The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-07-15

brown head.
The next day Adam Neele came, and Ara
bella was confined to her room all day with
q conventional sick headache, and saw no
one.
He was grave, brown bearded man OF
nearly forty-honesty,g goodness, was stamped
in every line of his plain face. He was
the best farmer in the county, and owned
the model farm of the township.
"Arabella ?" he said, questioningly, OF
Mildred, when they were for moment
alone.
"She-she is sick today" Mildred an
swered; but her truthful eyes dropped and
he saw it.
"Ask her if she cannot see me for a few
moments" he said.
Mildred went up stairs. Arabella lay up
on the bed, one arm thrown up, upon the
hand of which was a beautiful opal ring Mil
dred had never seen before.
"Where did you get that lovely ring,
Ara?"
From Mr.. Aston" Arabella said, quiet
ly. i'f-
She did not seem sick, and did not speak
again. A tremor ran through Mildred's
delicate limbs She rested hand upon q
chair to steady herself.
"WM you come down and see Mr.. Neele,
Ara? He wishes it."
"No; make my excuses"
Mildred went dizzily out of the chamber.
She was not quite herself when she entered
the room where Adam Neele was.
"She wishes to be excused" 4
Mildred, this rich German"
"He is not q German"
Z" Is he anything to Arabella ?"
"I do not know. He has given her q
ring" sta,nmered Mildred, scarcely knowing
what she said
"Humph! That is enough"
Adam Neele went away from the Elms the
next morning. When he had gone, Ara
bella came down and ate her dinner"
She took book and sauntered down into
the garden then. When Mildred had coaxed
her mother to take q nap, she followed hez
sister, and cut gladioles and pinks for the
vases, which Arabella had neglected entirely
for two days.
When she came around to the arbor where
her sister sat, she sat down YEARLY.
adam Neele has gone, Ara"
81 know it." .--..-
"Then you prefer Mr.. Aston?"
"I prefer marrying rich man and going
abroad to marrying poor man and spend
ing my life at Edgetown."
'But you love Mr.. Aston, Ara"
Love him? Pooh! He is Just good
natured simpleton. Adam Neele is Just
worth two of him. But shall marry him
if can. have meant it ever since he first
came here"
Mildred gave little cry.
"I don't love Adam Neele, either But
Pm sick of work and striving to keep up ap-
pearances. We shall all go to pieces soon
at this rate. Papa earns nothing. The
mortgage will take the Elms. I am. going
to look out for myself. would advise you
to do the same, Milly."
II shall look out for myself. can earn
my living if need be. Earn it 1 will. I
shall never degrade myself by marrying for
= AAOh1O VI AoA AhOACy. hAo, AA0&A AobuCH
have my hand burned off than wear that
ring a. you now wear it."
There was a step upon the gravel put
ting aside of the clematis vine.
my ring! Have you found it, Miss
ArabellA2"
Arabella grew red, then white. She pulled
the ring from her finger, and handed it
to its owner, Leopold Aston.
''Where did you find it Pr he asked
"At the end of the linden path" she an
swered, in stifed voice. Then, partially
recovering herself: "You are back soon. +"
EYES," pleasantly.
He had his valise in his hand. He had
just come over from the depot, and went up
to his room.
Burning with her sisters shame, yet with
a strange joy in her heart, Mildred turned
and went away from the arbor. She buried
her face among the pinks.
"How sweet they are, +" she said.
Arsbella was not in the parlor that even
ing. The house was strangely still
"Are we never going to have any more
music ?" asked the doctor. "Milly, go up
and play something lively"
"When have finished picking over these
blackberries, papa"
The twilight overlook the nimble fingers,
and Mildred took the pile of jetty fruit out
upon the doorstep, under the porch honey
suckle.
"Are you always at work ?" asked gen.
tie voice.
There was no pained blush now. Mildred
looked up, calm and sweet.
"No, am at leisure now, she answered,
in a moment.
"Then will you walk down this path with
me little way?"
He took a soft gray shawl from its peg,
and dropped it around her. As he did SO,
she saw the gleam of the opal
"Do you like my ring?" asked Leopold
Aston.
''It is the most beautiful opal ever saw. :"
81 lost it in the garden the first day
came to the Elms. Do you know the prop
critics which inhere in gems?"
"No."
"Tbe ruby restrains wrath, the hyacinth
procures sleep, the topaz banishes sadness" 3"
"And the opal?"
"The opal sharpens the sight of the pos
SCISSOR. Mildred-ltae Milly-do you think
1 do not know what a jewel beyond price
you are3 Darling, look up! I love You |!
Could you love me, Mildred?"
She looked up into his eyes.
"Yes 7 cOnld love Won If Won were the
poorest, the most unfortunate man, in the
world"
"God bless my brave darling" he cried.
They had reached the end of the long,
sweet, dewy path, and turned to come back.
And you promise to be my wife ? Let
there be no mistake. Let me be happy,
Mildred"
~ promise. But, Leopold, thought it
was Arabella whom you loved"