The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-02-01
!. Seletf Sur,.
THE DALTON MYSTERY.

/ knew that there was q mystery in
Ralph Dalton's house, shadow over
his life, as certainly as knew that he
loved me and tried to conquer his love.
/ 1t was 3 miserable jov to one to encoun-
ter him, TO make him fall in love with
me over again, when knew he had been
hiding away. battling with nav influence
over bin, ,striving-and vainly-to thrust
me out of his heart. g
1t was no boy and girlinfatuation, for
/ was twenty three when I inherited
Wolfston from my uncle; a stately old
house, with extensive grounds, named
from some old world estate in our fsm-
[ily-I.found.a hnuse.keepsr. and hronaht
with me companion, widow OF sixty,
Mre. Latimer, and we settled down in
the new house very happily. There was
DO lack OF pleasant society, snd | bad
attention from many gentlemen residing
near US. But the fret person to welcome
nae was Ralph Dalton, who had heen my
unele's close friend for many years, and
who lived upon the next place to mine.
He held for me some private letters,
some jewelry Of my grandmother's. and
some other little matters uncle felt it best
to coDfds 10 private keeping, and after
his trust was over he came again. until
We loved each other. Then he ceased
his visits, and me: him only by chance,
it persistent effort on my part could
be called So p !
What did love Ii him7 He was
many years older than myself-forty l
judge-witheut great personal attrac-
lion. His features weie large and gave
an impression OF strength; he was tall
and broad -shouldered. l have heard
him called an ugly man, but his large,
melancholy brown, eyes we're beautiful.
He was grave to sadness aud reserved 10
fault; yet once the ice Of bis residence
was broken, he could converse easily and
gracefully upnn any topic, passing far
beyond my poor attainments In the scope
OF bis study and the wide range OF his
reading He vas a. gentle as q woman
and his voice full, rich and exquisitely
modulated, was lterfec. music. 4 loved
him terly-I who had been cold to all
suitors, and was seH-resoived to main.
tain ever my maiden freedom.
What did ba love in mel Something
that was reflex Of his own nobility. fol
I was common. place enough elsewhere
With him wakehed to new thoughts o
philanthropy. OF selt-culture, and ms
whole soul Vas elevated aud found
tstrength in interc purse With, him. wa
fair of face, they tosti me who wooet
me, and was glad If Ralph's eyes fount
pleasure in my beauty. ---.-
But ] had not been q week at Wolf
: ston before I beard Of some mystery il
Ralph's home.
| Ithad never received any pretty name
but was simply spoken of as "Daltons.
The house was large. yet no visitor eve
stopped there. ! Ralph was repute'
wealthy, yet be offered no hospitality
: even one meal to his friends.
) He found rest and pleasure with u
Kno wing We could. not visit him, and
. think our intercourse was . bright, her
py one 10 him, lifting him out of som
habitual melancholy until be wskensd t
. the kno Wedge that he loved me, and wa
indeed guile terror stricken.
inst in one Dash Of his soft eyes, on
infection Of his harmoniocl voice.
: read his secret and answered it, In
moment he was ice! He then apoic
eixed for having forgotten the respel
q due me, aud with stiff, white lips and
choked, hard tone I had never hear
tpass his lips before, he bade me farewe
J. and vas gone. sHs l8asl q
= / was stunned. then enraged! Ho
) |dare he. l thought, win nv love to scol
it! Then | wept for him. knew n
pain was less than his, because his n
. Iture was deeper, more intense, th'
: mine.
i. II would not pine for any man,
thought, and dashed into every gale
available in our circ'e. But my airt
tions were wssted, a, he did not 8
o. them, and my heart was sick for 10,
from his tender eyes. l. blushed for m
IS self when ! stole out at dusk and cross
our garden to look in at the window
bis study to watch him. He wss pal
graver than ever, bending over his bpo
{ for an hour at time without turning
Leaf or walking up aud dawn With fold