The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-04-22
LESLEY AND IRENE.
BY MARY REED cRowELL.

Such q look as was on Irene 1redell g
face-such q piteous, hunted look in the
intensely beautiful gray eyes-such
visible, desperate attempt at self-eontrol,
lest Paine Alliger should understand
how deeply his words had cut home.
But Paine Alliger saw the white
pitiful face, and the anguished eyes,
and the proud, compressed lips that were
paler than he ever had seen them
sweet, luscious lips he had kissed again
and again-and rather enjoyed the
knowledge of his influence over her.
She had been SO proud at the first, SO
reserved and unapproachable, that AL
Tiger had been Immediately thrown
upon entirely new rescodrces in order
to form an acquaintance with her.
Then very gradually, as an icicle
slowly melts beneath the suddenly warm
rays of q spring-like winter-day sun,
she had grown into something more than
an acquaintance, yet less than friend,
until by degrees it had grown to this
that Paine Alliger had come TO be all
the world to her.
He had been an ardent, persistent
wooer. he had been just the one man
who ever could have hoped to touch
Irene Iredelis heart-the first, the last,
the only one-and oncs won, her icy
hauteur was banished forever towards
him, and she unhesitatingly gave him
al the great love and alteration of which
only such natures as hers are capable.
There had been one little, little month
of blessedness. in which it seemed to her
80 much of perfect content was COM
pressed that it was hardly less than
dangerous to her after-peaoe to accept it.
I And then, suddenly, sharply, just like a
fash of lightning from sky apparently
free of storm, because the dark, rolling
clouds only happen to be little beyond
ones range of vision-just SO startliDgly
and uDawares did it come to her-Paine
Alliger's detection.
For he had come, he had seen, he had
sworn TO be conqueror, and he had con.
quered, thoroughly, wholly, unreser.
vedly; and then the sweets palled on his
taste.
He was a thoroughly selfish man, and
perhaps as handsome man as ever was,
which two conditions 30 often go to.
gether. He was thoroughly refined,
too, and SO mercilessly cruel in his
aesthetic tastes. He was masterful-
none other than prince among his
fellows could have touched Irene Ire.
delPs heart-and he had been eager
and devoted in his chase after this girls
heart, more than was his wont.
But now he was tired of it. Once
won, his prize lost its value, and this
naughty, perfect woman-a pure
jewel, worthy the possession of the best
in the fand-was very quietly, in very
gentlemanly way, discarded.
1t was characteristic of the man that
he went to her and told her what q
thousand other men would have sbrunk
from doing personally. But Paine ALI
ger wanted to see how she would look
how she would act, hear what she would
say, when he told her, in his caressing
pitying, penitent way, how his hear
had ruled his head, how her rare sweet
ness and charming influence had made
him forget his duty, his honor; how
anguishful as it was to him, how agoniz
ing to her, he felt it was none the lesl
his clear duty to go away from her for
ever, and return to the one who had /
prior claim upon him-the fair woman
who, although she would take his name
could never touch his heart as she haG
done.
1t was in some such strain as this tina
he spoke to her, watching every shad
of change on her beautiful face, seein
the almost awful control she forced upol
herself. and, rather than otherwise, er
joying it.
Then, when he had finished, sh
looked up to him with steady, anguish
full look-with a piteous, heart-broke
look In her eyes, white despair in he
face-such look as one might besto'
upon dear, dead face, over which th
casket-lid is to be forever closed th
next relentless moment.
1t must be as you say" she sale
brokenly-ITene Iredell, the haughtiel
woman he ever had seen in all his varie
experience. "It has always been as 20
said with me, and if it is my fate to
left like this"
Then, as if her old pride rebelie
against the outcry of her woman
scorned love, she sharply hesitate
comprising her lips till it seemed /
Alliger, as he stood watching every e.
preston, every gesture, every shade {
paling color, as a physician watches tt
ominous change on dying mans coul
tenance, that she never could part the
again.
But that old pride struggled out
one swift, brief protest, and the COZ
pressed lips opened in obedience.
Perhaps should be grateful to kno
this now. When you go back to tt
other woman, | wish you Joy of her."
But the sweet face was more dismay,
and despairing than the voice was ss
castle, or the manner naughty.
Then he went away, with gentle, pit
ing adieux, when Irene would far rath