The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-02

4 Gle OF ANIMATION III her face. The
her eyes began to sparkle, and pain
| full f1nsh struggled with sallowness il
her thin cheeks.
! Gould l? Could do that? And
Mr. Alan, would it please your AnS
|, would it repay you2"
1T certainly would, Winnie" h,
said gravely.
| "Then, sir, Pll do it. I'd do any.
thing 1 can for you; papa made ,lt
promise. FL do it,"
And when Mr.. Sinclair bade hel
goodbye that night, her strange
weird eyes were glowing eagerly
! impaticntly.
~ shall begin tomorrow, sir" she
said, rs he shook hands with her.
every WELL" he laughed land send
me letter regularly once month.
And when come back, in two years,
L shall expect to receive very pleas
ant welcome from my good little
Winnie"
But he did not come in two years,
nor Ill twice two, nor in four times
two.
lie had delayed his return, now for
one reason, now for another; once for
three years tour in the Holy Land,
once to accompany some friends to
Australia, and the last two years be-
cause he had found his fate at last,
and was too deliciously happy with
sweet Aura Brian to ever think OF
coming home.
But eight, nine years after he had
said goodbye, he was OH his own
shores again, after such experience as
he would rather have died thousand
deaths than have suffered again, and
all because of Aura Brian-the faircst,
most gracious woman the sun ever
shone upon, and the only woman who
had ever taught him the difference be.
tween fancy and passion.
lie had met her at Paris, with
party of friends with whom she was
travelling abroad-a charming little
lady, with eyes like brown diamonds,
whose very first glances had their ef-
| feet upon him.
She was accomplished and refined,
and carried just a trifie of gracious
haughtiness in her high bred air that
most bewitching in woman. She was
very beautiful, fair as lily-leaf, with
bright golden hair, and
Alan Sinclair lost his head, his heart
his will,and wOrshipped AuraBrian US
only those men can worship who have
lived till middle age with no serious
damage previously done their atfec-
tiOns.
And Aura Brian reciprOcated, and
there ensued an engagement, when it
seemed to them both that there was
heaven OH earth whenever they NETS
perfectly cOntented and happy were
they in each Other-days when Sinclair
would wonder if such bliss could last
in human hearts, and wondering and
half fearing, send up breathless, pas
siOnate prayer that he might never
fail in keeping his darline's love.
And at last half u dozen or so of the
English colony in gay Paris returned
home, Sinclair and Aura among them
he eager to show her the home to
which lie would take her; ami she
equally glad to go with him.
lie eager, she glad, until the very |
last night OF the voyage, when they
were prOnlenading the deck, arm-in-
arm, talking as lovers talk.
''There is just one thing am anxious
to speak to you about, my darling
something l have heretofore neglected
to tell yoll-and that is, little Winnie
Maync, who lives at Roseleigh, our
home, sweet. want to bespeak your
kindness and sympathy for her-a
plain, reserved, solemn little thing. too
old tor her years. and entirely friend
less but for me-but for you and me.
Aura. You will help me to be good
to her, dcar?"
He put the question somewhat anx-
iously, for there had come a look of
and-was it distastefulnessA
on her lovely face. 34H w
"Wimie Maynel You never men
toned her before, Alan. And she is to
live ut Roseleigh with-us?"
Such grave. curious questioning was
in her eyes. Somehow it aroused
vague disnmy in his loving heart.
"With us, my darling. She will be
10 de t''Op party. She is reserved and
Tcry shy. She has no other home.
You would not wish Inc to turn her
Idrift?"
A pause, strangely ominous, follow
d.
"Alan," she said, and she lifted her
are, dark eyes to his eager face, 81 do
lot wish you to send her adrift. But,
IN, my love, want you all to myself
all to myself" and such thrill of
'assiOn flashed into her voice that ev-
ry nerve in his body thrilled hotly.
If this child-she is no longer child,
years makes such a
may have grown up
nto something that will please you
etter than call-oh, Alan, cannot
o to Roseleigh if any other woman
as a right there. Alan, my darling,
am jealous already of her. Take me,
nd let her CO."
He was astounded beyond all for
Ter experiences of his life. This from !
Aura-this cold, deliberate injustice
D q sister woman, and, i'll the same G
reath, this thrilling passion that was t
, inexpressibly sweet to him.
1t was supreme moment to him,
,oking in the eyes of the woman he I
,ved better than life itself-but not
etter than right and duty.
And duty forbade him sending the =,
hid OF charity back to the cold ~
Torld.
And he knew, despite the pale an p
uish ON her face, that it had come to
choice between this royal woman he g
'ould be dreary desert, and the II
rown-up school girl-plain, quiet, as t
he could only ever be. o
And her voice, prompt, low, deci- g
We, rang out like doom a
"YOu must choose, Alan. l await -
our decision" p
While in his reply, you would never ~ .,
ave recognized the voice SO shaken o' o'
second before; for the moment of ~
was past, and all Sinclair's III III
rand manliness and anguish of reso- -
Ition was OH his face and in his ~ ~
)ice. ~
always remember in the days to u. u.
me, when you perhaps may regret u; u;
!, that it was your own will that =:
mt me from you. For L choose to VI "
,ep my vow to my dead friend; 1 ~ ~
loose to do what l know is right. Pt
nj this is goodbye, my love-my a: a;
re love-my lost love-" ~ ~
lie took her in his arms and kissed ~
passionatcly, but almost like %
le who kisses the face that will soon
under the coffin lid. Gu
,,l f.,pur l,xo llc