The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-04-26

double game he is playing, am SUR
she would scorn him as che should
This man asked You to be his wife; le
him prove himself worthy to be you
husband. You should stop at no silly
society scruples to tear the mask from
that which may bring you misery ant
dishonor. My dear, if am mistaken
will beg your pardon and his, and Civ,
you to him with all my heart; but low
my child too dearly to risk her youn!
life's wreck. Will you be Parthenia ?"
"Yes."
At the door Mrs. Burnham paused
and looked back, with eyes crowd sus
piciously moist and great throb o
compassion at her heart. For, in tn,
center of the room with bowed head ant
nervously clasped hands. Isnthe, How
ard stood, pitfully childlike figure, de
ispite her heavy ruby-velvet draperies-,
girl standing alone under the shivering
tottering ruins of her first love castle.
| = y \
care the costumes ordered last weel
finished.
"Yes, madame"
The proprietress hastily left the les
profitable customers to attend Mrs. Burn
ham.
GAS I have the carriage and will b
passing Miss Gaudet's, I shall drop her
there if it will be any convenience t,
lyou."
Madam was too kind they were rush
ed with work; they would be very CRATE
lful.
So Madam's liveried coachman liftet
the two long brown paper boxes into tn
carriage and 1t rolled away it was quit
dark when it drew up at the Sutherland
door.
"Just ring and hand this in, John
Make haste, it is late"
She pushed a box toward bim-h,
obeyed her; then be climbed to his sea
and she gave the order, "Home," anC
the carriage drove off.
Mrs. Burnham laughed little sadly
to herself and patted the box which heli
tue pretty fartheDla dress.
Elsie will think it mistake. How
else could convince herr Beside, all's
fair in love and war"
Parthenia stood alone in the recess o.
a window and watched the motley crowd
surging through Mrs Kent's lofty rooms
Hapless Merle Stuart ard s'Heather
Chinee," Sir Walter Raleigh and Red
Riding Hood, Richelieu and Little Mel
doated serenely by.
"Ah, you have come at last!'
Parthenia started suddenly at the
whispered words and turned to confront
q tall, fur.clad Ingomar.
"Have you no word for me. ma belief
"Yes; but not here"
She spoke very low and in French.
She took his arm and together they
passed to room made familiar :tosb both
in their social visils-the library.
The room was long, silent dimly lit.
As yet it was too early for the dancers
to wander off in search of cooler air, so
tneV were unQlSturOeQ.
Once there, be turned and faced her in
that mellow half.light which left the cor.
ners mystically dim.
He look off his mask and showed a
decidedly handsome, decidedly evil face.
"My Parthenia, how beautiful you
look"
The expression was involuntary
Beautiful indeed was the statuesque
young figure, in that simple, severe. ex-
quisite dress which challenges the many,
adorns the few-the Greek costume.
The soft white robe fell in graceful,
classic folds to her teet-the heavy staff
she takes when she gives her lover the
flowers held carelessly in one hand-the
helmet, the shield, all glittering in the
dim light.
"Why do you not speak to me, Elsie,
nay love2"
Keep such a title for Ianthe How.
ard"
She spoke rapidly and still in his own
tongue, the better to disguise her voice
"Ianthe Howard" he repeated. "What
is she to me? ! told you loved you
two years ago. ! love you still. Elsie
darling, be sure Of that, and do not think
too hard of me when you know what an
avaricious wretch / am If only you had
her fortune Take off that jealou.
mask. You start! Ah, my love, do moi
blame me too much. Remember, yor
only hold my heart, if need obliges me
to take advantage Of Miss Howard't
foolish infatuation for me, and marry
her-bank account"
"Pray, dc not so far Inconvenience
yourself, Mr.. D'Esterre. That foolist
fancy is dead forever"
And Ianthe Howard calmly laid down
her mask on the ebony ceDter-table.
"Great Heaven-Ianthe!'
"Yes! Permit me to return the pledg,
of . false VOW"
And in her proud, silent way she drew
off sparkling solitaire and laid it qui
etly down.
"And permit me to say yoa have mad
more than one mistake tonight, Jeal
D'Esterre."
And from out Of a shadowy corne
came the bright figure Of a vivandiere.
Then one man felt the full misery hi
disloyalty and deceit had brought him
as Iantbe Howard and Elsie Gaude
passed together from the room, unite
in their triumph over treachery--the wo
man he had loved for her money and tn
woman he had loved for herself.
And to-day, Ianthe knows that her III
and love lie sacredly in the hands of a
honest gentleman, and thanks God fror
the depths of hef true woman's heart fo
The happiness that bloomed and blossom
ed out of her girlhood's sorrow.
Il Hard-Scrabble.
j In the town of West Alexande
Penn, twelve TILES from the Ohio an
1.-TWO miles from the West VIRGINIA lin,