The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-08-01
THROUGH THE FLOOD.
BY JULIUS coMBE.

She was not beautiful-fascinating is
the word which, perhaps, best describes
her. A widow, too; and as she sits there
indolently playing with her colored silks
while the bright sunshine rests upon hel
dark brown hair and delicate hands
there is something dangerously subtitle
about her.
Her reverie is broken by the entrance
of gentleman; fsir, tall and hand.
some.
Good morning, my dear Mrs. Lay.
ton; l hope you are well. Still engaged
on that pretty embroidery Pardon me,
I was told Alice was here. Ahl there
she is in the garden. / will go to her ;"
and he left the room.
The relation of the parties is simple
enough. George Ashbury, who is both
personable and wealthy, is engaged to
be married to Alice, the youngest
daughter of Colonel Pentwell; while
Mrs. Layton, the elder Of the two, has
returned, widow, to the paternal roof,
since the engagement of her sister and
George Ashbury.
A change comes over the pretty
widows face as she watches Alice and
George change by no means adding
to lis beauty, SO full is it of jealousy.
George stays but few minutes, how
ever; and when he has gone, Alice en-
ters the room where her sister is seated.
There is family ikeless between them,
though Alice is calm, but proud, lacking
the winning softness of manner and ex
preston which is her sisters greatest
charm.
"Mr. Ashbury paid short visit, /"
said Mrs. Layton.
eyes; he called to say that he could
not go to Bentley's with us this after
noon, as he was obliged to visit Went
ham on business"
e He goes to Wentham rather often,
doesn't heF" she asked, putting slight
empasis on the word rather"
dyes"
aHe has relations near there-e cousins,
hasn't he ?'
al believe So"
Il think remember one of them
Edith she was called; pretty, fairy
like creature, with golden curls and
laughing blue eyes, wao seemed to intro
duce sunshine wherever she went. Were
1 engaged should scarcely care for my
suitor to see too much of such nymph." {"
Alice made no reply, but her cheek
flushed, and for an instant her proud
lip quivered; then she was cold and
placid again.
Her sister had marked the change,
and had instantly dropped the subject
for she saw that the arrow shot at 8
venture had struck home.
That afternoon the Bentleys, friends
of the Pentwells, gave a croquet party,
and large number of guests assembled
on the lawn, when the ColonePs daugh
ter arrived.
Alice was soon deep in the mysteries
of croquet, with young lieutenant az
her partner, and had just won the frs
game, when George Ashbury, accom-
panied by his pretty cousin, of whom
Mrs. Layton had spoken, appeared
among them.
Perhaps, at any other time, Alict
would have accepted her lovers expla
nation as quite satisfactory, when hi
stated that on reaching Wentham, somt
five miles of, he found the business OF
which he went had been postponed fo
a week, and as his cousin and uncl
were coming to Bentleys, he decided up
on accompanying them.
But the hints of the morning had no
been thrown away, and resenting tn
fancied slight to herself, Alice re
ceived his excuses with polite indiffel
ence.
The thin end of the edge of distrus
and jealousy had been inserted, and tn
breach, slight as it was, increased raj
idly. While apparently the most SINGER
and disinterested friend of both, Mr.
Layton daily helped to widen the breac
she had caused. George Ashbury wa
her dupe. Mentally he drew compar
sons between the sisters, always t
Alice's disadvantage. His visits wei
as frequent as ever, but though he aske
for Miss Pentwell, most of his time ws
spent in the company of Mrs. Laytol
One evening Alice was sitting in a
arbor, engaged in reading, when her a
tention was attracted by the sound {
familiar voices.
But you loved Alice?'
1t was her sister who spoke.
That was before l knew you. B,
sides, Alice has ceased to care for m,
You have told me so yourself; and
proof were wanting, does she not avoi
me as much as possible? You need hay
no false delicacy on account of you
sister; only say you will be my wife
Alice lost the answer. A faint gidd
nessshe could not control overcame he
the sense of hearing was, for the momen
gone, and, when she recovered, the voic
were no longer near.
She eeuld not In the present frame