The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-08

among the heathenS. POOr little Elrl.
He took hold of my arm and thel
pinched my cheek. $50 tender, an(
plump, and soft"
twitched my arm away, and felt my
cheek burn red-with anger, more thar
from his pinching.
II didn't write to you for mockery,'
said. Indignantly. ''Mr. Elton
ELTON is fool,,,' said John. seating
himself, calmly. elf he wasn't fool,
i should call him n brute. to work up.
on the romance and enthusiasm of 8
silly girl. and ask her to waste hel
bright, happy young life for his selfish
| qualification, among pack of internal
and boy. While you''-he looked at
me with such strangely tender. qnizzi-
cal eyes 'you are little goose! |
don't believe you really love the fellow
ut all, Liz"
He was perfectly right. and in that
minute l knew it-for the first time !
knew my own heart. But was too
much offended to acknowledge it.
You are mistaken" said, very
coldly. ''Should have humbled my
him, if 1 did not love himP''
it. tool" he cried, getting angry in his
turn, and rising. ..Wefl, il you can
love fellow like that, you are not the
girl took you for, and the sooner you
go to him the better! Yes; you shall
have all you need, my girl, and God
grant you don't repent your follyr' He
took paper from his pocxet-book.
''There's blank cheque. l signed it
for you. though did hope you'd use it
to a better purpose. No matter-fill it
up for any amount you need; take
enough, for you'll get but little from
the fellow you're going to! And mind
you're welcome to the money''-his
voice and look softened a little-s'you' d
be welcome TO my life, if it could Sc
cure your happiness, Liz! l hate to
see you spoil your own-thats all. -
He turned to go. Goodbye, my dear
I wish you happiness, and he was
gone.
l sat there and burst out crying.
Quite quietly gave way to an inward
storm of rage and grief at my own be-
sot,ed folly. John! My dear old John!
If had spoken the truth to him, how
different might be nay fate! Surely
John loved me. Arthur was right,
John wished to win me for himself!
And now he hal given me up! And I
-decency, consistency, pride, required
that 1 should abide by my own decision
i belonged to Arthur, whom 1 was
beginning to despise.
One hope remained to me-my moth
er. She would entreat and beg mo not
to go, and could gracefully yield to
her wishes. / fastened home-alas! I
found her resigned to my marriage
with Arrhur-John had talked her over.
''He would sacrifice everything to
your happiness" she said. ''Oh, you
have been such n foOl!'
The preparations were hurriedly
made-I had no time to lose-and
mother accompanied me on my jour-
ney. She was to take me to London
and leave me in my husbands care.
John saw us off; actually accompan-
led us to the station, and bade us good
bye. AS the train moved slowly away,
and realized that L had seen the last
of him, bit my lips to keep the outcry
of my anguish down, and resolved, in
a blind, stupid way. to do anything
rather than marry Arthur Elton.
The fatigue of my journey, the an
guish of my heart, tire effort to conceal
my feelings-all these things were too
much me. When we got TO our hotel l
fell into Mysteries, and the secret came
out in spite of me.
Il hate Arthur Elton! I hate the
heathens! Pll never marry him! l
sobbed incoherently.
Then why did you snub poor
Johnp" asked my mother. pitilessly.
..John, who has loved you since you
were wee thing; John, who would die
for you if need be. Why didn't you
marry John?'
why didn't he ask mep" I sobbed,
.'Could 1 marry him by
force? You were both so bent on driv-
ing me into Arthur's arms; you never
seemed to think girl might change
her mind; believe you both hate ME.
Oh, dear! oh, dear!"
My misery, however absurd. was real
and mother found it difficult
to soothe me. She succeeded after
awhile. however, and promising to
think ont some way to escape from our
left me to lie down and rest.
We had sitting-rOom and bedroom
at the hotel-presently mother called
to me from the former. l had been
falling into doze, but her voice reused
me.
Come here, Lizzic,n she called.
went-slowly and wearily.
"What is it?" l asked, listlessly, as
[ pushed open the door; then gave a
scream of fright and Joy, for John
came forward and clasped me in his
arms.
He had come down on the car behind
rs, deceitful thing; and mother and he
had plotted against me all the time! Ah.
veIl-after all it was my happiness they
plotted for; for l loved him, and, when
YOU love, what can you do but yieldP
We were married the very next day.
believe felt some qualms of con-
science about Arthur and those poor,
dear heathens, but they We're quite
over when we got home, two weeks
later, and found letter from Arthur
waiting for me.
He released me from my engagement,
and was SO kind us to add that he had
never thought me ''really suited for the
work." Moreover, he informed me
that he believed he had made a mis-
take on his own part. A wealthy widow
lady, whom he had met on his voyage.
had shown him that much might be
done to convert the peasantry in Rome,
and therefore he had married her, and
they were starting on bridal tour to
the Eternal City. He hoped that l
would find worthy partner, and be as
happy as he wished me; and thus he
babe me farewell. The cannibals-
whom we were to have taken TO Heav-
to have no place in his
thoughts!
But John and Arthur's rich widow
saved us. by showing us our mistake,
and have shown you how we recti-
lied it. , .t