The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-02-06

g. =
So Essie went away and entered her
new life as an heiress and beauty, and
before she had been one season in soci
ETY. she was known as one of Baston's
fairest bellies.
Oh, what beautiful life it was to Es
sic; nothing she had ever dreamed of
equaled this
Lovers, such as she had read of, wooed
her, men so different from those she had
known in her country home, but the
handsomest as we'll as most eligible
among them was Victor Dana
| Victor Dana was certainly handsome
man, and it was scarcely to be wondered
at, that Essie's head was turned by his
attentions; scarcely to be wondered at
that she mistook fascination forIove,
and never awoke to the truth till Victor
Dana's ring eucircled her finger.
She came home one evening from d
musicale, with diamond solitaire gilt
tering on her finger, but somehow she
turned her head away when her mother
congratulated her on her conquest.
81 do not know that really love him.
mother" she said, "and | should not
have taken his ring till / was sure"
She went silently up to her own room,
her thoughts lingering for awhile with
Victor Dana, then straying away to
Martin Holmesby. .It ri u
The friends and the lover of her new
life were not only wealthy, but aris,o
cratic, and the pleasures of the life she
then led were very dear to her, and she
felt she ought to be happy-happier far
than she knew she was. aloA
As she thought Of her old friends, the
kind old farmer and bis wife and Marty,
the words of an old song rang in her
ears. f.s9a -
They had not the wealth Of her later
friends she knew, but she knew "Truer
nor purer hearts ne'er could be found.'
Next day she came down stairs pale
and thoughtful, shadow on her usually
sunny face. rs st '5 f ,nf
"Are you not happy, darling? ?" her
mother asked; ''if NOT, you ought to be,
for Victor Dana is one of the richest as
as well as handsomest men in the city.
Essie made no answer, for her thoughts
had strayed away to green fields and
sunny meadows. jl
She was not happy and she knew it,
but she would not acknowledge it.
There was a strange, longing pain in
her heart that she scarcely understood:
hut she knew what 1t meant before the
day was over, for when the evening
shadows began to fall Martin Holmesby
came to her home 12
She came into the parlor where he was
waiting. her pale blue robes sweeping 10
silken folds behind her; all her wary
nut-brown hair fastened back from her
low, white brow, with sweet, red rose
nesting among its silken meshes, while
the same sweet flower clustered at her
rounded throat. ai i'5s'aG3 a7aa 80
He noticed it as she came forward, and
his heart sank within him. - isal
This was not the Essie of old; this
stately self-possessed girl was not the
winsomee little maiden who had won his
love- yiiH 2ai -'1s.aie aj,"
He was the Marty Of old in Essie's
eyes; a little graver, little more sun
burned, perhaps, but still the Marty who
had loved her all his life.
"She is not the Essie of DID," his
heart cried as she swep! forward !; but as
she came closer q glad thrill passed
through bis heart,for he saw the old love
cleaning in her eyes, the old longing
smile on her lips. - ........-,..
"Marty! Martyr she cried, "why die
you not come before?" and she raised
her sweet red lips to his and kissed him
as she had done at parting,
He, had not intended to tell his love
even then, but the touch Of her tremu-
lous lips made it impossible for him to
-repress the passion burning within him,
"My darling! my darling!" he said,
81 would have come before had known
yon longed for my presence. Essie! !!
Essie! my darling, nv love, tell me no
one has taken my place in your heart"
In that instant Essie Danton knew the
truth, knew that she loved Martin
Holmesby as she could never love an.
other; she knew he was the only man
on earth to whom her heart went out.
with perfect love and faith.
The glittering solitaire on her finger
seemed to blind her with its sparkling
beauty. s-i.'ss'''. .','''.- 4pl
She was bound in honor to one man,
while Ter whole soul turned to another.
She felt she dare not break her en-
gagement. 80 'I''.. -i,.i ~ iao'. 2i'is
1T is too late, too late," her heart
cried ''' - e''l' ~
MARTIN" she cried, holding ont her
hand, ''congratulate me, for am going
to make the weallhiest marriage Of the
season." 's' 'e
Her face, even her lips were white as
she spoke. ''t''s
Martin drew back as if he had receiv-
ed blow. - q
"Essie. Essie!' he cried, all the pas.
sion il his heart echoing through the
words, his face white as her own, .'tell
me it is not true. s,z, .e.s.5srr,r,
1T is true, too true, God help me-"
she said
God help you! You mean by that
that you do not love MIN Essie, Essie
darling, you love me, and no one will
come between u.s.
Essie regretted her words the moment
they we're spoken. .rGee
81 have promised to be his Wife," she
said. 1"aud ! will keep my promise
"Essie! Essie how can live without
you2 Oh! my darling, my darling, did