The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-07-28

looked the question, "Who is that hand
some man?"
With his mind concentrated upon the
unknown heiress, Jasper carefully sur
veyed the congregation, and sighed for
some fairy to whisper to him, ''This is
she."
Presently the organ pealed forth, and
a clear, sweet, mezzo- soprano voice sang
an anthem, "Come unto Me all ye that
labor"
Regadless of the place, Surridge
turned to his next neighbor and whis-
pered: ''Who is that charming singer ?"
"Miss Edliffe," was the startling re-
ply:
The directory had already showed him
there was but one family of that name
in the town-"Mrs. Jane Edliffe, IT
Willow street: Acantha Edliffe. school
teacher, II Willow street," evidently
this was the heiress.
"What does she look hke?" was his
next thought. So he turned round and
took good long look at the singer; re-
suming his mental conversation, he said:
Medium height, slender, dark eyes and
hair, good complexion Recently though
plainly dressed; she will do!'
To make sure that this was the person
he sought, he discreetly followed her
home, and when he saw her enter IT
Willow street, he was satisfied. He
delivered one of his letters of introduc-
ton the next morning, and as soon as
he could he began to rave over the Eek
quisite voice, the most delightful voice.
he had heard in the church, and inno-
Gently asked the strangers name; then,
finding that his now friend knew her, lie
begged him to present him to her.
Chuckling at his good luck, he began
to make delicate but assiduous love to
Miss Acantha, and was charmed to find
that she did not repulse him; ON the
contrary, after few days she seemed to
give him some little encouragement
not boldly, however, but timidly and
innocently.
Mrs Edliffe was not 30 cordial as he
could:have wished, but still she was not
actually 1nIm1cal and there was no one
else to interfere-at least, no one OF
whom he knew anything.
'Acantha Edliff's conduct is really
disgustingl" whispered the gossips with
in week after Surridge's arrival In
Clarendon. Before this stranger ap-
peared she accepted Hubert Luttrell's
attentions with avidity, but now she
quite ignores him."
"He hasn't been to Willow street
since last Sunday" responded another
gossip, ''while this Mr.. Surridge is there
every evening, takes Acantha out fol' a
drive every afternoon and sends her
books and flowers every morning."
"Well, he is rich (probably), and
CT 1fcl, xv1, mi fc
neither
Acantha's conduct in this matter
caused plenty of talk; Luttrell himself
was the only silent one. When some
venturesome person tried to interview
him on the subject he simply set his
teeth together, and muttered, "Fopr"
But foppery or not Surridge COM
| pletely distanced Luttrell in two weeks.
At the expiration of that period he
might have been heard whispering to
Acantha: "Oh, my darling, if you knew
how much I loved you, you would not
me in returnp
perhaps I may try" whispered she,
hesitatingly; but quickly added, ward
ing off threatened embrace. "But
how can I be sure that you are true!
You have known me SO short a time!"
Fourteen long days! After all, what
is time to those who love? The moment
I saw you I knew that you, and you
alone, must be my wife!"
Which was true, but not as he would
have had Acantha understand it.
"You have loved before, of course
'tNeverl never! I may have had my
passing fancies, but you are the frs
lady whom have wished to marry"
'But am poor and insignificant.
'tNot the latter, my sweetheart. An6
as to poverty, do you suppose care fol
that? We will manage to live, I assure
! you"
''You know nothing of my family
"Your mother, you say, is your onl,
relative. am sure she would grace any
station"
"Dear mother, am sure she would
If should consent to-to try and lik,
you, you must promise and not listen Il
any nonsense about Mr.. Luttrell / dit
love him, really love him, 1 thought, un
til-until-"
''My darling! Your sweet confession
has entranced mel
''No, no! I have confessed nothing
Give me until tomorrow to think of it
and mammals consent must be gained.
OF course Surridge promised to d.
anything Acantha desired; and when h
returned to his hotel that evening h.
telegraphed to his uncle:
Come at once. The fates are pro
pitious."
The fates are proverbially eccentric
80 Surridge realized when, calling at L
Willow street, he was told that Acanth.
was too i'll with nervous headache to SCI
any one. In the meantime Mr.. Cla
baugh arrived and congratulated hi
nephew warmly on his success; but ais,
in the meantime, simultaneously witt
Mr.. Clabaugh's arrival, came the rumo
of old Mr.. Edliffe's death, and the mex
morning it was announced in the loca
newspapers, with the addition:
"This gentleman was unknown to on
townsmen; nevertheless his large fortun
is to come to us, Miss Acantha Edliff
(teacher in Oak street grammar school
being his heiress."
'"The fat is in the fire now," was Jas
per's savage exclamation when he rea,
those lines. "What possessed the gil
to have headache last night"
'No matter. You are virtually &C
cepted. You can still make good point
Show her the notice, and say that {
course she will not want you now tina
she is rich; that you cannot submit to b
called mercenary; that will fetch her."
The uncle and nephew called togethe
that morning, and after the former ha
told Acantha of her grandfather's be
quest, the latter ruefully withdrew hi
proposal.
"Oh, Mr.. Surridge, what poor opir
ion you must have of mel Do you thin
that would permit the wealth of th
Indies to come between me and the ma
I love? No true woman ever weighs loy
against money"
Miss Edliffe, you overwhelm mi
; You are nobler-" stammered Jasper.
'Nobler than you are?" said Acanth'
sarcasGcally, with sudden change
voice and manner. "I might easily /
: that! Gentlemen" confined she, SLOW
] 1,y o,,aDinor fl,a door fhof 1a5 into ~