The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-07
Selfrf Storu.
A SHOWER Of RAIN.

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Down came the rain in pelting, mer-.
CHESS shower. $40 af @at"N s-fF
At one crossing miniature lake bad
formed. several feet in length and breadth
and three or four inches deep its shores
on every side were mud--black, slippery
mud. tf ro H"..'@5 f.h7. p
1t was amusing to see the hurrying
people drencbed, chilled, uncomfortable,
impatient to be home, come to dead
stop at this one crossing and hesitate,
with faces expressive of disgust and dis
may ~ .m.a l.si7s' 2..F
What chance had Ethel Thornton's
Ipoor little weary feet, so small, so mise
ably clad, in such a slough as this 7 eF
She glanced around despai-ingly.
And the next moment she found her.
self lifted in pair of strong arms, car
ried high and dry over the mud and mire
aud set down on the other side, while
her rescuer, raising his dripping hat, with
a pleasant bow and smile passed quickly
on his way.
She stood where he had placed her as
il turned to stone, following ais fast dis
appearing figure with her dark eyes her
hands were clasped convulsively, the
color was flaming in her cheeks under
her wet black veil. ,''a
alt was Frank !" she gasped. at was
Frank himself, and he held me in his
arms and never knew me" -ar
A quick sob burst from her lips. o
hard, nard fate! to meet thus-so close
and part without word! F' .eH
Her lover-her promised husband Of
one year ago. sF t"1
just then her foot struck against
something hard. pa a'oA 7'iHa
Size stopped aud picked it up-a large
pocketbook. r g9.as 90" htF l1''
"Frank's!" she said quietly and hope
lessly; then she wiped it tenderly with
her handkerchief, pressed it to her lips
and slipped it into her bosom. 5fa"
As SUE did this she threw her veil
aside, for the tears and rain together
nearly blinded her. -afa Etn6 - ''+
/ doubt il Frank would have recog-
nized her, even ifhe had seen her face
it was SO worn and weary-looking and
so stained by the wet black veil. Il
Not much resemblance there to the
pretty, piquant, blooming girl whose love
be had sought so eagerly year ago;
not much in her appearance just now to
tempt any man to woo her. 10 9il fos
So thought Mrs. Benton, the landlady.
as she let her in and stared at her utter
Iy drenched condition. aasaas 'ad
Glad indeed was Ethel to reach the
quiet OF her own room--glad of the cup
of tea her mother gave her-glad to lie
down and rest. tr 8ls
rsShe CROPPED blindly TO her little desk
and put the pockethook away. i1 g~
"To- morrow" she whispered to her.
self--"his address will be inside-Fll
send it back to morrow" laea i
Then sinking wearily on her bed she
murmured: ,as 'agaiari1 cit a'47a
"Mother,I i feel so strangely. pI'wish
l-now-that I. had taken-your advice,
and stayed at home to- lay" g,t8 h~msa
The words came faiotly in low, broken,
gasps from her parched lips. 10, = Il
She lay without speaking, for some
time, and then articulaied:. rs gs;7sss
81 failed again-no iwork-no hope.
no. ..,. -. ,.....5,. fs,,,
y Her eyes closed, her voice ceased, she
fell back burning and shivering.. The
poor child had contracted serious Ill
ness in that merciless shower of rain.
Meantime Frank Merri6eld was anatb-
ematizing his III luck in losing a valua-
BILE pocketbook with bills, receipts, mon
ey-all sorts OF important matter in it
/ at must have been when / carried
that girl over the muddy crossing. / had
it the minute before and missed il short
/ ly afterward. Confound my quixotic
folly! Why couldn't mindqmy own
business and let her alone2 Poor little
thing, she looked so wet and miserable,
and something about her somehow re-
minded me Of" 'a aaa1t nt51a'
He. paused and leaned his head upon
his hands in painful thought. mss q
"Why can't ever forget her? Poor
! little frail, false heart, why can't let her
gop Why does her sweet face haunt me
every where--not bright and sparkling as
l used to know it, but pale and reproach-
ful looking? Reproaching me! All,
Ethel, how much l loved you! How
happy we might have been to-day had
you only been true" sf' s3i
He arose with al impatient gesture, a,
Of one who, by an effort of will, pu s
vain regrets aside. s@
i "How to recover the pocketbook ?
That's the present question. There was
money in it; the 6nder is welcome to
that: the bills and papers are what !
want, and--her portrait. Yes-the e's
no use denying that to myself, l am fool
euough to care for that. I'll advertise
in the papers. Confound that sho ower of
rain. 5as 4aiHF n! g'aaa9 ea'
8 - .ia% %d - -
"Three weeks. mamma? Three weeks
living here delirious ? Why, what could
have made me so ill MY head is so
strange. / seem to forget everything"
Mrs. Thornton gazed anxiouslv on the
girls wasted face--almost as white as
1.-THE pillow on which it lay. ed 9
"You got badly drenched and chilled,
my love, in a shower of rain
l. "a shower of rain?" Boo glsdg1q 3u
The weak voice raag out clear and
strong--the dark eyes flashed excitedly /;
she clasped her hands while vivid Grim
|son suddenly dyed her cheeks.
90, remember it all now. Please
reach me my desk" a''i aa.y.' ~'''
Their she told her mother her adven-
ture 10 the rain, and drew out OF the desk
Franks pocketbook. .s,,.a,ts :. .l
| "Three weeks ago. In all probability
he has needed 1t. We must open it,
mamma, to find his address and send it
back to him at once" liasi3WgHi so 81
Mrs Thornton looked pitvipgly at the
flushed, eager face and trembling hands.
She shook her head doubtfully and sad
ly, and said: W." e'' o' '2no D '""''
L. "You love Frank still, Elhel-now