Richland beacon., 1881-02-12
gives way when he hnds himself in the

| most elegant room he mas ever seen.
Dressing and suddenly discovering that
he ia utterly at loss "a to where to 60
and what to do. his usual good luck
brings Eta to his rcscuc ON her way
down stairs. Helped 10y the same good
angel he struggles through his dinner:
escapes danger in not knowing what
wine tu drink by suddenly becoming
totally abstinent: ia fortunate enough to
I've drawn into n conversation on iron,
and by adroitly using the little know.
ledge picked up at the forges and in his
reading, to gain credit for knowing n
great deal.
And So the days 90 on, Jimmie's luck
favoring him steadily until he has won
Ettas pledge of her love, her step
mothers good will, her fathers esteem.
Her Cousin George had gone to Califor-
mia, disgusted, rs soon rs he got home
from the Catskills. and Mr. Ellis. who is
the only person besides Eta that knows
anything of Jimmie's real position, is
South on long trip.
On n lovely September morning the
lovers are standing at the lakeside. watch
ing the bright sunlight that sparkles in
innumerable diamonds on each little
wave crest, while n great, numbering
schooner creeps lazily along with an oc-
casional clank of its boom against the
mast. and the cool swish of the water.
that seems to grow deeper and darker
and colder rs the shadow Of the hull falls
across il. All around is the dazzling
sunshine, that here and there flashes
white from O sail trying to coax motion
from an air too hot md tired to stir into
a wind
Dear" said Eta, suddenly, ''do You
know that papa goes to Europe tO-mor-
row for six weeks?'
"NO hadn't heard word of it. 1t
must be very sudden move"
Very. He only made up his mind
last night"
lyon are not going too as you thought
you would on his next trip"
NO, can't get ready"
Eta" says Jimmie, after moments
pause, 'have you the courage for a bold
step while he is away?"
"No-Oh, no!' cried the frightened
girl. 81 can't do it. Why don't You
ask for his consent?'
Because 1 would never get it. He
will only give you to a rich man. and
that | won't be for some time. ~ You
marry me now he will easily give in. and
will then have an interest in pushing lis
IN. and will help Us more than he would
help me alone. 1t rests with you, and if
you can't agree to this, We may as well
give up all our hopes"
"Wait until tomorrow, and I'll try and
answer then" Turning quickly to the
carriage behind them, she adds: eve
will go home now, and ! will think until
the Inorning. No, you mustn't talk to
me-" imperiously, as he commences to
speak.
Very charming she looks, with her lit
tie, naughty air. but very commanding,
and her lover very wisely leaves her to
the balancing of duty and inclination. of
prudence and self-will, that is so sure to
turn in his favor. All through the even
ing and the next forenoon she is the
usual bright fairy that her father wor-
ships; but hardly has the carriage left
the door when she turns to Jimmie, who
is standing behind her, with the words
81 will go with you tomorrow"
Poor little lips! How white they are,
and how they quiver! Jimmie Gordon
really loves her, and is very earnest in
the ambition that first prompted him:
but for few moments he wavers in his
purpose. SO cruel in its sacrifice of this
victim to n destiny so uncertain. He
can hardly he blamed for the utter sell
/ tishness of his plan when We think of the.
to him, tremendous value Of the prize,
and the training that has never taught
him his intentions are wrong simply be-
cause it has never held up to him the
possibility Of them; but still he cannot
help feeling his responsibility in stealing
n defenseless girl from her home, and
doing it by means of systematic deceit
toward both her and her father. Only
for few moments does this last, and he
clasps in his arms this trembling frame,
so lovingly, even in its terror. clingin0
to the mnnliness that she sees in the
fierce triumph shining out of his eyes.
The next day all the soft beauty las
gone out of Nature, and her sterner
mood seems aroused by the unnatural
betrayal of hospitality and deliberate
deception instead of being allayed by the
happiness of the lovers. The water that
fortv-eight hours before spoke only Of
the Skimpole side of life with its lazy ac-
cent. now lashes itself to wake to the
coming storm. The gentle tapping of
the waves is changed to an uneasy rush
and hOalnwhisper; their bright diamond
points g y way to a dull, leaden hue
that is only hardened by the white caps
cleaning with their continuous energy
as far as the eye can reach. As our run
aways fly along on the railway tc Roches-
ter, they see the storm-rack
Come rolling in ragged and brown"
and in that sheet of spray and rain and
wind, each movement Overtaking and
hiding another and another sail, they
think they see a shadow Of the darkness
lying before them and forbidding q
glimpse of their future.
OF this part of their story there is lit
to tell. If we we're to follow them we
would see them on the wedding-tOur.
happy in the present, and thinking little
of any trouble to come. Then came the
return of Mr.. Larton, his grief at his
daughters flight and anger at her hus-
band: his inQuiries too late ahout linn