The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
A BROKEN IDOL.
BY G. NJ.

| three years old before he saw q woman
he cared enough for to ask her to be hi:
| wife; but the time had come for him al
last, as it comes to all men once in theil
existence, the only thing for which life
seemed worth living for-and it dated
from the minute he had first seen Laura
Bertram's witching face.
1t happened SO accidentally-Mark
Challoner, grave, business man, head
OF prosperous city firm, had MANY q
time felt almost terrified to think how
nearly it had come to not happening al
all. He had been late for his train
something that did not occur once in a
year, SO regular and methodical were
bis habits-and dainty young girl,
with big, velvety-brown eyes, and car
nation pink cheeks, and mouth like
twin Strawberries for lusciousness OF
tint and tenn mbAngness of beauty, was
late too, and the two met, fate order
ed, on the platform at Ludgate Hill,
three seconds after the train had left
THAT is exasperating, to say the
least" he said, as he turned, with a
half-vexed smile, towards his fellow
miserable.
Then, when he saw the radiant. ex-
quisite face, in all its girlish bloom and
beauty, there went feeling over and
through, and about him that was
strangely unlike anything he ever be-
fore had experienced in his forty-three
years.
She made her broad white forehead
pucker into charming little frown as
she turned from the receding train to
his plain, honest face-just such u face
rs a woman would instinctively trust
out of a thousand faces anywhere.
u am very much disappointed. 1
wouldn't have missed it for anything;
my friends will meet the train and Won
der what has become of me-
She turned back, disconsolately, tow
ards the ladies' waiting-room.
IF you will allow me to be of SER
vice." he said, gravely, with that delic-
iously strange sensation thrilling all
over him, Il will telegraph for you;
and rs also have to wait for the next
train, l shall be most happy TO see you
safely To your friends"
Thanks, very much, please do tele-
graph for me 10 Mr.. Lancaster, ut the
Willows, Buckley, and explain. I am
his niece.''
Mr.. Challoner's face suddenly bright
ened.
Mr. Lancaster is y valued friend of
mine. / am quite sure he would trust
you with me-" and he smiled. '.My
name is Mark Challoner my home is
just tie other side of Bromley"
That was their very informal intro
duction; and, four hours later, Mrs
Lancaster repeated it, tremendously,
in her drawingroom at the Willows
And then
Well, it had nearly all happened in
the Winter, nearly all of which season
Laura had spent with her uncle and
aunt, and the consequence was that
Mark Challoner had asked the girl to
marry him, and she had not said him
nav.
In all the wide world there was not
a happier, prouder man than Mark
Challoner.
81 will be so good-so good to her."
he was thinking rapturously. ''She
shall have everything in the world she
wants-there shall not be wish un-
gratified that 1 can hear her eN-
press or imagine she thinks. My
bright, bonny, little, darling, who has
flooded my grave, quiet life with such
blessed sunshine! My little Laura! 1
wonder how it ever came to pass that
she could care for me?''
1t certainly did seem somewhat
strange, when Il purely disinterested
party took it into consideration. Laura
Bertram, young-twenty or more years
younger than he; she was radiantly
beautiful, gay and girlish, while her
betrOthed was grave, quiet, almost re-
firing in his disposition, and possessing
very few claims to being considered
good-looking man.
DIT 1, Ill 10
was as gentle as a woman, yet every
bit manly and resolute in whatever he
did or said; and, with Il might and a
force that sometimes amazed himself,
he loved the girl that promised to be his
wife, and who had let him clasp her to
his heart, and received his ardent kisses
on her smiling mouth.
Yes, he was happy-undeniab per-
fectly happy; and into that rapturous
peace, that brooded like a blessing over
him, a friend of his entered, a man hon
est and true, and sarcastic and plain
spoken, but whose out-and-out freeness
of speech had never touched Mark un-
til this occasion, when, so very natural
1y, Laura's name was mentioned.
Il haven't said anything about your
engagement. for / really didn't think it
would amount to much," John Clayton
said. i'm his ofl-hand way.
'.Didn't think it would amount to
muchr Mark repeated, in sort of
amazed, mechanical way.
"No, i thought it wouldn't. and hop~
ed the same. | don't approve of it. by
any means, Mark. That girl don't care
a straw for YOU"
Mr.. Challoner looked at him in as
toniShment for Il second. then slow,
red stain came into his face.
That sounds rather rough, old fell
low. Don't forget its Il sacred subject
TO me-"
stuff and nonsensei It's Il subject
that can't be too highly illuminated
with all the common sense that can be
brought TO bear. L tell You, you are in love
until you are blind us u bat, and i shall
do my duty by you. That pretty little
girl don't care that for you, Mark; and L
hate TO see you make such an idiot of
YOURSELF
'.See here, Clayton" and Mark Chal-
1oner's low, cool voice was ominously
low and cool, despite its patience
''you must not expect l shall permit
any one to speak to me about my per-