The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-28

face.
+ .sOh, you knowitr she whispered
'.And yet you will not break your All
surd engagement with man you nev
er even saw"
The big tears started to Eva's eyes
and her little rosebud mouth quivered
.'You are cruel" she sobbed, st
!. talk so to me, when you know how
love you. But l cannot disObey papa
1 do not wish to go contrary to hi
Wishes"
81 cannot understand any such sen
timent." he answered, hotly. IF 20,
loved me, you would give this absurt
engagement up-you would marry m,
in spite of all the money, all the fathers
in the world"
s.Don't tempt me, Harold. It canno
be-you know it cannot be! I hav,
promised papa to marry Mr.. Belling
ham, and both he and papa hold me t
am engaged to Major Vane for the
next waiiz. Take me back, please
and don't be angry with me, Harold
dearr'
And Harold escorted her back tc
the ballroom, where he resigned hel
to her partner without another word.
| HE shan't have her." he thought,
"and that's all there is about it. An
| old man-forty-sevcn years old, avid
over. with grown-up girl. to marry
my dainty little Eva. Wen seer /.
The sauciest black eyes imaginable,
and creamy-olive complexion. with a
fine, luscious rose-tint on her cheeks; a
red mouth, like a ripe strawberry, and
q distracting dimple on her cheek when
she laughed; form like Juno-tall,
perfect, distingue-that was Ethel
Lindsay standing in Lady Hamerton's g
drawing-rOom, her lemon-silk dress and
hot-hearted crimson roses making q
perfect tropical picture of her.
And Harold Courthope thought that
OF all royal creatures she was queen
royal, as he acknowledged his hostess in
PRODUCTION and bowed, vanquished by
her beauty-by any woman's beauty,
since that dismal time three years back,
when he had been forced to give Eva
Cressingham up.
She had kept her word and married
Mr.. Bellingham, and had gone abroad
at once afler the wedding, and had not
returned,
The weeks, and months, and years
had bro ught slow healing to Harold.
but the sweet possibility of hope and
happiness had never as much as
dawned upon him, until he met Ethel
Lindsay, a new, radiant star, who had
flashed like a comet into the social
armament
Fresh from school, in all her exquis-
ite beauty. and witchery, and grace,
she had transfxed Harold, in common
with score of others, and-was hard
ly won by him at last. when, after
doubts and fears, he had told her he
loved her with the strongest love of his
life.
OF his earliest love affair he honestly
told her, although Eva's name or her
husbands never passed his lips; for,
he argued. there was every reason to
suppose that, when the Bellinghams re-
turned, he and his wife would meet
them often.
''But you do not care-you do not
love me less that I have pleaded with
another woman to be my wife, my dar-
lingP' he asked her.
"You love me now-you love me
BEST" she answered, passionately.
For weeks the exquisite happiness
went on, and then Harold declared his
intention of seeing her beloved father,
and formally requesting his darling of
him.
81 want you to consent to an early
marriage, my sweet" he urged, impa-
tiently; ssand 1 shall tell your father
you commissioned me carte blanche.
May Ip''
She laughed and blushed.
II suppose you will tell him what
you please," she answered. "You will
find papa just the dearest fellow in all
the world"
s.Ethelr'
swell. the dearest, best father. I
mean. He will love you so, Harold.
1 know-he couldn't help it. you
know
She flashed him saucy look that
made him catch her in his arms and
punish her with kisses.
'.May your prophecy be true, my
darlingl will go to him at once.''
And the following morning saw
Harold Courthope standing before q
tall distinguished-lookin gentleman
an elderly gentleman, very like his dar-
ling. with handsome, dark eyes, and
dignified, courtly manner that was inn
pressive and gracious, Us he took Har-
old's hand and smiled and bowed
welcome.
my daughters friend. Mr.. Court
hope, be seated. am glad to see you!
since our arrival"
'.Mr. Lindsay" Harold said, then
was little surprised by the look that
flashed from the gentleman's eyes.
81 beg your pardon. Has not Ethel
told you, my name is BellinghamP She
is. my stepdaughter, you will remem-
Der. All, my dear, come in! An old
friend of yours, 1 think. Eva? Mrs.
Mr.. Courthope."
just the faintest flush was visible on
Eva's face as she came frankly forward
and laid her hand in Harold's.
'.Are you surprised I am glad to
see you, Harold. Where is EthelP''
As she turned questioningly to her
husband, there was no possibility of
Harold's failing to see the look of ado
ration and pride on her face, and the
of that went realizingly
home to him almost before he accepted
the strangeness of their positions.
This, then, was Aubrey Bellingham
this elegant, princely gentleman.
who would have been noticeable in any
society. This the man from whom he
swore to save little Eva! 4
He understood it all now at one
glance. Eva had obeyed her parents
wish, and her husband had taught her
to love him above all men, and, in his
heart, Harold did not wonder that she
had preferred Aubrey Bellingham to
himself.
But the strange romance of it all!
Ethel. Mr.. Bellingham' step-daughter.
and Eva's! and he-came praying for
her hand!
A gay little laugh from Mrs. Belling-
ham dissipated all the peculiarly of
the position.
81 am afraid we all have been in the
secret, Harold" she said, frankly.
''But when Ethel wrote of you. my hus-
band and were afraid you would shun
our daughter if you knew she was ours.
and seeing how interested she was, and
knowing what dear friend you were |
capable of being, we told Ethel not to
her fathers name. We are SO 1