The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-11

her heart gave little, prideful thrill
at sight Of him, but not the sanic
fierce, passionate sensation that al
ways thrObbed over her when Pierce
Vernon looked at her. -,.
Yes, she would go down to him
and some sudden, Overpowering inn
pulse came to her to tell him all about
it-all about every rything-and let him
decide. .., ...., S..
1t was weak in her, beyond doubt
but she was SO dismayed at tho tu-
multuous tempest In which she found
0ersclf that any escape was welcome.
Almost miiaculously, it seemed to
her, all the agitation and disnay left
her, their places being filled by cur
ious, calm expectancy; and SO, pas
sionless, resolutc. she went down to
the impatient lover, walking to and
fro in the library, who went straight
up to her and took her in his arms,
with All air of glad proprietorshlp
told how he loved her.
"My own darling! How l wanted
you, Beulah-how L wanted to have
you just where you are now, where
you belong, my sweet"
And, when he pressed his kisses,
warm and lingering, OIL her lips, Beu-
lah tried to free herself from his close
embrace. ~. 7-4 a-4 -..
"Do frighten you? I don't mean
to, DEAR" he said tenderly. Cor
don't you love me?" i p.
81 want to tell-you-sOmcthin
first" she said in little gasps of shrink
ing disnlay, now that the crisis had
come.
He smiled, and looked indulgently
in her solemn eyes. "a.
"You may tell anything you like"
he said, except you don't love me.
think, however, can guess. You are
afraid, may be, you have not been
quite fair with that other fellow. you
have several times spoken Of-VernOn
L think, was his nalne?" }..
He knew, then, that which had
terrified her SO, even i'll imagination.
to mention. How did he knOw?-
and Beulah looked wonderingly at
him, her thoughts in her face.
81 understand perfectly, how you
feel" he said, still holding his arms
around her waist, and looking straight
in her eyes. "YOu fear you may, per-
haps, care less for me than you think
more for him than you think-and
you want to be honest and wOnanly
about it, just as would have you
But, my love, my love, do not think l
shall ever give you up! think, if l
knew you loved him best, Iwould not
let him have you"
"He is coming tomorrow she
whispered, almost aff'rightcdly.
"That will be q. sharp .disappoint-
ment to him." he said pityingly.-
s.Beu ah, how sorry l feel for him
How sorry feel for every other man
who has not won your love! / wOn-
der if it is possible for INC to be jeal-
GUS of Vernon? Beulah, may see
him for you when he comes? May 1
tell him just how it is with you and
me?' ...t-
What other answer could she have
made than what she did make, Whom,
with his arm around her waist, his
ardent eyes-lOoking
their passion into hers?
.!Y -e-s, tell him what you please"
she said, quickly, almost tasfantly, af-
ter that little, low -breathed, hesltant
yes. "And L must go nOw-I must
goi"
Four o'clock Of the to-morrow-a
day all enveloped with damp chill
aud gray mists-a world from which
sunshine seemed forever banished-
aud Beulah wondered if it were still
in the June weather. that yesterday
was SO sensuous and elixir.like in its
fragrant breezes, its luxury of sun
shine, its singing OF glad birds.
An east wind had crept up during
the night, aud the day was spoiled.
lust as lie was to be spoiled before
another night should come. .r+
Beulall stood shiyering Oh the pi-
azza, waiting until the children came
for their drive, which Mrs. Sartoris
never allowed to pass, whatever the
couditiOn of the weather. .}
And Alsager came out to assist
them in-the youngsters, and Beulah
especially, for tho purpose Of giving
her q pressure of the hand, that meant,
rs plainly as words could have spoken
that when she came back, Vernon
would have been and gone, and noth-
ing would henceforth trouble or grieve
her. .,. ...-.
The drive was absolute misery to
Bculah. She shivercd, even in the
close coach, with her shawl wrapped
about her, until it seemed to her that
she never would feel warm and coiu-
Portable again. ...--.s.,, ... l.
Had Pierce come? Had lie heard
all about it? Had he got the death
blow to his hope and happiness yet.
Was she glad or sorryI
And 40 she kept questioning herself,
while the children laughed and chat
tered, and the drive was prolonged by
Master Jacks positive orders, and ev-
cry time the turn of the carriage
wheels was like the wheel of fate for
her. .t -'is s"a.- ,..
Then, just in sight of West Lawn
gates, again she saw Bcrtie Alsager
standing OH the cliff, the furious east
wind blowing the salt spray almost
i'm his face, as, glass in hand, he stood
watching what appalled, her to sea
fiinsy little boat, in which one man,
all alone, was trying to make the
shorc-a mere feather in that raging
sea. lGa:.
She ordered the carriage stopped,
with sudden, cold stilling of her
heart.
"Givc me the glass!" she said, as
Alsager opened the door.
And then she saw the face of the
man in the boat.
sSave him l-save himI Don't let
him perish before my eyesl Mr.. AL
sagcr, for Gods sake, save himI lie
was coming to nle-he must not die J"
And in the shrek of horror and
yearning, the look in her face, in
her eyes. Bertio Alsager knew it was
Pierce Vernon she loved better than
he. -..-,-. s...... -.
A look, art-breaking to see, came
into his face in that little second he
looked at her SO frantic, so despairing,
SO passionful. . .-........,
+. "Go, Cop she said, frankly. "Don't
you see he is perishing before your
eyes? Pierce! Pierce p and she
shouted out his name wildly, 'keep
up your courage-hclp is coming !"
1t never reached him, that agOnized
cry, but it scaled the doom of des-
pair in Alsager's heart, 9u
"Be calm, Beulah," lie said quietly.
'1f can save him, will do it for
,,o,, l,x, loori0