Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-01-13


friend Of yours, isn't heY
Laura laughed, and little crimson
flush warmed her cheek. p
OH don't knowl Yes, he is 8
friend, of course. I've known him for
over a year now. He's handsome,
isn't he?
Il think he is the finest looking gen.
tleman ! ever saw, Helen answered.
quietly, then bent little puzzled look
upon Laura
How did you come TO send him
here? l should think you would pre-
fer to have him with you at the Hall
You little goose, can't you under
stand that? Indeed, don't want him
1t home among so many visitors as we
have already. Helen, I'm so glad he
came here, where there's no temptation
for him to be made dead set at. A
handsome, rich widower is great
catch. Here-hes safe yoa see.
She certainly did not mean anything
cruel, butt touched little plain Helen
as nothing had ever hurt her. And,
proud little woman as she was, she
suddenly had to rush to the pantry for
more sugar--to hide the tears she felt
coming to her eyes.
Mr.. Hartley was safe at her house.
Yes, she was too old, too plain, too de-
cldedly an old maid to be dangerous
to any mans peace of mind 1t was all
true, and she had known it all her life,
but somehow, it occurred to her as
never before.
Little, and plain, and old, but with
woman's heart beating warm and
strengthful in her bosom; and, some
!. how, Laura Hesketh's rare beauty
seemed the most desirable possession
in all the world, because with it such
love and devotion and admiration
could be won. She thrust the foolish
thought away from her, and came back.
her sugar-crock in her hand.
DO you bathe every day, Laura?'
she said-they had known each other
from childhood, and in spite of social
y inequality, were on very familiar terms
1t i heard the children say the water
e was delightfully."- warm to-day
b we go down every day--why don't
d you 60, Helen? Can't you go with us
1t at four o'clock to-day? Mr.. Haley
n going, and mamma, and Archie
l. Il rather think not, she said. i
ID want to make a pasty for tea--the
lie children are so fond of it, and promis-
y ed it for tonight
n But the children can be disappoint-
IL ed for once--you must 60 Miss Cart
wright, and George Hartley stepped
a into the big, shady kitchen.
x Laura gave him rapturous glance
of welcome, and Helen laughed lit
T, tie confusedly.
y 1'hope that am not intruding; OIL
that this delicious, old.fashioned room
e is forbidden ground?'
.. Helen pointed to chair. >
Sit down, Mr. Hartley she said
J and then went on with her pastry
u,k;lA.a.s...-asf. aura nh. ..,s, 7arr1 4taugh
IS ed. And ended soy taking Helen''
consent to 60 with them bathing.
II She never knew quite how it al
= happened-none of them knew--bu
little Ethel managed to separate her
| self from the others, and the first thing
II anyone knew, was that the child was
1t screaming, and being borne out by the
r breakers, and that Helen had plunged
in after her, entirely oblivious of the
n fact that she was not much more able
(, to fight the heavy seas than the child
T. There was little CONSERVATION, a
IL shrek or so from Laura, an exclama-
u tion of something not perfectly intel
ligible from Mr.. Hartley, prompt
n command to Laura's brother, Archie,
anu then, shortly after, little Ethel
) and Helen were carried out, uncon-
II scious; and the next thing Helen knew,
y she was on her own sofa in her little
u sitting room, with the sound of Laura s
anu her mother voices in the next
y room, and Mr.. Hartley's handsome,
9 anxious eyes looking down into her
II face, as he sat beside her.
: Helen, he said, in low, breathless
u sort of way, as she looked wonderingly
n at him. Helen, my brave little darl-
U ing--thank God | saved you for my
, self, didn't II
= She suddenly began to cry--what
g did he mean? Was it a dream--a
J tantalizing dream?
Helen, the low passionate voice
: went on, ''ifyou had died | think |
S should have died, too J. meant to
g Ehave told, you this very Gay how |
J, have learned to love you-that | want
you to be my blessed little wife, if you
can care enough for me to come to me.
9 Can you, Helen? Do you, dear? "
Il And even Laura Hesketh could not
oSbegruige happy Helen her great hap
= Auess when she saw what perfect bliss
. haaNcometo the little woman from
! ! heps,m,ner lodgel@
. lF NN----------------
J. The Naxt Canpaipn.