Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-28
Select Story.
Twice Loved.
BY d. ID. HOWARD.

do not return to the Grange, Etsy
Come with us to Newport; the beauti-
full Mrs. Langsley will be the rage
there, as she has been in Philadelphia
this winter, even though she does keep
herself close.
Etsy's lips curled with something OF
the hautiness of early days.
i cannot, Aggle. | am tired of gay
ETY.. Oh, this is such hard world to
get through. l am so tired of it-so
tired of living y
what, Etsy tired of life at twenty.
five p
Even so, Aggie; fatherless, mother
less and deserted wife-it is enough.
Not deserted, Etsy; you have twice
refused to join him.
yes, l know; we have both erred
we are both too proud. In some of
my moods do not blame Lionel.
was so changed, so sallow, and bony,
and homely, and then never could for.
give him that first unconscious start
and shrinking away. | had loved only
Lionel in all my life and l forgot for
the moment how changed l was and
how to meet him. He recovered him.
self in a moment, but l seemed as if it
changed my whole nature, and l grew
cold and disdalnful; but a great pain
was at my heart, even when fseemed
most Indifferent. l have the same pain
tonight.
you love him still, Etsy !
The crimson lips grew scornful, and
then tremulous.
Yes; have never loved any one
else. You will think me mean.splrit-
ed, Aggie p
No, Etsy; l honor you for it. But
we will not talk of it. Papa will go
anywhere 1 wish. l have never been
to Niagara. If you would like we will
go there, where all will be strangers to
u.s.
So they went to Niagra-Mr. War
ner, Agnes and Etsy. Leaving the la
dies in the reception room, Mr. Warner
went to register their names in the
hotel book of entry, but returned in a
moment with face from which every
vestige of color had flown.
'Etsy, when | went to register my
name gentleman was just returning
his pen to its case, and the ink was yet
wet with the name of Lionel Peyton =
MY husband ?
4 fear so; but do not grow so pale,
child. thought. perhaps you might
wish to leave this place, and so did not
register our names.
The beautiful, pale face was pitlful
to see.
Stay, let me think. 1t might not
be my husband, and yet I never knew
sa Lionel Peyton out of our family.
Was the gentleman's face anything
like this P and poor Etsy took a minia.
ture from her jewel case.
Yes; it was very like, only this face
is more youthful. The face | saw was
bearded and bronzed and careworn
looking
If l thought he would not know me,
would stay and see him for myself
I would like to.
He would never know you, Etsy.
You are as unlike the Etsy of fifteen as
you are unlike the wife of twenty. I
think you might remain with perfect
safety ;and 1t may not be your husband,
after ALL .,s~
So Etsy stayed, and on the book of
entry was written, Mr. Ely Warner
and daughter and Mrs. Willis.
we will call you Essie, and then if
it is your husband he will never know
you
Mr. Warner was right; Lionel Pey-
ton could never recognize in this bril-
liantly beautiful woman either the rosy
schoolgirl of fifteen or the wife of
twenty. Etsy at twenty-six was tall
and stately, with a clear, dark skin,
brilliant color, and large, shadowy,
haunting eyes, in whose depths lay
great pain; you felt it as soon as you
saw her. 1t was her husband; Etsy
knew him the moment she saw him. 1t
was in the dining room she first met
him. He looked at the party entering,
as any gentleman would look at pretty
women, his gaze resting longest on Et-
sy, her gorgeous Eastern beauty over
shadowing the' pale loveliness of Agnes
Warner; but it was evident he did not
recognize her.