman's, great, long-lashed velvety
eyes, blue as fringed gentians, little
red, ripe mouth, and profusion of vel
lowish hair, curling around low, white
brow.
1t was singular face to encounter in
such place. Harry felt a sudden thrill
of mingled delight and pain..as he gazed
upon it. He recoiIed, as from a sudden
shock, without knowing why.
From the faro-table there came an
abrupt ejaculation presently.
Lost asain!'
II was Van Alstines voice. He rose
up, white as death, fumbled in his yes,
pocket a moment, and brought out q
god locket, thickly studded with jewels
The fair youth gave sudden
start at sight of the glittering trinket
"Give me one more trial." said Van
Alstine, in a sharp, excited voice; "lucb
cannot always be against me-"
This time the dealer shook his head
81 can't advance you any more checks
to-nights
Vans Alstine muttered an impatient
curse, and glanced wildly round the
table.
This bauble cost me five hundred
dollars, "said he, holding up the locket
"Will anybody give me half that sum
for it now3"
There vas q moments silence. Their
the :airfaced youth (who had entirely
Escaped ivan Alstine's observation
suddenly pushed pretty, slender hand
over his shoulder.
II will 2 he said, in accents soft as
the tinkIesof silver bell.
| At the sound of that voice Van AL
stine wheeled round suddenly ir bis
tracks. His face was ghastly already
but wild, scared look spread all ovel
it, as he stood and glared at the youth
a moment in half-incredulous amaze
ment. He was shaking from head te
foot. and could scarcely stand.
"My God!" he gasped.
Then, as if compelled by some sterr
necessity for self control, he brought tht
streIl ath Dae 10 MS nerVeless limbs. .anf
catching fiercely hold Of the youths
arm, led him quickly to one side.
Harry saw them pause in recess a
no great distance. 1mpelled by feel
ling over which he had no control, h,
still watched and listened.
"Eloise," he hard Van Alstine say, il
shrill, Kissing whisper, why are you
here, and in this disguise p
81 came to find you, Dick" was th,
answer in low, firm voice.
my Cod" and great drops of agon!
came ont on the poor fellows forehead
"Come away this instant-come away
| Do you know, do you guess the fearfu
risk you have run in venturing into thi
place p
The lovely eyes still looked straigh
into his own.
| "You were here, Dick, land I could no
keep away.
s'Silly fool" he said, half fondly, haI
in anger.
At this instant one of the gambler
rose from the table, and stepped towar
them.
Ivan Alstine,I would like word wit
you in private before you leave tn
house."
The young man started, flashed a'quic
glance from the man back to his compar
ions at the table, but there was nothin
suspicious in the demeanor of any {
them.
"Certainly, sir" and he turned to TO
low the gambler into one of the sid
apartments.
He turned back hastily before reach
ing the door, however,and coming up
his recent companion said, in a rapi
whisper:
IL must 60, or these ruffians will sus
pect something. wrong. Walk boldl
, down stairs and out of the house-ths
! is your only way For Gods sake, don
linger, Eloise! will presently join yo
; at the first street corner"
Then with last imploring glance b
was gone.
Not word, not o movement Of a
! this had been lost upon Harry Blaisdel
Here was a romance under his yer
nose, and Providence had called BIZ
here on purpose to play a role in it, pc
haps.
At any rate,he could not think of lea'
ing tie place until he had seen the en-
!, of the affair. So he drew back in IL
shadow OF the window drapery, whe
!, nobody was observing him, ,and crouche
3 there close against the wall, mental
calling himself fool, and a thousap
other uncomplimentary names for linge
i, ing and hiding there, yet feeling no il
clination to 60 away.
Fortunately, his friend of the pipir
: voice and sarcastic face had vanished,
: there was no fear of espionage fro
Ihim.
J. What an odd affair it was altogethe
- Of course the fair.faced stranger was
woman! There could not be doubt
that; and his imagination wove pref
e romance, in which this Eloise was Il
1t heroine, and Van Alstine her lover.
g And yet-strange contradiction
. felt keen pang whenever he thought
le them in that light; and be thought
nothing else while watching for furth
m developments from his hiding place.
is Eloise-we may as well give her
in name-did not leave the room as s
had been hidden. Instead, she squeez
, herself into the remotest corner Of t
1 roooee ood rvo;toJ thoro -, ,;lonoo II n =,