The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-12-27

her hands, was weeping the bitterest
tears she had ever shed, weeping and
praying for strength and patience to
drink this bitter cup that was thus
placed to her lips.
Lawrence" said Daisy to her lover,
one moonlight evening, " | want you
to tell me something"
She was looking at him as she spoke,
and the sad. far-of expression of his
countenance did not escape her loving
eyes.
Lawrence, dear, l want you to listen
to me-" she continued, laying her hand
on his arm.J
He turned to her now, and the most
casual observer could have noticed the
look of utter Indifference he bestowed
on his betrothed wife.
81 am all attention." said he.
Daisy felt deeply wounded at his evil
dent indifference, and the words she was
about to speak died on her lips.
What is itT' he asked, as she rose
from his side.
."Oh, nothing important" she re-
turned, with ring Of pain in her clear
young voice.
But you're not going in just yet, !"
he demonstrated.
Mother may want me-" Daisy said,
coldly.
"And don't you think l need you as
well, dearT' he questioned, putting his
arm around her, and drawing her down
beside him again.
"No, Lawrence, do not think so"
she replied frankly, "and / am justified
in my belief. Lawrence, do you really
love me 2"
"Love you, Daisyl Why shouldn't I
love you, my dear?'
aThen why do you act SO coldly to
me? oh, Lawrence" she cried, her
forced composure giving way, "what
would 1 do if you ceased to love me?
o, my darling, I would wish to die; for
what would life be to me without your
lover"
"My poor little girll' he murmured,
tenderly, caressing the dropping head
that lay on his bosom.
All the while another face as hover
ing before his imagination.
"Oh, my love, my loyep he would
groan, in the anguish of his spirit,
why did we ever meet? Was ever love
SO bitter-sweet as this? Oh, Isabel!'
But Daisy was happy.
Her sky seemed very bright, just now,
poor child.
She could not see the dark clouds that
were densely gathering on her sunny
horizon.
Why should this brief happiness be
denied her?
Thestor will break only too soon.
~
"IsABEL-I must see you, and alone.
This suspense is past human endurance!
will wait for you this evening in the con-
servatory. Isabel, surely your heart is not
as stonel Come, then, my own dearest, and
meet your unhappy LAWRENCE"
This was the note that Daisy found
and read in IsabePs room few days
later.
Itwas lyiugon the floor, and picking it
up she caught sight of her lovers sigma
ture. So casting all scruples to the
winds, she perused it.
She did not faint, but stood perfectly
still, as if turned into marble, glaring
with an awful horror in her eyes at that
fatal letter, her fair young face as CHASTITY
as death.
"Oh, Heavensp she cried in voice
scarcely recognizable asher own. "What
is this?''
She prassed her hand to her throbbing
brow and tried to think.
"Thinkp'
The word was mockery.
Her brain was in whirl. Her mind
was in utter chaos.
Again and again she read these lines
until they seemed to burn in letters of
fire on her heart.
Tnen, finging the note from her,
she went, with dazed steps, from her
! cousins room to her own little apart
ment.
"Oh, Heavensp' she repeated, but
now with calmness that was terrible in
its intensity, /" Can this really be true
Oh, must be dreaming! Lawrence false,
and so absurd as thisl No, no, / will not
believe it. Oh, my love, it cannot be
Not until your own lips condemn you
will / believe that you are faithless to
mep
She paused suddenly, her hands
clenched tightly together, quick deter.
mination flashing in her eyes.
81 shall see for myself! I will 60 to
the conservatory, too, and learn the
truth. Then, if 1 discover that he i:
false, then "-and the pale lips quivered
pitifully-"Heaven pity msl'
"Oh, Isabel, have pity on meP
pleaded Lawrence Deane, as he stooC
before Isabel Marsh, and gazed wistfully
at her pale beautiful face.
.Have l no need of pity?" she de
manded, sadly. "Yet, after all, we arr
but human! But, oh, Lawrence, it il
wrong to talk thus; remember tina
Daisy is your betrothed wife, and ceas'
to think of me. Forget that you eve
met mel"
Forget you'll as well might you com
mand the earth to stand still, or biz
the sun to cease to shine, as to tell m,
to forget you. If you loved me, Isabel
you would never talk like thatT
lam giving you: the greatest proc
of my love, Lawrence" she said witt
infinite tenderness.
"'I could not love thee, dear, so well,
Loved not honor morel"
Lawrence, be man! Surely if cal
commit the sacrifice, you will not be tn
one to hesitate.
ooh, my darling, how can I give yo1
up? Isabel, Isabel, it cannot bel"
eyes, Lawrence, it can be. Banis
the unhappy past and live only for tn
future"
"Such futurep' he said bitterly.
And Daisy, concealed behind curtai
that draped little alcove in the COZ
servatory, hears it all! Lawrence
love and despair. and IsabePs noble sell
sacrificing sentiment. She had hstene
to their conversation in numbed silenc
until now; and unable to endure it an
longer, she opens the long, French viii
dow, and goes out into the open al