The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-02-27
A WOMAN'S DEED.

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A WOMAN'S DEED.
Mrs. Belmont came into the parlor
where one of her children, lovely Lit.
tie girl Of twelve summers, was toying
with the shining keys of the piano, and
asked for the governess.
Miss Oracle has not been here for
ever 80 long, mama" was the reply, and
the next moment had retired, leaving
the child again to her amusement.
"She is mystery" Mrs. Belmont
murmured, as she went down the broad
steps into the garden where the moon
light lay like wings of silver. do
not know what to make of her. She
seems to carry q secret in her bosom
one which. l believe she would not
divulge to the dearest friend on earth" +"
The tall and queenly woman who had
thus communed with herself paused
suddenly, for footstep had fallen upon
her ears, and she beheld female form
bending over clump of fragrant azaleas.
Mrs. Belmont started, for it was Grace
the governess.
She did not appear conscious of the
presence of any one, and the lady of the
mansion, whose sense of propriety was
deep rooted, was about to steal away
when the governess started back with q
flower in her hand.
/ would that 1 could pin this blush
ing flower on your breast, Oscar" Mrs.
Belmont heard her murmur with much
passion. /" know not where you are to-
night, but this do know, that the law
hunts you, perhaps in foreign land.
Ahl my heart, if the shadow of dark
crime had not fallen over thee, thou
mightest be in paradise tonight.
Time, they say, makes reparation: but
he is tardy with me-"
"Grace!"
The governess started and the flower
dropped from her nerveless hand, as she
bsheld Mrs. Belmont's lips still quiver-
ing with her name.
"Etrust you will pardon me for dis
sturbing your reverie," continued the
mistress. / have been an unwilling
listener to the words that have just
fallen from your lips"
The girl turned paler than ever, and
shrank from Mrs. Belmont with
ahudder.
/" You possess secret that is con-
nected with crime, and with that terri
BILE thing gnawing at your very life, you
have become the goyerness of my inno-
cent children. They have learned to
love you, and 1 thank Heaven that they
are yet too young to understand when
thew have trusted |"
The eyes of Grace Haldon were fixed
upon the flower which lay at her feet,
while Mrs. Belmont talked. At last,
but long time after the last word, she
looked up and encountered the eyes that
regarded her.
!" Forgive mep' she said. 81 shall
ever thank you for the shelter which
your roof has afforded me Twill go to-
night"
It was now Mrs. Belmont's turn to
start:
Tonight? I have not driven you
away YETI
&C No, but feel that would infict an
objectionable wrong by tarrying longer.
/ wish l could unburden my heart to
you, but that cannot be for the present
The time may come when you will know
all, and then you will not believe me
guilty of crime. But l cannot tell you
tonight.
The twain walked to the house to-
gether, and disappeared beyond the
carved portals. Mrs. Belmont's husband
had been absent from home for severa.
days, and Grace rejoiced that she wa.
not Obliged to encounter him.
1t was late that night when the Bel
mont carriage deposited her before tn,
almost deserted depot, into a chair O.
which she flung herself with a sigh.
Dismissed again, and all because
love a hunted mani" she calculated
shutting her lips close. | do not know
when this will end, but it is darkest Just
before dawn, they say. Let me see
there are two men whom l long to meet
One is now abroad; the other-I know
not where. Dalton Dial, should / NEE
you, there must be a confession"
For several long hours she sat in tn,
darkened station. The arrival of tn,
train was relief, and it was soon carry
ing her toward the shores. Day wa
breaking when she reached the wharf o
the busy city, and she passed directl,
on board the handsome steamship, who's
destination was the great metropolis o
London,-the city of her home an
birth.
By-and-by the clouds rolled down tn
edge of the horizon, and the vessel &c
out into the channel, through who's
waves she SKINNED like bird.
She remained on deck, gazing al
stractedly at the far off horizon, agains
whose disk troops of sails were visible
Then she rose erect quite suddenly, an
turned. Es.5
The next moment she started bac
with light ejaculation of fastonishmen
for a man was gazing fxedly into he
face.
He was tall, and had dark eyes. H
whiskers, profuse and silken, were
beautiful black, and his garments fitte
his manly form to a fault. With OF
arm akimbo, and with the other restin
against the side of the vessel, he locke
straight into the palest face that woms
ever showed to man.
The silence that followed Grace's ligl
cry had grown oppressive before it W.
broken by the man.
"Grace Haldon, as true as 1 livep
calculated. This is fortune entire
unlocked for"
And she answered him:
81 did not expect tomeet you, Daltc
DIAL" Grace said; but since we har
met, / want to talk to you"
His eyes flashed, and a smile toy,
with the lips almost hidden by the lol