The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-03-04
THE ARTISTS BRIDE
BY EVA L. EMERY.

1 hardly thought of it at the time, al
though often have since, that when I
asked Aunt Leona to tell me a story of
her early life, mellow laugh came out
from the depths of the kitchen, and the
mischievous voice of Cousin Ralph
said,
"Tell her, mother, and she will write
a book and dedicate it to you"
l faucied vein of sarcasm was hid
den beneath the words, and during the
remainder of my stay at Hollywood l
studiously avoided Cousin Ralph, for the
dread of ridicule is one of my weak
points.
"Some time, my DEAR" said Aunt
Ieona, with generous twinkle in her
beautiful eyes. She would have said,
more, but the tinkle of call-bell foated
into the parlor and she hastened to the
studio of Uncle Merton.
"Aunt Leona idolizes that man."
thought I, as wheeled an ottoman be-
fore the stove, ard sat down with my
back 10 the fire.
On the wall, lust before me, hung
large oil painting which, as far back as
] could remember, had been concealed
by heavy curtain Of black lace. Ihad
often longed to raise the veil and look
beneath, but never dared. 1t was a
household shrine, treasure too sacred
to uncover to the heartless light of day.
AS still sat regarding the shrouded
mystery, Aunt LeoDa re-entered the
room. She closed the door, stirred the
fire and lowered the curtains until an
air of most oppressive gloom pervaded
the room; gloom not in the least re-
lieved by the fitful gusts of wind and
rain that shook the windows, nor the
signing and creaking of the leafess trees
against the portico.
Aunt seated herself in a large arm
chair, drew my head into her lap, and
sat for some moments intently regarding
my features. knew what was coming,
and now, dear friends, hope I shall
not sully the privacy of that interview
by repeating to you Aunt Leona's life
history. 1t shall not be book, as Ralph
suggested, but an accurate description
of all heard from aunt's own lips.
81 Before recount my life" said she
'I will glance over the fortunes of my
father and mother. The American
Revolution was ended; that is, activ.
hostilities' between ourselves and the
British had ceased, and the glad cry O
peace had been echoed and re-echoeC
through every hamlet of our infan
nation. But as yet the Government hat
no nrm basis, and Shay rebellion shool
the heart of many a hero that ha,
scorned to quail in the face of Britisl
fire; and patriotic souls shrank from tn
bane of civil war and the inevitabl
horror of ANARCHY. But later band O
true hearts are working in silence in th
old State House in Philadelp phia, an
after three months toll brought fort
that glorious foundation of American
liberty; and anon the nations idol wa
elevated to the highest post of honor i
the gift of the people.
"Amid the earlier struggles. Lelan
Forests boyhood had been eheckere
with the vicissitudes of colonial wal
fare, and 30 imbued was he with th
spirit of resentiDg every form of TYRANNY
that now, at the consummation of FIRE,
dom, his ardent soul sought another an
a-newer field for combat. France DR.,
sented that field, and crossing the ocea
he flung his whole energy into th
cause of the people.
In an obscure part of Paris he too
up his abode in the family of q mechani
and with unswerving regularity he a
tended the meetings of. the assembl
and through the dailies kept pace wit
the Jacobins and Girondists With IL
countless throng that surrounded IL
Tuileries, on the memorable 10th
August, 1892, he took as important
part as any French soldier present; bu
on the tragic 18th of September, in vel
horror, he fled the fated city, and lat
in his heart he could not Justify the e
cesses of the people in spilling the bio,