Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-30

him. Bat then, home was so dreary
-drearyi Cleo! She was very un.
happy, very young, very guileless
Philip Evans thought her an easy
prey.
This Philip Evans-th that was not
his true name; he had let his real
name with wife and three children
In Calf rnia; but this was the name
he had passed by year or so-was a
professional gambler. He had come
down to Claythorpe, following rich
and rather verdant young Southerner,
who, he thought, was spending his
summer there. He felt certain Of u
rich prize. But when he arrived
there, he found the prey had flown,
having been called suddenly home 10y
the death of his father. There was
no other prize there rich enough to
tempt him much, and having had
unusually good luck in Chicago. he
vas not compelled to exert himself
at once; but he certainly intended to
return to some OF the large westerr
cities soon. Yet, after he had looked
into Cleo Winners eyes, he resolved
to stay awhile, to play a still darker
game.
Meantime, he passed at the hotel
for very exemplary young man. In-
decd, a maiden sister of the innkeeper
who prided herself upon her power
OF reading characters, in the features
OF the unerring. thought he was city
clergyman, recruiting the health he
had lost in ministerial duties. A few
OF the wild ones Of Claythorpe did
not think SC; among them, Ralph
Bryan, nephew OF the hotel keeper.
He was a clerk in the shipping house
OF the wealthy firm OF Lynn & Willis,
in New York City, but was visiting
his uncle during his summer vaca-
ton. Wickedness, as well as virtue,
has way Of recognizing its true kin
dred, and it was not long before Ralph
Bryan and Philip Evans were friends
and allies. Their rooms at the hotel
witnessed many q midnight orgie.
Ralph had introduced Charley
Wilmer to Philip Evans, and the lat
ter soon could wind them both around
his finger.
1t was one day tuward sunset. that
he first met Cleo. She was walking
on the beach with Charley. That
was one OF the few things her moth
er did not object to. She was willing
TO let Cleo go and walk. She thought
it was for her health. There Cleo
met him almost daily; first with
Charley, aftcrward alone.
1t was in these dangerously beauti-
full hours that he brought all his var
led and wonderful powers of fascina-
ton 10 bear upon Cleo's loving and
tender little heart. 1t was all so
strange, new, so sweet to her, the
homage, the worship. and the new
and delightful world ho took her In
TO, with his brilliant descriptions of
beauty, and culture. and art. What
poetry he repeated to her. with his
dark glowing eyes bent upon her in
pocent. trusting, wild-Iose OF face!
What words OF admiration and ir..
passioncd love he whispered in her
ear. more dangerously sweet to her
than the lovcliest poem! And the
solemn ocean waves rolling at their
feet, brought to her no voice OF warn
ing.
Ii was then that poor Cleo needed
n mother. But as Uuclc Ephraim
told his sister, her children would
sooner confide in any stranger than
in her.
On the evening OF the day on which
he had held his plain talk with his
sister. Uncle Ephraim returned. TO
his home. pretty inland village,
bright with anticipatioas OF seeing
his Nettie; little dreaming that his
prophesies, spoken to lis sister, were
so near fulfillment.
That evening, Cleo and Philip
Evans met by their old trysting-
place, down on the beach. Is it not
strange how some trifle will change
persons whole destiny? That
pretty white waist was not OF much
consequence, certainly; but yet her
mothers tyr amy concerning it, who
may know how much influence it had
over poor Cleo? At at all events, it
was that night that she yielded, for
the frat time, to her lovers pleadings,
and gave ner promise to fly with him,
to leave homo and country for his
sake. There were reasons, he said,
why hc could not wed her openly.
But oh, he would make her life beau
tiful; so beautiful" he vowed, that
she should never repent her choice:
never be sorry that she gave up all
for him." And Cleo, fascinated and
enthralled by him, as she was, her
first thought was, that she should es-
cape tho terrible dreariness and ty-
ranny OF her home. And Charley. her
darling brother, the one being in the
whole world nearest TO her, Philip
said. should come and live with them
in their beautiful homo. Charley was
getting wild, was getting into bad
company: but surely Philips iufiu-
encc, when he was his brother, would
help to restrain him. help him to do
better, and she would mako such a
warm. bright, loving home for him.
and surely she could save him yet.
Poor Cleol
And so the night came when she
was to go. 1t was only ten o'clock,
and she was not to start until mid
night. In the harbor, three miles
away, was vessel outward bound,
and they were to sail in it. He had
told her, and she believed, that a
clergyman. friend OF his, was on
board, who would mary them rs soon
as they embarked. She had written