The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-02


ton, was endeavoring to make amends
to the children for neglect of the par
ents.
Since that bright spring day when I
bade Ethel good-by had rolled twelve
years, when one morning letter from
Ethel was placed in my hand-still
Ethel Raymond, but instead of the
lovely child of poverty brilliant, beau
tiful and accomplished woman, an heir
ess and the pet of society. Just having
returned from Europe, size had written
to me to come to her. It was an affec-
tionate, merry letter, descriptive of the
gayeties of society life, containing full
account of the last conquest, etc., and
finally enSng up with an imperative de-
mand for my presence at her home
Thanksgiving, saying her uncle had
given her full liberty to invite what
guests she chose for that day, (which will
be yourself, uncle, brother Harry and
myself. You see I want only those
whom I love for my first Thanks
giving at home after so long an absence
kind of a family reunion, you know.
And now, dearest" she added, "unless
you wish to entail lifelong misery up
on your old friend you must be sure to
come"
I handed the letter over to mamma
with smile, who, after reading it
through, quietly remarked, "Well, my
dear, I think you can CO."
"Oh, mamma p I cried, ego when
I haven't thing fit to wear" For the
same years that had brought wealth and
luxury to Ethel Raymond had brought
poverty to me.
My dear, I think you speak rather
sweepingly, do you not? It seems to
me that you have very nice black
cashmere which will do very well for
street and church wear. Iknow. of course.
That your wardrobe is not what young
lady would wish on entering fash
ionable society, but, my dear, it is all
you have; and, you know, lady will
appear lady under all circumstances.
Go, child, and enjoy all you can.
You remember Ethel once spent a
Thanksgiving with you under similar
circumstances, only you were children
then" and presume she has not forgot
ten 1t, and week or two later found mo
domiciled with my friend. Oh, the hap
py days lived over again within the
sacred precincts of our own rooml It
was here, the morning of that memoir
able Thanksgiving, that we had both
suddenly subsidized into silence after one
of our extended conversations. Ethel,
seated upon low ottoman, Just opposite
my favorite perch on the side of the bed,
was busily engaged in undoing the long,
heavy braids of her hair, which, when
loosened, fell in great golden waves about
her shoulders. Suddenly turning, she
merrily cried: "Why those piercing
orbs of midnight darkness fixed upon,
this innocent countenance, as if to pierce
the very depth of my inmost soul ?"
"Don't be tragic, dear, was only occu-
pied with my own thoughts, I inter
rupted
s'A penny for your thoughts, then. >:
"Well, my dear, I was just wonder
ing how soon that ardent admirer of
yours, Col. Blackwell, of the million and
mustache, is to claim that little, white
hand; the symptoms are quite alarming
and it is time the case was reported"
"Marry Col. Blackwell, is that what
you mean? That will never be. No,
never she added, with little shver ]
presume you have discoveredth the Colonel's
standing with my uncle, who has been
anxious for years for an alliance be.
tween the two families. The Black
wells, you know, are a very aristocratit
and wealthy family. The Colonel il
handsome, intelligent, good, everything
in fact that the world would unanimously
vote good match; but, my dear, she
added, with something of bitter smile
I am so foolish as to think that there il
another requisite to happiness which tn,
world usually leaves out of consideration
of that Ito my happiness, necessary
commodity my uncle's ambition mus
be sacrificed and my expectant friends
disappointed.
"Well, Ethel, pray inform us what
kind of man is to succeed, when the
elegant, accomplished and fascinating
Colonel fails"
"Well, am sure don't know.
sometimes think that necessary little or
gan called the heart was left entirely ou
Of my composition, and, consequently
doubt capability of any unusua
amount of affection and, under the cir
cumstances, it were better for Ethe
Raymond to tread hfe's pathway alon
than to be an unloving wife, a handsom
husband and elegant establishment t.
the contrary. Do you know I some
tunes thiuk," she added, musingly
chad the gentle voice and tender smil
of Eugene Emerson, our boy teachel
been known to me in maturer year.
things might have"
"Ah, indeed p I interrupted, with
| merry laugh $50 after all it is M
the lack of affection that is so disastror
to our friend, the Colonel. Only in tt
wrong direction; that's all. Come, nov
confess. Confession, you know, is goc
for the soul.
"No, no; you are too fast. I ws
only little child in those days, you wi
remember"
"WeD, then am to understand IL
only serious effect then was to destrc
any germ of affection which might sprir
up in after years. %
"Wen, perhaps; I believe you q
ways did possess the faculty of tracir
things down to fine point"
"Where is he ?" I inquired. "Do yc
know anything of him ?"
"I have heard nothing for a lo1
time. He used to write to me occasio
ally in my childhood days. and on
when in the CITY had the audacity
call, as my uncle expressed 1t, of whic
fact I was not informed for some tin
after. Then my uncle told me that
thought it best that our acquaintan
should end, and, presume, gave him
understand the same, as I have nev
received any letters since. He is nc
| editing a country newspaper somewhe
in the West, 1 believe, and I occasio
, ally find articles from his pen in o
: leading scientific journals, which ev
uncle is forced to admit are very fin
: But come, my dear if we go to chur'
this morning we must hasten our p1
parations."
) In few moments I was ready, wa
, ing for Ethel, who, in her navy bl