The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-02
And the death-roll, that morning, tele-

And the death-roll, that morning, tele-
graphed to happier Northern cities, con-
tanned these names: "Mr. Horace Van
Verst, and his wife, Mrs. Isabel Lisle
Van Verst;" while, in an adjoining room,
rosy, healthy, Joyous and unconscious of
her awful loss, their baby girl, q year old,
watched over by one careful nurse, while
another, gray-haired and fearful, was
hurriedly making preparations to leave
the accursed fever-stricken city.
r =
Theo. Edmerton had taken up his po-
sition at the foot of the grand stair case,
and was rather enjoying looking on at
the gay crowd that was fast filling Mrs.
Wizards parlors, and especially looking,
as was not the first, or the second, or the
dozenth time he had looked just so eager
ly, at lovely Vivian Gwyneth.
OF late, Edmerton had been passing
through strange experience, and fair
haired Vivian was very intimately con-
nected with it-so intimately that, during
these past few weeks, Edmerton had
come to know that that had happened to
him he had thought never could happen
to him again, after the desolate, waste
time in his life, when Isabel Lisle had
married another.
He had thought never to renew his
faith and trust in woman. He had had
no hope nor wish that the wreck that he
had believed himself in love and passion
should ever be made anew And then,
right into all the debris of his affections,
Vivian Gwyneth had come with sympa-
thy and healing
Until, standing and Watching her to-
| night, the fairest, brightest star in Mrs.
Wyllard's brilliant assemblage, Theo
Edmerton knew he loved her.
Until he was wondering what the rem
nant of his heretofore unblessed life
would be worth to him if, when he asked
lovely Vivian for her love, she should
withhold it.
For he had made up his mind slowly.
during the past few weeks, that he was
warranted in asking her.
He was almost sure she cared for
him, and yet, if it should so happen that
she did notl
An hour afterward he stood before
Vivian Gwyneth, alone with her, i'll the
fragrant, half-dim fernery, with his
handsome face pale with passionate plead
ing, his eyes full of masterful tenderness,
as he told her how he loved her, and
asked for her sweet self in return.
And Vivian?
| 1 think it was the sweetest way a wo-
man ever gave herself to her lover, that
which she did, in her own perfect way,
SO proud, so tender, so charmingly shy:
"Before 1 answer you" she said, lift
ing her glorious eyes to his in a swift.
radiant, little glance-''before I answer
you, let me show you-this picture
of him have loved all my life. Even
as baby l began to worship it. 1t was
my ideal-I have worn it night and day.
Would you care to have me tell you
what you wish, knowing what I have told
your
A gasping sort of vague fear crept
chilly over him in that one instant when
she laid diamond-crusted gold locket
in his hand.
And then he opened it to Iook-into his
own eyes-the picture he had given
Isabel Lisle nineteen years before.
She smiled in his astonished face.
s'You don't know-no one knows but
my dear adopted parents-that [ am
Isabel Lisle's child; but L knew you,
Theo, the first time I saw you, and I
think, if 1 had not had mammals locket,
/ should still have known you from her
letters and diary 1 have kept. Are you
sorry am mammals daughter?"'
Was it possible-was it possible?
Isabels child
Then all the passion came radiantly
back to his pale face and astonished eyes,
as he held out his arms caressingly.
81 think your mother has given you to
me. loved her, but not as 1 love you,
oh, my little onel Vivian will you come
to me? Will you give yourself to me?'
And she steppedinside the outstretched
arms, and laid her bright head on his
breast, and made him realize that il
was for his highest human happiness
that fate had seemed SO apparently cruel
in all those past dreary years, which
now, in one little moment, blotted out
forever