The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-16
TWICE LOVED;
The. Romance Of Etsy Peyton.
RY ID. d. HOWARD.

"Do not return to the Grange, Etsy. Come
with us TO Newport; the beautiful Mrs Langs
ley will be the rage there, as she has been II
Philadelphia this winter, even though she does
keep herself close
III cannot, Aggie am tired of gayety
Oh, this is such hard world To get through
| am so tired of it--so tired of livingw
"What, Etsy! tired of life at twenty five q
"Even so, Aggie; fatherless, motherless, and
a deserted wlfe--it is enough"
Not deserted, Etsy, you have twice refused
TO join him.
ayes, know; we have both erred-we are
both too proud. In some OF my moods dc
not blame Lionel. was 80 changed, so sal
low and bony, and homely, and then never
could forgive HIM that frs. unconscious start
and shrinking away. had loved only Lionel
a all my life, and ! forgot for the moment
how changed | was, and how to meet hun. lie
recovered himself IN a moment, but it seemed
as If it changed my whole nature and grew
cold and disdalnfnl; but great pain was at
my heart e7en when seemed most Indtler-
ent. | have the same pain tonight"
"You love him still, Etsy?"
The crimson lips grew scornful, and then
tremulous.
Eyes; l have never loved any one else. You
will think me mean.spirited, Aggie?'
mo, Etsy; | honor you for IT, But we will
not talk of it. Papa will go anywhere wish.
I have never been to Niagara If you would
like we will 90 there, where al. will be strang-
ers to us"
So they went 10 Niagara-Mr. Warner,
Agnes and Etsy. Leaving the ladies IN the
reception room Mr.. Warner went to register
their names IN the hotel book of entry but
returned IN moment with a face from which
every ycstirp of color had flown.
| "Etsy, when | went tn write my name n
gentleman was just returning his pen To its
case, and the ink was yet wet with the name
of Lionel Peyton!'
my husband?"
II fear so; but do not grow so pale child
| thought, perhaps, you might wish to leave
this place, and 50 did not register our names"
THE beautiful, pale face was very pitifu to
see.
Stay let me think. 1t might not be my
husband, and yet never knew Il Lionel Pey.
ton out of our family. Was the gentleman
face anything like thisH" and poor Etsy took
a miniature from her jewel case.
eyes; 1t was very like only this face is
more youthful, The face saw was bearded
and bronzed, and careworn looking"
at thought he would not know me,
would stay and see HIM for myself would
like to-"
ale would never know you, Etsy. You are
as unlike the Etsy OF fifteen as you are unlike
the wife of twenty. think you might remain
with perfect safety; and 1t may not be your
husband after all'
SO Etsy stayed, and on the book of entry
was written Mr.. Ely Warner and daughter,
and Mrs. Willis.
1--WE will call you Essie, and then If it is
your husband be will never know you"
Mr. Warner was right; Lionel Peyton could
never recognize IN this brilliantly beautiful
woman either the rosy schoolgirl of fifteen or
the wife of twenty Etsy at twenty-five was
tall and stately, with clear, dark skin, bril-
liant color and large, shadowy haunting eyes,
in whose depths lay a great pam; you felt it
as soon as you saw her.
1t twas 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
Etsy, her gorgeous Eastern beauty overshad-
owing the pale loneliness of Agnes Warner;
but it was evident he did not recognize her.
He was bronzed and bearded, and something
more than careworn-sad. Esy began to
question whether he too, had not suffered
They sat at the same table day after day, this
husband and wife, TIL poor Etsy's heart was
like to break.
BY and by, Mr. Warner made Mr.. Peyton's
acquaintance in the readingroom, and togeth-
er they Travelled over Europe-where Mr.. War
ner once spent many years of his liie-Mr
Peytons great descriptive powers painting, as
with pencil every subject he touched upon.
One day Etsy SAID, half scornfully, half
earnestly:
What do you think Of my husband, Mr.,
Warner"
His answer surprised her
! ~ admire him more than any man | ever
knew, Etsy. | wish | could understand what
is keeping you apart
That night he sent for the ladies to Join him
in the parlor To Etsy's surprise he introduc.
ed them to Mr.. Peyton, who threw the charm
of his conversation over them, as he had over
Mr.. Warner, and the evening passed ere they
had begun.
| Time passed on, and other evenings were
spent together, and soon it required but a care
less eye to see that the beautiful face of Etsy
Peyton was the only face on earth to their
new friend.
"Essie, your husband is falling in love with
you again" Agnes said, but the said "Essie"
made no reply.
| One night Mr.. Peyton said to her:
Mrs. Willis, your face haunts me; 1t re-
minds Inc of some one | have seen before,
perhaps 1t was in my dreams" And Etsy
only answered, Perhaps"
| She sat on the veranda one night, waiting
for Agnes and her father. They were to leave
for New York the next day, and there was Il
great ache at Etsy's heart
Mr. Peyton stepped through the window,
and stood beside her. He merely bowed his
stately head, and she never spoke-shc dared
not
You are sad tonight, Mrs. Willis, Are
you sorry toseave Niagara"
For the life of her she could not have an
swered him. but, without waiting for one, he
sat down by her side.
| 81 too, am sad tonight, but my sadness has
a deeper meaning than yours. At my hear,
are Juggling love, remorse, regret and a wretch
ed quarreling with fate. | wish dare lay
bare my heart to you, for my soul Is famish
ing with human sympathy"
You may"
| nd Won will not think laee of m. hppausf