The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-23
IN A sHANTY.

stMr Alwade, this is Melth, the cook. "
As old Mrs. Watson spoke thus briefly,
Wallace Alwade turned partly around,
facing ti.e small, delicate woman. who
stood but partially revealed in the shad-
ows of the long, low-roofed shanty.
For one instant he stood gazing in
tently into the pale face of the timid,
retiring creature before him, then ex-
tended his hand, with polite bow and
pleasant word of greeting.
''Melth. the cook"
What thrill shot through his heart at
the mention of the name. As their hands
clasped in the dim freight, and he
gazed down into the pale face of the
shrinking figure before him, Wallace
Alwade's mind grew troubled
That face, so thin and pale, with long
ing, regretful shadows lurking in the
violeteyes, touched da half forgotten chord
in his bachelor heart. It was but a
dreamy reflection of the past, however.
He remembered where he was, and
turned away without thinking deeply.
1t was not likely that an almost forgotten
dream would meet with fruition in place
like this, dingy lumber shanty in the
heart of the great pine woods.
A minute later the jingle of sleigh
bells cut the frosty night air.
'sWell, Mrs. Watson, I must be going,
said the lumber dealer, turning toward
the door.
"Won't you stay all night, Mr.. AL
wade?"
Impossible, my good woman. have
important business to attend to in town.
I find that your husband is managing
nff.n Ill i, l. T IL n
can safely trust him to go on with the
job"
''Tattlers' tongues to the contrary,
eh?" returned the rosy-faced matron,
with rippling laugh.
eyes, the stories have heard are all
false, Mrs. Watson. I shant trouble
myself about these flying reports again,
rest assured"
''Thank you, Mr.. Alwade. Ny hus-
band shall know of your generosity"
'Facts are stubborn things" returned
Alwade '"The job is progressing well
under Mr.. Watson's management, and /
am only too glad to place the credit
where it belongs"
Thus speaking the rich lumberman
left the room and entered the sleigh that
stood waiting at the door.
Speeding over the glistening snow,
under the tall pines, with the keen win.
ter air cutting like a knife, Wallace AL.
wade felt strangely invigorated after
contact with the close mir of the lumber
shanty.
That evening, after reaching his room,
Alwade found time for reflection. The
face OF "Melth, the cook, pale, worn,
and timid, haunted him once more.
like the dim memory of half-forgotten
dream. Why did he give the pale-faced
shanty cook second thought? Simply
because this was not the first time he
had seen that face. In pondering ovel
the subject, Alwade came suddenly int
full knowledge why he had been SC
strangely affected at meeting Melth.
A vision of the long ago was before
him. He stood under the gaslight plead.
ing for the love of as beautiful girl as
the sun ever shone on. He could see
The naughty curl of the full red lips, see
the scornful flash of those violet eyes,
and even feel the sting of the words that
fell from the maiden's lips, refusing him,
laughing to scorn all his passionate plead
ipgs; and all because he was but q pool
law student, without name or fortune in
the world. His hopes were crushed for
ever. He went our into the world with 6
bitter pain in his heart, yet unable ever
then to conquer the love that had mas
tered him so utterly.
That was twelve years ago; twelve
painful years to Wallace Alwade. Gu
West, under the shadows of the Michi
gan pines, he had built up a fortune
and stood one of the foremost men il
the strong, vigorous young State where
our story is located. For twelve year
he had heard nothing of Meltha Bayne
Was it wonderful, then, that he failed t.
recognize in "Melth, the cook" the self
willed, imperious beauty who had scorn
ed him in his youth.
After hours of thought he was no
fully satisfied. 1t could not be tina
Meltha Bayne had fallen SO low as this,
cook in one of his logging shanties!
That night the face of Meth haunte'
the rich lumberman, and at earliest dawl
he was once more seated behind hi
magnificent bays speeding rapidly int
the great woods.
"Goner exclaimed the lumberman
seemingly staggered at a studded revela
ton.
Eyes. She must have slipped off i
the night some time," said Mrs. Watson
looking her surprise at the strange intel
est her employer took in the little fade
cook. cit don't matter a great dea
though" continued Mrs. Watson. ''M
husband can hunt up another woma
right quick.
Wallace Alwade stood warming hi
hands by the fire.
"She went in the night, you say?"
'Yes, or very early this morning."
'Why did she go?'
"Can't say"
perhaps she left some word, MOI
or something?"
'Not thing"
''She must have been brave to dare
cold winters night for the sake of leavin
here unseen"
'1t's queer, very queer" muttered IL
woman. "Melth and I agreed perfectl,
I can't see what cause she had fl
leaving"
Awade turned hurriedly to depar