The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-16

''But do appreciate and want your
company, Nina particularly at the
present time for I am suffering from
one of those depressions of spirit COM
monty known as the 'hlues,' and /
know of nothing that will so soon dis
pei my present attack as an hour of your
company. The fact is, Nina, if there Is
any good In me it always seems nearer
the surface when I am with you Wicked
though I am, with nearly every sin in
the calendar on my soul, I always seem
better from having been with you. Ah,
Nina, if all women were as true to their
better natures as you are, there would
be fewer men with lives wrecked by
woman's inconsistency He will indeed
be a happy man who can some day win
Jour heart"
The gathering shades of night were
too deep for him to note the glad flush
that spread over her face at his words of
praise, and she only said in reply:
&c am glad you think well of me, El-
mer. But pardon me, if you think me
bold or presuming. Why is it that you,
with your advantages and talents, live
the life you do? And why is it that in
your conversation you always speak of
women with bitterness and distrust? Is
there not some woms' / in all this wide
world to make you happy, some one foF-
whose sake you would give up your evil
ways, turn from the paths of sin, and
lead purer life? Is there not one,
Elmer?"
He was too deeply absorbed with his
Dwn bitter thoughts to notice with what
eagerness she asked the question. 1t
was several moments before he spoke,
and when he did the words came slowly
and mechanically, as though they were
forced from him against his will.
"Mina, years ago Ioved-loved, did
say Fl worshiped a woman fair as a
poets dream, and believed her as truth
full, in word and deed, as the white
robed angels that cluster around the
glittering throne above. Every encour-
agement that woman could possibly give
to man she gave to me, and for time
was in blissful dream-a FOOLS para
iise. But, Nina, God does not allow His
reatures to make Him subordinate in
their worship, and my love for Shalah
Fortescue was greater than my love or
fear of God. Atlength told her of my
devotion, and asked her to be my wife.
Nina, that woman whom I loved more
than life, reputation, or honor laughed
at my passionate pieadings, and forbid
me speaking to her again. From that
hour have been a. changed man. My
life has been passed in one mad whirl of
excitement, in the attempt to drown the
memory of that girl"
Nina had been standing near him and
looking directly in his face. As he
ceased speaking she advanced step to-
ward him, and asked:
'tAnd you have succeeded in forget
ting her, Elmerp"
"No; think I now fully understand
| what Tennyson meant when he wrote
those lines in 'Locksley Hail.
knowledge comes but wisdom fingers and linger
md the Individual withers, and the world is more
| and more;
knowledge comes but wisdom fingers, and he bears
Full of sad experience moving toward the stiffness
| of his rest.
at do not love her as I once did, but
forget her I never can."
"But, Elmer, why will you not marry
| some woman who con by her loving
kindness help you to forget her ?"
He pointed far off in the western sky
where one star alone sent out its rays
DER the earth, and said in low voice
"Mina, do you see yonder star? It
is bright and beautiful far brighter
than any of the smaller ones that will
soon spangle the azure vault above-but
| it is alone When the others come forth
it will slowly disappear, as if dreading
their companionship. So it has done in
ages past, so it will continue to do in
all time to come. Like that star my
life must be a lone and cheerless one
70, me there is no companionship. It
is my destiny; to fight against it is
folly. Yet if I thought there WAS one
person in ait this cold, unsympathizing
world who feels sufficient interest In my
being to offer an encouraging word, ]
would struggle against fate, and strive
to, if possible, accomplish something
during the remaining years of my life.
But, no, there is not one, and I have
only to drift with the tide until finally
launched into the broad ocean of eter.
nifty and be forgotten, or, if remembered
at all by those who once claimed to be
my friends, it will be to have my pecca'
dilloes unearthed and discussed" y"
Nina came close to him now, and lay
ing her hand on his arm, spoke hur
riedly, as though fearful that he
courage would fail ere she had finished
what she wished. to say:
"Elmer, you are wrong when yor sa,
no one cares for you. I care for you
love, you Elmer-I have loved in secre
for years and you can never know hov
vainly have striven against this love
Oh, Elmer never intended you shoult
know this. thought to carry m,
secret to the grave, but, when heart
you speak SO bitterly of all the world,
could not keep silent longer" And
bury1ng her face, now crimson witt
blushes, in her hands, she burst into
passion OF tears.
For a moment Elmer Royston stoot
lrresolute, but it was only for momen
Drawing the weeping girl to him, tn
aid:
"Mina, if ever there was an angel i,
human form, you are certainly one.
never dreamed until this moment tina
you cared for me. will not pretend t.
say that I love you now, Nina, and
know I. can never love you with tina
blind, passionate love with which wol
shipped Shelah Fortescue-men do nc
love as I loved her but once in life. But
if sometime in the future can come an
offer you a lifetime of devotion, will yo
be my wife?"
She looked up into his face with
happy light in her eyes, as she said:
eff you ever ask me TO be your wife
will not refuse, Elmer"
Those words were not spoken SO yer
long ago, but already Elmer Royston
} learning to love this girl, and often, whe
| he compares her with Shelah Fortescut
he mutters to himself:
eyes, it was all for the best. ."-Ch
cago Ledger.
, FRIED BREAD PUDDINa.-Take a sta
. loaf of bakers bread cut in slices; be,
up six eggs, stir them into a quart
milk; dip the slices into the milk an
: eggs; lay them upon dish, one upo
another. and let them stand ahont g